WWRP-Recreation Recreation Projects-Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program

Funding

$45 million

Details

Grant Limit

$1 million

Details

Match Requirement

Varies

Details

The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program provides funding for a broad range of land protection and outdoor recreation, including local and state parks, trails, water access, and the conservation and restoration of state land.

The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program was envisioned as a way for the state to accomplish two goals: acquire valuable recreation and habitat lands before they were lost to other uses and develop recreation areas for a growing population.

This landmark legislation passed in 1990 and the grant program's continued funding have come about through the support of governors, the Legislature, and groups such as the many organizations comprising the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition.

Grant Application Schedule

Item Date

Applicant Webinar, Applications Open

February 17, 2022 

Plan Due

A comprehensive plan is required to be eligible for a grant.

March 1, 2022 

Application Due

May 3, 2022 

Technical Review

Local Parks Category

June 6, 2022 - June 10, 2022

Technical Review (Written)

State Lands Development and Renovation Category

May 11, 2022 - June 6, 2022

Technical Review

State Parks Category

May 24, 2022 

Technical Review

Trails Category

June 6, 2022 - June 8, 2022

Technical Review

Water Access Category

June 1, 2022 

Technical Completion Deadline

July 19, 2022 

Evaluation

Local Parks Category

August 22, 2022 - August 25, 2022

Evaluation (Written)

State Lands Development and Renovation Category

July 28, 2022 - August 24, 2022

Evaluation

State Parks Category

August 11, 2022 

Evaluation

Trails Category

August 22, 2022 - August 23, 2022

Evaluation

Water Access Category

August 30, 2022 

Board Approves Preliminary Ranked Lists

October 25, 2022 - October 26, 2022

Ranked Lists Submitted to the Governor

October 31, 2022 

Board Awards Grants

June 1, 2023 - June 30, 2023 estimate

Grant Award History

Most recent grants and evaluation results, listed by the application year.

Application Resources

Grant Manual

Announcements

Project Evaluation

Project Celebrations

The 2022 Application Webinar Recording Is Here!

Application

Application Question Mapping Tool

Use this map to answer the evaluation question about “Need” in the Local Parks, Trails, and Water Access Categories. 

Map of Washington State
Girl under sprinkler

Typical Projects

  • Buying land for a park
  • Building ball fields, courts, regional athletic complexes
  • Renovating community parks
  • Developing regional trails
  • Building waterfront parks
  • Developing state lands

Who May Apply?

Local Parks Category

  • Cities, counties, towns
  • Federally recognized Indian tribes
  • Special purpose districts, port districts, or other political subdivisions of the state providing services to less than the entire state

State Lands Development and Renovation Category

  • Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • Washington State Department of Natural Resources

State Parks Category

  • Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

Trails and Water Access Categories

  • Cities, counties, towns
  • Federally recognized Indian tribes
  • Special purpose districts, port districts, or other political subdivisions of the state providing services to less than the entire state
  • State agencies (Departments of Enterprise Services, Fish and Wildlife, and Natural Resources, and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission )

Planning Requirement

To apply for this funding, grant applicants must have completed a comprehensive recreation or conservation plan. See details on the planning page and in Manual 2: Planning Guidelines.

Funding

Funding comes from the sale of state bonds and is awarded every 2 years.

Grant Limits

Local Parks

CategoryGrant Limit
Local Parks
Acquisition Projects$1 million
Development Projects$500,000
Combination Projects
(Acquisition with either development or renovation
$1 million, of which not more than $500,000 may be for development costs
State Lands Development and RenovationMinimum $25,000, maximum $325,000
State ParksNone
TrailsNone
Water AccessNone

Match Details

State agencies do not have to provide match.

Match may include the following:

  • Applicant’s labor, equipment, and materials
  • Appropriations or cash
  • Bonds
  • Donations of cash, land, labor, equipment, and materials
  • Other grants

Match Reductions

Some local agencies applying for grants in the Local Parks, Trails, or Water Access Categories may reduce their match if they meet any of the criteria below:

  • Communities in need
  • Underserved populations
  • Counties in need
  • Federal disaster area

Eligible Projects

Land Acquisition

Acquisition includes the purchase of perpetual interest in real property or non-perpetual interests such as leases and easements. Acquisition of non-perpetual interests must be for at least 50 years and may not be revocable at will. Incidental costs related to acquisition are eligible.

Development

Local and State Parks

  • Buildings
  • Campgrounds, cabins
  • Fishing floats
  • Hard court areas
  • Interpretive kiosks, signs
  • Outdoor swimming pools
  • Picnic shelters
  • Play areas
  • Playing fields
  • Restrooms
  • Roads, paths, and parking
  • View areas

Note: Renovation projects are NOT eligible in the State Parks Category.

State Lands Development and Renovation

  • Campgrounds
  • Fishing piers and platforms
  • Interpretive kiosks, signs
  • Launch ramps and floats
  • Picnic shelters
  • Restrooms
  • Roads, paths, and trails

Trails

  • Benches, tables
  • Bridges and boardwalks
  • Interpretive kiosks, signs
  • Restrooms
  • Trails
  • Trailheads
  • Viewpoints

Water Access

  • Buoys
  • Fishing piers and platforms
  • Interpretive kiosks, signs
  • Launch ramps, floats
  • Picnic shelters
  • Restrooms
  • Roads and paths

Ineligible Projects

  • Animal species introduction or propagation, other than biological controls for invasive species, etc.
  • Concessionaire buildings
  • Costs not directly related to implementing the project such as indirect and overhead charges
  • Environmental cleanup of illegal activities, such as removal of derelict vessels, trash, meth labs)
  • Wildlife production facilities such as fish hatcheries
  • Indoor facilities such as community centers, environmental education or learning centers, gyms, swimming and therapy pools, and covered ice-skating rinks
  • Offices, shops, residences, and meeting and storage rooms, except for some limited exceptions in the Local and State Parks Categories
  • Properties acquired via condemnation of any kind
  • Specific projects or actions identified as mitigation as part of a habitat conservation plan approved by the federal government for incidental take of endangered or threatened species or other projects identified for habitat mitigation purposes
  • Routine operation and maintenance costs

Long-term Commitment

Land acquired or developed must be kept and maintained for public outdoor recreation use for at least 50 years. Long-term obligations for structures or facilities for outdoor recreation will be tied to a reasonable, agreed-upon service life for the structure or facility.

More information is in Manual 7: Long-term Obligations.