OLYMPIA–The Recreation and Conservation Funding Board has awarded more than $148 million to projects across the state that will build and improve parks and trails, conserve irreplaceable wildlife habitat and maintain land for farming and forestry.
“These grants are critical to keeping Washington a premiere destination for outdoor adventure as well as a great place for Washingtonians to live,” said Megan Duffy, director of the Recreation and Conservation Office, which supports the board. “These grants are key to building great communities. The grants help communities light ball fields, make parks accessible to people with disabilities, connect gaps in trail systems, refurbish pools and resurface pickleball courts.”
Several studies have shown the value outdoor recreation provides to communities and have estimated that it supports more than 6 percent of all jobs in Washington.1
“Recreation not only is important to Washington’s economy, but to the health of the people who recreate here,” Duffy said. “Countless studies have shown that spending time outside can improve a person’s physical and mental health, reduce stress and even improve eyesight. It also does so much for our kids, including helping them improve their social connections and school grades. These grants are important for ensuring there are great places to recreate across Washington.
In total, the board awarded 242 grants to projects in 35 of the state’s 39 counties. The board received 411 applications requesting more than $266 million in funding, meaning just more than half (59 percent) of the projects received funding.
In addition to recreation, the grants help cities, counties, Tribes and state agencies conserve valuable undeveloped areas for wildlife and conserve forests and farmlands for the future.
“Washington is known for its great outdoor spaces and its legacy of farming and forestry,” Duffy said. “As Washington’s population grows, if we don’t conserve that land now, it won’t be there to continue those legacies.”
Grants were awarded in the counties listed below. Descriptions of the projects are online.
| Adams County: $346,500 | Klickitat County: $9,205,550 |
| Benton County: $576,000 | Lewis County: $1,493,045 |
| Chelan County: $5,987,082 | Mason County: $3,418,496 |
| Clallam County: $3,303,988 | Okanogan County: $11,307, 247 |
| Clark County: $1,255,731 | Pacific County: $1,197,250 |
| Columbia County: $1,560,750 | Pierce County: $14,249,690 |
| Cowlitz County: $3,508,890 | Skagit County: $4,614,825 |
| Douglas County: $6,485,404 | Skamania County: $349,998 |
| Ferry County: $356,670 | Snohomish County: $6,905,306 |
| Garfield County: $264,215 | Spokane County: $13,205,549 |
| Grant County: $2,455,456 | Stevens County: $150,000 |
| Grays Harbor County: $4,361,700 | Thurston County: $7,177,314 |
| Island County: $262,500 | Whatcom County: $2,166,597 |
| Jefferson County: $1,890,645 | Whitman County: $68,404 |
| King County: $13,845,969 | Yakima County: $2,050,000 |
| Kitsap County: $10,040,043 | Multiple Counties: $7,054,979 |
| Kittitas County: $7,608,830 |
1Mojica, J., Fletcher, A., 2020. Economic Analysis of Outdoor Recreation in Washington State, 2020 Update. Earth Economics, Tacoma WA, p.3