King County strengthens communities through grants to youth sports providers
Funded through one-quarter of 1 percent car rental tax, King County’s YSFG program has provided $12 million in matching grants since inception
Matching fund grants totaling $550,000 through King County’s Youth Sports Facilities Grant (YSFG) program were announced today by Executive Dow Constantine.
“From batting cages in Federal Way to playgrounds in Shoreline – the projects backed by these grants are helping young people get out and play, strengthening families and communities across King County,” said Executive Constantine, who praised the strong partnerships with numerous community and youth sports organizations.
The YSFG program will leverage an additional $750,000 for local parks and recreation projects through agreements with cities, schools and local community groups.
The grants, as large as $75,000, are administered by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks. The YSFG program is funded and sustained through a one-quarter of 1 percent car rental tax. Funds can only be used for developing and constructing facilities, and not for maintenance or operations costs.
Participating community organizations must match the grant money. King County has awarded more than $12 million in grants since the YSFG program's 1993 inception, resulting in more than 300 new or renovated youth sports facilities throughout the county.
Awards for the YSFG program for the year 2014 are:
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Applicant
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Project
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Award
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Mercer Island School District
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Mary Wayte Pool
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$59,000
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Shoreline Parks and Recreation
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Sunset School Park
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$65,000
|
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Seattle Public Schools
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View Ridge Community Play Space
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$60,000
|
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Federal Way National Little League
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Backstops and batting cages
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$56,000
|
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Auburn School District
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Pioneer Elementary playground
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$61,500
|
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Bellevue Boys & Girls Club
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Hidden Valley field house
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$50,000
|
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Sammamish Rowing Association
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Boathouse
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$50,000
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Seattle Parks & Recreation
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Montlake Family Fitness sports court
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$53,500
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South County Health Initiative Consortium
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Childhood Obesity Reduction Project
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TBD
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Suburban cities and school districts are encouraged to partner with youth sports leagues and community organizations to apply for grants. Grant funds can be used for a variety of projects, including construction or rehabilitation of ball fields, playgrounds and sport courts, among others.
Ms. Hettrick, Thank you for writing this article. It is great to learn of concern for parks and open space for our youth.
ReplyDeleteComing up, presumably, will be redevelopment of the CedarBrook property on the eastern edge of Shoreline, the fringe area of the city bordering Lake Forest Park along Perkins Way. Currently, the property is owned by the Shoreline School District, within the Shoreline City limits and being used (at least partially) by a private school and as a dog park & soccer field. It is an important property which could, eventually, be used to provide active park space for kids, both indoor and out. In my opinion, it is important for our communities to provide engaging, constructive opportunities for our youth. Having spaces such as the Sunset School Park and CedarBrook are important aspects of being able to provide these opportunities.
Hopefully, the Living Wisdom School currently using the CedarBrook facilities will be successful and contribute to redevelopment of the property as is needed and wanted by the surrounding residents. It looks like the philosophy for the school and my vision of an inter-generational community center providing engaging opportunities for youth are similar. This is a great use of the property that I do think is valued by local residents and needed by many students in the area. If, though, for whatever reason this changes, it will be important for the Shoreline School District, Shoreline and Lake Forest Park officials to work together to preserve this asset just as has been done for Sunset Park.
The timing of this is not so crucial now. There is no urgency to this matter. It is just important for residents to know of changes like that of Sunset Park, potential of changes to the CedarBrook property, their options and to have a chance to provide input. It is extremely important that no on is caught off guard or left uninformed.
~ Jason Colberg
Lake Forest Park resident