OLYMPIA–Parks in 25 counties will get much-needed repairs–picnic shelters reroofed, tennis courts restriped, pools relined and lawn mowers replaced–thanks to one-time funding for backlogged parks maintenance projects and needed equipment. The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) today announced the award of $4.7 million for 53 projects through its Local Parks Maintenance grant program. […]
SPOKANE–The Washington Invasive Species Council (WISC) and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) invite school-age students to participate in an art contest to help spread the word about not spreading invasive species. Invasive species are plants, animals, and other organisms that don’t naturally live in Washington and, when brought here, can cause economic […]
Interested applicants invited to Nov. 28 webinar OLYMPIA – The Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program (ESRP) now is accepting proposals for small grant projects that advance Puget Sound shoreline restoration and protection. The solicitation is the first in a series of ESRP grant opportunities this fall and winter, representing an anticipated $25 million investment […]
OLYMPIA–Today, the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) and Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) announced the award of $3.7 million in grants to provide thousands of Washington’s students with outdoor learning experiences. The Outdoor Learning Grants program was created by the Legislature in 2022 to develop and support outdoor educational experiences for […]
OLYMPIA – Starting Oct. 2, the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board will accept proposals for projects to remove barriers that prevent salmon and steelhead from swimming upstream. The board will host an online workshop from 10 a.m. to noon, Oct. 5, to provide an overview of the grant program and review the application process. Interested parties […]
OLYMPIA–Barriers will be removed for migrating salmon, trees will be planted to shade rivers and stream habitat will be improved thanks to a new round of salmon recovery grants announced today. The Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board and the Puget Sound Partnership announced the award of 150 grants in 29 counties, culminating in a […]
OLYMPIA– The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) is looking for people to help decide where millions of dollars should be invested in Washington’s parks, trails and other outdoor recreation amenities. RCO is recruiting nearly 50 volunteers to fill positions on 19 advisory committees that evaluate grant applications and score proposals for parks, trails, […]
OLYMPIA–The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office is asking for public comments on proposed changes to the way grant applications for parks, trails and other outdoor spaces are evaluated. The changes would affect grants in the Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account, Land and Water Conservation Fund, Youth Athletic Facilities and the state’s largest grant program for […]
OLYMPIA–The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office is looking for comments on a new program that will provide grants to increase youth access to community athletic facilities. The new Community Outdoor Athletic Facilities program will provide grants to buy land and develop or renovate youth outdoor athletic facilities in communities that lack recreational opportunities and […]
OLYMPIA–The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office will begin accepting applications Aug. 15 for a new grant program to help maintain local parks. The Local Parks Maintenance grant program provides funding to address maintenance backlogs in local parks. These grants may be used for a variety of costs such as labor, materials, and equipment. Informational […]
Grants awarded to 92 programs across the state OLYMPIA–The outdoors is one our most powerful teachers and now more children will have access to its lessons. The No Child Left Inside (NCLI) grant program, awarded by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks), will provide more than $6.7 million for 92 projects dedicated to […]
OLYMPIA–The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office today announced the award of nearly $190 million in grants to communities statewide to improve outdoor recreation and conserve important wildlife habitat for Washingtonians and the plants and animals that live here. The grants were awarded to a variety of organizations to renovate parks, build trails and create […]
OLYMPIA–Washington state agencies are asking people to clean their gear, pets and clothing this spring to prevent invasive plants from establishing here. “Washington offers exciting opportunities to experience nature, attracting visitors from around the world to our parks, forests, trails, wild and scenic rivers, wildlife refuges and more,” said Blain Reeves, chair of the Washington […]
OLYMPIA–The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) today announced the award of more than $4.7 million in grants to help communities plan for outdoor recreation facilities. The grants were awarded to organizations in 19 counties and ranged from $12,927 to $250,000. “These grants support community efforts to invest in recreation by helping them take […]
OLYMPIA–Organizations offering outdoor education experiences for students now can apply for state grants. The Outdoor Learning Grants program, created by the Legislature in 2022, provides funding to develop and support educational experiences for Washington public school students. Grant recipients must provide education programs with activities learning in, for or about the outdoors. Grant recipients are […]
OLYMPIA–Three cities received good news this week when the National Park Service awarded more than $4 million for park improvements. Lynnwood, Seattle and Spokane were notified they will receive funding from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is administered in Washington state by the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board. “We’re very excited about […]
OLYMPIA–Gov. Jay Inslee has appointed Kathleen “Kitty” Craig, a national program director for The Wilderness Society, to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board. The board awards about $200 million in grants every other year to tribes, nonprofits and government agencies to create parks, trails and other outdoor recreation opportunities. The board also awards […]
OLYMPIA–A new report released by the Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office shows that salmon in Washington still are struggling and face increasing difficulty brought on by climate change and other challenges. Of the 14 population groups of salmon and steelhead in Washington listed as at-risk of extinction under the federal Endangered Species Act, 10 are in […]
OLYMPIA–Registration is open for the ninth biennial Salmon Recovery Conference, which brings together more than 650 salmon recovery professionals to share their work and the latest science for recovering salmon. “The slower we act, the faster our salmon will be pushed to the brink of survival,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “This conference brings together our […]
Invasive Species Awareness Week
OLYMPIA–Gov. Jay Inslee, in partnership with the Washington Invasive Species Council, has proclaimed the week of February 20 as Invasive Species Awareness Week in Washington in solidarity with National Invasive Species Awareness Week. “Invasive species threaten wildlife as we know it in Washington state,” said Inslee. “We can all help to kick out unwelcome invaders. […]
OLYMPIA–The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office today announced the award of more than $2 million in grants to help diverse, urban neighborhoods and rural communities plan for outdoor recreation facilities. The grants were awarded to 21 different organizations in 15 counties and ranged from $35,000 to $250,000. Many of the grants will help smaller […]
OLYMPIA–Gov. Jay Inslee has appointed Trang Lam, the director of the Camas Parks and Recreation Department, to the state Recreation and Conservation Funding Board. The Recreation and Conservation Funding Board awards about $200 million in grants every 2 years to local governments, tribes, nonprofits and state and federal agencies to create outdoor recreation opportunities, such […]