Press release:

A project to provide 20 acres of new usable public open space on top of the newly lidded reservoir at West Seattle Park, and to create an innovative addition adjacent to the existing Westcrest Park, is poised to receive a $500,000 grant from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program.

“This West Seattle Park is a great example of how local citizens can work with WWRP to obtain funding for a wonderful community space,” said Senator Sharon Nelson. “I am very pleased that this grant request was highly rated.”

The state Recreation and Conservation Office in October formally approved the final rankings for projects across the state, including Reservoir Park. The go-ahead to proceed is contingent upon the Legislature approving the Coalition’s request for funding. To learn more about the project, visit the Coalition’s project webpage, HYPERLINK "http://WildlifeRecreation.org/wwrp-projects/counties/King_County" WildlifeRecreation.org/wwrp-projects/counties/King_County.

Each year, hundreds of applicants — from local grassroots organizations to government entities — submit applications for grant funding from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program. Since 1990, the Program has provided more than $615 million for more than 1,000 neighborhood and state parks, ball fields, trails, beaches, farms and wildlife habitat areas across the state. By requiring that local project applicants provide matching funds, Program grants leverage funding from cities, counties and park districts, as well as private and philanthropic funding sources. 

This year, cities, counties, and state lands departments requested $192 million to fund almost 280 projects across the state. The Recreation and Conservation Office, the state agency that administers the WWRP’s grant program, competitively ranked the projects to ensure only the best are funded. 

If the Legislature approves the Coalition’s 2011-13 capital budget request, 124 projects across the state will be funded in order of rank. If the Legislature approves less than the Coalition requests, projects will cut from the bottom, with funding provided only to those projects the Program can afford.

While the Legislature will struggle to balance the operating budget, the same pressures do not burden the capital budget side. Construction projects funded out of the state capital budget do not compete with services paid for out of the operating budget. In fact, investment in open space projects helps the state economy. According to a recent study released by The Trust For Public Land, outdoor recreation and open space opportunities contribute $8.5 billion annually in actual retail sales and services across the state, supporting 115,000 jobs and generating $650 million in annual sales tax revenue.

Moreover, investment in open space provides a sound investment for property owners, who reap health and economic benefits from close proximity to parks and open space.

“Even in these economic times, homebuyers feel so strongly about parks and recreation, and they are willing to pay more for that benefit,” said Bill Riley, President of the Washington Association of Realtors. “In our surveys we found that 50 percent of homebuyers would pay 10 percent more for a house located near a park or open space. The parks and trails established by the work of the WWRP across Washington have added significantly to the quality of life that clearly people care about.”

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The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition is a non-profit citizens group founded in 1989 by Govs. Dan Evans and Mike Lowry. In 1990, the Coalition convinced the Legislature to create the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program to provide a source of grant funding to protect parks, wildlife and fish habitat, forest lands, working farms, and open space areas across the state. Today, the Coalition includes more than 270 businesses and environmental, recreational, and community groups in Washington. The Fund has provided more than $618 million to more than 1,000 projects since 1990. To learn more, visit the Coalition’s website, HYPERLINK "http://www.WildlifeRecreation.org" www.WildlifeRecreation.org.