Clallam County has been awarded more than $3 million and Jefferson County has received nearly $2 million in state recreation and conservation grant funding.
The Recreation and Conservation Funding Board awarded more than $148 million to projects across the state that will build and improve parks and trails, conserve wildlife habitat and maintain land for farming and forestry, according to a press release.
“These grants are critical to keeping Washington a premiere destination for outdoor adventure as well as a great place for Washingtonians to live,” said Megan Duffy, director of the Recreation and Conservation Office, which supports the board. “These grants are key to building great communities. The grants help communities light ball fields, make parks accessible to people with disabilities, connect gaps in trail systems, refurbish pools and resurface pickleball courts.”
Clallam County’s projects include $624,150 to North Olympic Land Trust to conserve Cameron Farm Estates, $1,986,750 to North Olympic Land Trust to conserve Heifer Farm, $500,000 to Sequim to build an inclusive playground at Margaret Kirner Park and $193,088 to the state Department of Natural Resources to maintain North Olympic Trails for motorized uses.
• Cameron Farm Estates: The North Olympic Land Trust will use the grant to buy a voluntary land preservation agreement, also called a conservation easement, on 38.6 acres of farmland in the Sequim-Dungeness area.
• Heifer Farm: The North Olympic Land Trust will use the grant to buy a conservation easement on the 133.6-acre Heifer Farm in the Sequim-Dungeness area.
• Margaret Kirner Park: The playground will feature new play equipment, including inclusive swings, a spinner, a net climber and an interactive sound wall.
• North Olympic Trails: The Department of Natural Resources will use the grant to maintain 48 miles of offroad vehicle trail, a campground and trailheads in the Foothills and Sadie Creek trail systems near Port Angeles.
Jefferson County’s projects include $345,560 to Jefferson County to replace Memorial Field infrastructure and $1,545,085 to the Department of Natural Resources to expand the Dabob Bay Natural Area.
• Memorial Field: Jefferson County Parks and Recreation will use the grant to replace the scoreboard, football goal posts and fencing at Memorial Athletic Field in downtown Port Townsend.
• Dabob Bay Natural Area: The Department of Natural Resources will use the grant to buy nearly 19 acres of shoreline and mature forest in the Dabob Bay Natural Area.
Several studies have shown the value outdoor recreation provides to communities and have estimated that it supports more than 6 percent of all jobs in Washington, according to the press release.
“Recreation not only is important to Washington’s economy, but to the health of the people who recreate here,” Duffy said. “Countless studies have shown that spending time outside can improve a person’s physical and mental health, reduce stress and even improve eyesight. It also does so much for our kids, including helping them improve their social connections and school grades. These grants are important for ensuring there are great places to recreate across Washington.”
In total, the board awarded 242 grants to projects in 35 of the state’s 39 counties, according to the release. The board received 411 applications requesting more than $266 million in funding, meaning just more than half (59 percent) of the projects received funding.
In addition to recreation, the grants help cities, counties, tribes and state agencies conserve undeveloped areas for wildlife and conserve forests and farmlands for the future.
“Washington is known for its great outdoor spaces and its legacy of farming and forestry,” Duffy said. “As Washington’s population grows, if we don’t conserve that land now, it won’t be there to continue those legacies.”
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Reporter Emily Hanson can be reached by email at emily.hanson@peninsuladailynews.com.
