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 City of University Place will use this grant to develop a 2400-square-foot apple themed playground with a long seating wall for parents to sit & watch their children play, a 2-unit restroom, 5 new on-street parking spaces with 2 designated ADA accessible stalls & a gateway sign. An accessible concrete path will be built, winding through the trees & connecting the on-street parking areas to the playground, restroom, and bandshell viewing area & stage. This path will be imprinted with orchard themed images (apple leaves, animal footprints, etc.) that will create a fun scavenger hunt for kids travelling the path. An existing wetland will be enhanced by removing invasive species & replanting with native wetland plants. Interpretive signs will be placed along the walkway. The project will create new opportunities for play & exercise and allow this gem of a park to be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities.The Curran Apple Orchard is a unique park at the site of a 70-year-old historic apple orchard with over 200 apple trees. A bandshell exists at the park that supports many events including a popular summer concert series. There are no permanent restroom facilities and only a meager play area exists, consisting of a small gravel area with 2 artificial rocks. On street parking exists along Grandview, however no dedicated ADA stalls exist. No accessible walkways are in the park, preventing many from enjoying the park.