….and we’ve got a few stories to tell.
For starters, what do a floating boardwalk, a skatepark, a ballfield, and an aging dock have in common?
WWRP-funded projects we visited in August, of course!
This month, we packed our vans and hit the road – and the water – to see what outdoor recreation looks like on the ground. Along the way, we brought seven legislators with us, visited five communities, and were reminded again and again that there is no better way to understand the impact of the WWRP than to get out there and experience it for yourself.
First stop: Vashon Island.
We met up with Representative Brianna Thomas to visit the completed Vashon Athletic Fields before making our way to Tramp Harbor Dock. The ballfields offered a chance to see a WWRP investment already serving the community, while the aging dock gave us a look at what future investment could make possible.
From Vashon, we headed east to Bellevue, where Representative Osman Salahuddin joined us at Meydenbauer Bay Park and Inspiration Playground. It’s hard not to be reminded of what parks mean to a community when you see people actively using them – and as you can see by the picture below, Inspiration Playground was popping at noon on a Monday!
Then came a three-legislator tour in Covington. Senator Claudia Kauffman and Representatives Debra Entenman and Chris Stearns joined us at Founders Park, where we talked about the importance of investing in outdoor spaces that bring communities together. Special shoutout to Representative Stearns, who earned the distinction of joining us for his second WWRC tour of the summer. Yvonne’s dog Ranger was the real winner here – he got two rounds of pets.
Next up: Seattle’s Washington Park Arboretum, where Senator Jamie Pedersen joined us to explore the Foster Island floating boardwalk redevelopment. We walked both phases of the project, seeing how thoughtful investment can improve accessibility and safety while protecting the wetlands and riparian habitat surrounding this remarkable urban area.
And finally, we headed north to Ferndale with Representative Rule for a visit to Metalworks Skatepark. With its concrete bowls, ramps, shade structures, and plenty of room to ride, Metalworks is a great example of what happens when communities create outdoor spaces with young people in mind. It’s a place to skate, ride, hang out, practice that new trick you’ve been working on, and if you’re getting older like us, quickly remember that your knees are no longer what they used to be.
Five tours. Five very different places. One big idea.
WWRP projects don’t all look alike – and that’s the point. They meet communities where they are, whether that means improving access to a waterfront, creating a place for kids to play, protecting habitat, supporting athletic fields, or giving skaters a place to call their own.
August gave us a chance to see all of that up close. We’re deeply grateful to the local leaders, project partners, RCO staff, and WWRC board members who joined us along the way. And to the legislators who took the time to tour these projects with us: thank you. Your leadership and continued investment in the WWRP are what make these projects possible – and what turn ideas on paper into places people can enjoy for generations to come.
