It was an exciting week for the Washington Wildlife & Recreation Program (WWRP), with two very different – but equally inspiring – events showcasing the impact of investing in outdoor recreation and community spaces.
Rain Couldn’t Stop Our Party at Curtin Creek Community Park!
On June 6, despite plenty of rain, spirits were high at the grand opening of Curtin Creek Community Park in Clark County. Led by Clark County Public Works, the celebration brought together local partners, legislators, community leaders, and even multiple generations of the Curtin family to celebrate a park years in the making. Funded by a $500K WWRP Local Parks grant and a $350K Youth Athletic Facilities grant, the new park features walking trails, wildlife viewing areas, sports fields, playgrounds, and gathering spaces that will serve the community for decades to come.
We were thrilled to celebrate alongside Senator Adrian Cortes and Representative Stephanie McClintock, whose support for WWRP funding helps make projects like Curtin Creek possible. And yes, the cupcakes supplied by Clark County were pretty great too – not pictured because we were too busy eating ’em!
A Sneak Peek into the Future of Malaga’s Riverfront
Just two days later, on June 8, the Coalition organized a tour of the Malaga Waterfront Park Acquisition Project in Chelan County with Representative Brian Burnett and local partners. A big thank you to Chelan County Natural Resources and Commissioner Overbay for hosting and sharing their vision for what will become an incredible new waterfront destination along the Columbia River.
The County has already used two WWRP Local Parks grants to fund the acquisition of the future Malaga Waterfront Park, investing more than $1.5 million to secure over 20 acres for recreation opportunities, including river access, trails, playgrounds, wildlife viewing areas, and sports facilities. Looking ahead, Chelan County has applied for additional WWRP funding this cycle to begin developing the park and turn their vision into reality.
Together, these projects tell the story of the WWRP at its very best: creating vibrant new places for communities to gather, play, explore, and connect with the outdoors. They also highlight why continued investment in the program matters. Today’s ribbon cuttings and project tours are made possible by funding decisions made years earlier – and the projects we’ll be celebrating in the coming years depend on sustained support for the WWRP in the 2027–29 biennium.
From brand-new community parks to future waterfront destinations, the future of public outdoor recreation in Washington is bright. We can’t wait to see what’s next – and we hope to see you out there!
