Sound Celebrates Grand Opening of Residential Facility in Auburn
Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus, Sound board members, staff and guests gathered for a ribbon-cutting at Sound’s new Enhanced Services Facility, Parks Place
Sound President & CEO Katrina Egner, Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus and Sound Director of Acute Services Deborah Parks cut the ribbon on Sound’s new Parks Place residential facility in Auburn on Sept. 26, 2023. Photo by Tara Brown of Tara Brown Photography.
Sept. 26, 2023 – Tukwila, Wash. – Sound, King County’s largest provider of behavioral health services, held a grand opening celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony today at its newly built residential treatment facility in Auburn.
The new facility, called Parks Place, is expected to begin operations in late October or early November as a state-licensed Enhanced Services Facility (ESF) serving people coming out of state and community psychiatric hospitals as well as people who have no other placement option due to their complex behavioral health and personal care challenges.
When Parks Place is fully occupied, the 11,000-square-foot facility will provide a home for 16 patients, most of whom are expected to be coming from Western State Hospital and other inpatient psychiatric facilities. As an ESF, Parks Place will offer its residents a higher level of behavioral health, personal care services and nursing than is generally provided in other long-term care settings.
“We are proud that Parks Place will serve patients with complex needs that require the level of expertise and experience that our highly trained staff can provide,” said Sound President and CEO Katrina Egner. “This beautiful residential facility offers a safe and healing environment where patients can rest, relax and feel at home while also receiving high-quality care and services.”
Parks Place is named in honor of Sound’s director of acute services, Deborah Parks, who has worked at Sound for 38 years and will oversee nursing care and operations at Parks Place.
“We are delighted to name this new facility in Debbie’s honor,” said Sound Board Chair Tom Bolger. “Debbie exemplifies the compassionate care and commitment to patients that Sound strives to uphold.”
The grand opening celebration was attended by elected officials, including Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus, state Rep. Chris Stearns [D-Auburn] and Auburn City Councilmembers Yolanda Trout-Manuel and Cheryl Rakes. There were about 60 guests in attendance.
“Today marks a significant milestone in Auburn’s history, one that builds upon our longstanding partnership with Sound,” said Mayor Backus. “Together, we navigated challenges, solidifying our commitment to creating a healthy community, one that prioritizes behavioral health.”
Parks Place is located at 4244 Auburn Way N., next to Sound’s Auburn clinic that provides outpatient mental and behavioral health services.
About Sound
Founded in 1966, Sound is an independent provider of community mental health and addiction treatment services, offering high quality, comprehensive healthcare services throughout King County. The organization is an early adopter of Reaching Recovery, an evidence-based clinical model that promotes high levels of client engagement, improves outcomes and enables providers to better measure a client’s recovery. Sound stands at the forefront of the healthcare field, exploring new approaches to care. The organization’s goal is to help individuals and families achieve the highest level of independence possible by providing a broad array of healthcare solutions, including addiction treatment, mental health, vocational, supportive housing and many other services. To learn more visit www.sound.health.
