Category Overview
Local Parks grants help protect these symbols of vibrant communities, providing places for families to gather and play and promoting a healthy and active lifestyle in an era when people spend increasing amounts of their time inside. The WWRP is the largest source of local parks funding in Washington, helping communities fund the acquisition, development, and renovation of vital recreation areas and green spaces.
Project Highlights
The 1994 Snohomish County Comprehensive Park Plan highlighted the need for youth and adult athletic facilities throughout the county. Following the Plan’s adoption, Snohomish County Parks convened the Regional Recreation Task Force in 1995 to develop an action plan to provide the needed land and facilities. Of the issues identified in this plan, field supply was at the top of the list, followed by the unequal distribution of fields and facilities between established urban areas and the further-out UGAs (Urban Growth Areas) adjacent to the rural zones. Snohomish County Parks incorporated this information into the 2001 Comprehensive Parks Plan, which is providing a guide for current park site identification and acquisitions in the UGAs to meet these sports field demands. This North County Ballfield proposal is an effort to address the ballfield supply shortage by acquiring a portion of the DNR Sisco 36 site located between the cities of Marysville and Arlington, both of which are experiencing significant residential growth and youth soccer and little-league baseball participation. Currently the Marysville youth soccer groups are utilizing a school district property just across the street from our targeted site, but will be forced to relocate due to construction of an elementary school facility. The County’s proposed site will have enough space for 3 to 4 soccer fields and two baseball complexes with associated parking, a perimeter jogging path, and children’s play area.