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More young people will have access to outdoor recreation, refurbished aquatic centers, and enhanced sports fields with $5 million in King County Parks funding
Summary
September 4, 2024 – Sixty-three projects throughout King County will receive a combined $5 million in King County Parks grant funding that will make it possible for more young people to stay healthy and connected, particularly in underserved communities.
$5 Million in King County Parks Grants to:
Connect youth with the outdoors
Upgrade playgrounds, ballfields and pools
Sports programs in underserved areas
Cultural health and wellness programs
News
More young people will have access to outdoor recreation, after-school activities, refurbished aquatic centers, and enhanced sports fields and playgrounds thanks to a combined $5 million in King County Parks funding proposed by Executive Dow Constantine and approved by the County Council.
The 63 funded projects include summer backpacking trips for underserved young people, after-school sports and wellness programs in South King County cities, a new synthetic baseball infield in Seattle’s Central District, and improvements for aquatic centers in Des Moines and White Center.
“With support from King County Parks, more young people will have the opportunity to explore the outdoors, play team sports, swim with friends, and stay connected after school,” said Executive Constantine. “These 63 projects, led by cities, nonprofits, and park districts, will foster healthier kids, families, and communities."
"Investing in our parks and recreational infrastructure is investing in our future,” said King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski, who sponsored the legislation. “These grants will help bridge the gap in access to quality outdoor spaces and activities, fostering a sense of community and belonging among our youth.”
The package includes $3.5 million in Youth and Amateur Sports Grants and $1.5 million for the Healthy Communities and Parks Fund, partly funded by the voter-approved King County Parks Levy. Grant recipients include cities, school districts, park districts, and community-based organizations.
Many of the projects connect underserved young people with low or no-cost programming, such as after-school sports clubs and day hikes for young adults who have disabilities. Here are a few the projects that successfully competed for funding:
Connecting young people in underserved communities to the outdoors
- The Youth Experiential Training Institute, known as Y.E.T.I., will receive $187,500 to support eight outdoor clubs at the Highline and Tukwila school districts, serving more than 600 young people in low-income and immigrant families.
- Braided Seeds will distribute Discover Passes to BIPOC residents and offer free Wilderness First Aid training.
- Needs of the Community Society will provide opportunities for young adults with disabilities and medical illnesses to experience the outdoors through their Adaptive Day Hike program.
Expanding access to new and existing youth sports leagues
- The Somali Health Board’s Youth Soccer Program will connect more immigrant youth to soccer teams and coaches.
- After-School All-Stars will receive $202,096 to offer free sports and wellness programs to middle school students in Kent, Tukwila, and Federal Way.
- The Kent Crusaders Rugby Football Club will provide new opportunities for girls in grades 7 to 12.
Funding for cities to enhance their facilities
- The City of Seattle will receive $500,000 to improve aging infrastructure, including the community-informed replacement of a play area next to Rainier Community Center and replacing a synthetic baseball infield in the Central District as part of Seattle Parks and Recreation's broader Garfield Super Block.
- The City of Tukwila will receive $100,000 for its Sports Academy, an after-school program that incorporates social and emotional learning in youth sports.
Modernizing aquatic facilities in underserved communities
- A combined $328,000 is designated for improvements at the Mount Rainier Pool in Des Moines and the Evergreen Aquatic Center in White Center.
The funding allocations that Executive Constantine proposed to the King County Council were informed by two advisory committees. The Healthy Communities and Parks Fund Advisory Committee members represent nonprofit and community-based organizations, city agencies, and other organizations that bring expertise and diverse perspective to the grantmaking process. The Youth and Amateur Sports Grant Review Panel was comprised of members of the King County Play Equity Coalition.
The 2020-2025 King County Parks Levy is investing a combined $110 million in grant funding.
Resources
Quotes
With support from King County Parks, more young people will have the opportunity to explore the outdoors, play team sports, swim with friends, and stay connected after school. These 63 projects, led by cities, nonprofits, and park districts, will foster healthier kids, families, and communities.
Investing in our parks and recreational infrastructure is investing in our future. These grants will help bridge the gap in access to quality outdoor spaces and activities, fostering a sense of community and belonging among our youth.
By supporting youth sports and active recreation, these grants help to dismantle economic and geographic barriers. This is an important step towards achieving equity in access to recreation and healthy living opportunities for all our residents.
The King County Parks grants will play a crucial role for our youth in our district in nurturing a love of sports with great infrastructure and programs through their Youth and Amateur Sports grant, and a love of the outdoors through their Healthy Communities and Parks Fund. We are excited about King County's investment in the health and happiness of our next generation of future leaders!
The outdoors are for everyone. Access to nature and physical activity, especially for youth, enriches an individual’s life and well-being. And doing that in community with others helps our entire region to be healthier, more inclusive, and more sustainable. I am very pleased that the County can support projects that help promote the health and fitness of our community.
Investing in our parks and recreational spaces highlights King County’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life for every resident. These investments are essential for ensuring that all communities have access to vital resources that promote health, connection, and well-being.
Whether amateur or professional, sports brings people together. The opportunity to play and to engage in sports is something that every child, no matter their circumstances, deserves. These grant programs provide the opportunity to improve the quality of life in our area by enhancing our parks and sports programs, and I am excited about the positive impact these programs will have in South King County.
The Parks Levy grants announced today will support incredible work in our King County communities to provide life-saving swimming lessons, increase access to nature for underserved youth, support opportunities for movement and social connection for our elders, and more. Being outside and active has all sorts of positive benefits for our health, happiness, and community cohesion, and these grants are a powerful step towards greater equity in King County’s beautiful outdoor spaces.
These grants empower community groups to help break down barriers to outdoor activities and sports so that more kids have the chance to play, be active, and thrive. I am excited to see the positive impacts these grants will have on our community!
Seattle Parks and Recreation is grateful to have a wonderful partnership with King County Parks and specifically thankful this year for the two significant Youth and Amateur Sports Grants. One will further the community-initiated Garfield Super Block project with funding going to support field improvements. The other will support a project in an equity zone in Seattle and provide funding for a play area renovation project adjacent to the Rainier Community Center. Both these projects exemplify Seattle Parks and Recreation’s commitment to support vibrant communities for all throughout Seattle.
On behalf of the community of White Center, I want to thank King County Parks for their continued support this year for the Evergreen Aquatic Center. With their help, we can increase our swim lesson scholarship offerings this year, including even more youth in the community. Additionally, they will also allow us to improve the efficiency of our pool, reducing energy costs and increasing available funds for programming. We thank King County Parks for their continued vote of confidence.
This Parks Levy Grant will empower us to expand our work in public schools and partner with additional youth-serving organizations, facilitating low-barrier outdoor adventures in our parks and open spaces. Together, we will provide young people with instruction, food, equipment, and transportation, unlocking the benefits of time spent outside for hundreds more youth in South King County. We look forward to seeing you on the trail!
Contact
Eleanor Lee, King County Parks, 206-477-4530