October 11, 2024

We’re excited to show you the ranked lists for WWRP and even better, you can see exactly how much will get funded with our $150 Million ask if the legislature meets that level!

The highest ranked Local Parks acquisition project. Skagit County will use this grant to expand and reopen Big Rock Park–a Skagit landmark and land that has been important to the local Tribes for centuries.

WWRP covers three main accounts, Habitat, Recreation, and Working Lands. The spread of funding into these accounts will help continue to stimulate our economy and contribute towards restoration and protection of valuable wildlife habitat, farmland, forestland, and ecosystems. Through new equity criteria in the recreation category, top ranked projects are more likely to serve underrepresented, more vulnerable areas with fewer greenspace – contributing towards both access and also health for the whole of the State.

The fourth ranked Trails project. The Kay Wagner Riverwalk fulfills a 30-year vision to open up public trail access along the scenic confluence of the Methow and Chewuch Rivers. Winthrop will use this grant to acquire easements and construct a segment of trail connecting the Susie Stephens Trail to Confluence Park

By the numbers, with this investment, the total funding leveraged will be over $238 million into our State – funding trails, natural areas, water access, farmland, forestland, and more. Overall, $150 Million would distribute funding to 116 projects in over 20 of our State counties.

The highest ranked Urban Wildlife (from land trust sponsors) project — Green Mountain Protection. Great Peninsula Conservancy will permanently protect 350 acres of undeveloped land located within 2 miles of the City of Bremerton in Kitsap County. This land encompasses high quality wildlife habitat including mature and diverse forest stands, wetlands, and streams supporting ESA-listed salmonid species within the Chico Creek watershed.

It’s important to note that $150 Million doesn’t fund everything and the demand is higher than ever for recreation, conservation, and working lands in the State. $150 Million meets a large amount of this demand and continues to promote why many choose to live in Washington – the outdoors!