Grants include $200,000 awarded to Chelan and Manson Parks & Recreation projects
information released, photo courtesy of Lake Chelan Golf Course
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) announced the award of $4.7 million for 53 projects through its Local Parks Maintenance grant program. The Legislature created the grant program this past year to address maintenance backlogs in local parks.
“We are seeing an overwhelming demand for this type of funding,” said Megan Duffy, RCO director. “During the pandemic and continuing today, more people are visiting parks, which can strain staff and facilities, especially in smaller communities. These grants will begin to make a difference in those places.”
Grants were awarded for a range of projects. For example, the City of Forks will replace the 38-year-old cedar shake roof and siding on the Tillicum ball field restrooms while the Port of Mattawa will replace a park maintenance truck that has a failed transmission and is beyond repair. The City of Othello will buy a larger and faster lawn mower to groom 50 acres of parkland, which currently requires three staff with three smaller mowers to complete weekly mowing. The City of Sunnyside will paint the 48-year-old Central Park pool house and the City of Friday Harbor will replace rotted boardwalk planks and beams in Sunken Park.
In the Lake Chelan Valley, $100,000 was awarded to Chelan Parks and Recreation Department for much needed repairs to parking lots at Don Morse Park, Lakeshore Marina, and the Lake Chelan Golf Course.
The Manson Parks and Recreation District also received $100,000 for repairs to the parking lot at Singleton Park.
Chelan Parks and Recreation Department — Grant Awarded: $100,000
Repairing Parking Lots in Chelan Parks
The Chelan Parks and Recreation Department will use this grant to seal cracks, repair some areas, recoat, and stripe parking lots in three of Chelan’s most significant parks: Don Morse Park, the adjacent Lakeshore Marina (together comprising Chelan’s public waterfront), and Lake Chelan Golf Course.
The parking lots have been damaged by the sun, water, vehicle fluids, and the extreme temperature fluctuations experienced in Chelan. Ice-melting salts and snow plowing exacerbate the degradation of the asphalt surfaces.
Public access of the waterfront is a rarity because most of the lakefront in the city is privately owned. An estimated two million tourists visit the Chelan Valley annually.
Visit RCO’s online Project Snapshot for more information and photographs of this project. (23-1536)
Manson Parks and Recreation District — Grant Awarded: $100,000
Repairing the Parking Lot in Singleton Park
The Manson Parks and Recreation District will use this grant to repair the gravel parking lot in Singleton Park, a ten-acre, day-use park that primarily offers sports courts and fields.
The parks and recreation district will fill potholes, level the gravel road and parking areas to fix access and drainage issues, and resurface high-traffic areas such as the park entrance and parking stalls for people with disabilities.
The park entrance and parking lot experience significant wear and tear due to high traffic and extreme weather.
Visit RCO’s online Project Snapshot for more information and photographs of this project. (23-1764)
Singleton Park – photo courtesy of Manson Parks and Recreation District
Grants were awarded in the following counties (click below to see descriptions of the grants):
“Many of the grants went to communities that struggle to find the resources to maintain parks,” Duffy said. “We received 214 applications requesting nearly $19 million and we were able to fund just under a quarter of the projects. That will make a big difference in those communities.”
More information about the grant program is available on RCO’s website.
