Applicants are invited to apply for the 2023 King County Parks Levy Program Grant to invest in projects that make parks, green spaces, and recreation opportunities more accessible for King County residents.
Donor Name: King County
State: Washington
County:
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/15/2023
Size of the Grant: up to $5 million
Details:
Parks also aims to use a pro-equity lens in grantmaking to prioritize funding for projects that not only improve health outcomes and reduce disparities in underserved communities, but which are led by those communities being addressed.
King County Parks is now accepting applications for the following grant programs:
- Aquatic Facilities
- Parks Capital and Open Space
- Open Space – River Corridors
- Healthy Communities and Parks Fund
Aquatic Facilities
The Aquatic Facilities grant program helps communities preserve and increase public access to public pools as their region grows and existing facilities become obsolete or reach capacity. This grant program funds activities related to the renovation or expansion of existing facilities, or construction of new aquatic facilities in King County.
- $44 million in total funding 2020-2025
- $12.4 million in available funding in 2023
- Awards up to $5 million
- Biennial application (2023 and 2025)
Eligible Applicants
- City or town
- School District
- Park District
- Other public entities that own public aquatic facilities
Eligible Project Types
- Acquisition
- Feasibility Study
- Planning and Design
- Construction
Examples of Funded Projects
- Renovations to the Enumclaw Aquatic Center to improve accessibility for more community members
- Construction of a new public indoor aquatic center in North Bend designed to support a diverse range of programming for all ages and abilities in Snoqualmie Valley
- Feasibility study for a North King County aquatic center to serve the Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, and Shoreline communities
Parks Capital and Open Space
The Parks Capital and Open Space grant program supports a range of projects that expand and improve recreation opportunities for the region’s growing population, including the development of active and passive recreation and trail facilities, and the acquisition of open space for future public parks.
- $25 million in total funding 2020-2025
- $9.9 million in available funding in 2023
- Awards up to $1 million
- Biennial application (2023 and 2025)
Eligible Applicants
- City or town
- Park District
Eligible Project Types
- Acquisition
- Feasibility Study
- Planning and Design
- Construction
Examples of Funded Projects
- Enhancing amenities at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park in Renton, including ADA accessible waterfront picnic floats
- Building a main entrance with parking at Jenkins Creek Park in Covington, along with other improvements to increase access, safety, and environmental quality
- A design to develop a teen and senior center in Tukwila, incorporating multigenerational community engagement efforts to create recreation, gathering spaces and gardens in Tukwila
Open Space – River Corridors
The Open Space – River Corridors grant program supports projects that help restore the natural functions of rivers, create or restore public access, and/or increase public awareness of river corridors as valuable natural resources. This grant program incentivizes multi-benefit projects that integrate recreation and habitat restoration with larger floodplain management efforts.
- $22 million in total funding 2020-2025
- $9.9 million in available funding in 2023
- Awards up to $1 million
- Biennial application (2023 and 2025)
All projects must be located within King County and be associated with one or more of the following rivers: Cedar; Duwamish; Green; Raging; Sammamish; Snoqualmie; South Fork Skykomish; Tolt; White.
Eligible Applicants
- City or town
- King County agency
- Port, Flood, Conservation, or Diking and
- Drainage Districts
- Salmon recovery forums
- Nonprofit organization
- Tribal organization
Eligible Project Types
- Acquisition
- Feasibility Study
- Planning and Design
- Construction
- Project-specific outreach and education
Examples of Funded Projects
- Planning for Gateway North Park, a new park along the Duwamish River in Georgetown that will feature upland restoration, passive recreational opportunities, and access to the river
- Acquiring a 17-acre parcel of undeveloped floodplain adjacent to Three Forks Park between North Bend and Snoqualmie
- Restoring critical riparian habitat along the Lower Green River in Auburn and connecting diverse youth to green jobs training and the engaging community with salmon recovery efforts
Healthy Communities and Parks Fund
The Healthy Communities & Parks Fund (HCPF), part of the Targeted Equity Grant Program, supports projects that increase access to recreation and use of parks, open spaces, and recreational facilities in underserved areas and communities. This grant program intends to reduce health disparities in various underserved communities and invest in their capacities to meet the unique needs of their residents.
- $10 million in total funding 2020-2025
- $1.4 million in available funding in 2023
- Awards up to $250,000
- Annual application (2023, 2024, 2025
HCPF Tier 1
- Awards up to $15,000
HCPF Tier 2
- Awards between $15,000 and $250,000
Eligible Applicants
- City or Town
- King County Agency
- Nonprofit organization
- Tribal organization
- Fiscally-sponsored organization
Eligible Project Types
- Acquisition
- Feasibility Study
- Planning and Design
- Construction
- Programs
- Community Capacity Building
Examples of Funded Projects
- Improving access to Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands by extending open hours, installing ADA trails, adding site amenities that include signage and expanded u-pick gardens, and enhancing site stewardship
- Renovating and improving the popular areas bordering the playfields of Garfield Park with historic and culturally relevant public art installations, site furnishings, a loop path, ADA ramps, inclusive play equipment, safety upgrades, and a new restroom facility
- Connecting the Latino/Latina/Latinx immigrant community in South King County with culturally relevant, multilingual parks, recreation, and outdoor opportunities through youth soccer programs, summer camps, and parent advocacy
For more information, visit Parks Levy Grant.
