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Spokane: Parks & Recreation Secures Top Ranking for $4.6M in State Grant Match

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~ Spokane, Wash. - The City of Spokane Parks & Recreation department has recently applied for five grants from the Washington State Recreation & Conservation Office (RCO) to enhance upcoming park levy improvement projects. These grant applications have earned top six rankings, giving them a good chance of receiving matching grants if the Washington State Legislature approves funding.

The total amount requested in the grant applications is $4,641,000 and aligns with Parks & Recreation's goal of securing 20% state and federal grant funding to match local Park Levy dollars. This will ensure that the community receives maximum return on their tax investment.

According to Parks and Recreation director Garrett Jones, this approach reflects the desires of the community for efficient spending, maximum return on investment, and smart collaborations. "By applying for state and federal matching grants, we can leverage our local taxpayer dollars to stretch their investments further," Jones stated. He also highlighted Meadowglen Park as an example of successful collaboration with two RCO matching grants totaling $2.5 million being used to build a park in a neighborhood without park access.

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The grant applications were submitted for four different projects: Franklin Park Youth Ballfields Renovation, Iron Bridge River Gateway, Minnehaha Community Park Redevelopment, and a pump track for youth athletic facilities. These projects have received high rankings from RCO's evaluation process - #5 out of 58 for Franklin Park Youth Ballfields Renovation in the RCO Youth Athletic Facilities program; #1 out of 16 for Iron Bridge River Gateway in the RCO Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account; #3 out of 17 for Minnehaha Community Park Redevelopment in the RCO Washington Wildlife and Recreation program; and #6 out of 58 for the pump track in the RCO Youth Athletic Facilities program.

The final decision on these grants will be made by the RCO Board on October 27. However, in order to receive an award, the Washington State Legislature must allocate funding to the grant programs in the 2027-2029 budget. If approved, these projects are expected to begin design in late 2027 and enter construction in 2028/2029.

All of these projects have been identified as 'first tier' community priorities in the 2022 park master plan and the Together Spokane park levy package. To learn more about these projects, visit TogetherSpokane.org/parks-levy.

The City of Spokane Parks & Recreation department manages nearly 120 properties across 4,000 acres of park land, including manicured parks, natural lands, aquatic centers, golf courses, sports complexes, and an arboretum. They also offer a wide range of recreation opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to improve their health and quality of life. For more information about their services and facilities, visit spokaneparks.org or follow them on social media @SpokaneParks.

Filed Under: Government, City

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