Kent Receives Grant in National Competition
OLYMPIA–The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) today announced the award of 29 grants to build or improve outdoor recreation facilities, many in communities with too few or dilapidated parks.
“We know that spending time outside provides so many mental and physical health benefits,” said Megan Duffy, RCO’s director. “These grants will infuse much needed funding into communities that have too few recreational opportunities so more people can enjoy the benefits.”
The Projects
Grants were awarded to projects in the counties below. Click the links to see descriptions of each project.
Grants came from the following three programs:
- Community Outdoor Athletic Facilities Program: This new state grant program provides funding to create athletic experiences in communities that lack recreational opportunities, have underserved populations or have limited financial capacity.
- Land and Water Conservation Fund: This federal grant program is funded by the selling and leasing of offshore oil and gas resources. Grants target the acquisition and development of outdoor recreation areas.
- Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program: This specialty program within the Land and Water Conservation Fund provides grants to help larger cities create or reinvigorate outdoor recreation spaces in park-deprived areas. Applicants must compete against projects from around the nation. The City of Kent, the only applicant in Washington, was awarded more than $3 million. The City will use the grant to replace ball fields in its Uplands Playfield Park with a water spray park, the first in Kent, and a children’s play area and other park amenities such as connections to a regional trail, a picnic shelter and shade structure.
“We’re very excited to see so many of these grants go to communities in need,” Duffy said. “The positive impacts of great outdoor spaces in communities can’t be overstated. They create community gathering places, contribute to mental and physical health, and can provide a boost to local businesses.”