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
This proposal is to acquire three 2.5 acre vacant parcels to expand Bombing Range Sports Complex, the city’s most used park. Developed in phases by volunteers and the city, the complex is currently comprised of 17.5 acres improved with two baseball fields, five soccer fields, one multi-purpose field, kicking wall, a playground area, and parking lot. This project will increase the complex to a total of 25 acres and help meet the growing demand for general park space and more area for organized sports and community events. On a typical day in organized sports, more than 200 children use the park for games or practices. Due to space limitations, football and softball games cannot be held at the complex and soccer players practice at other places that do not have drinking water or restrooms. West Richland’s population has nearly doubled over the past 6 years, and the city continues to grow. Our 1998 Office of Financial Management population is 7,295 and more than 500 people have moved in during the past year. We have 18 Little League teams compared to Richland (population 37,250) with 16 teams. Previously, our soccer teams were combined with Richland’s teams. Today we are a separate division with as many teams as Richland. Our rapid residential growth coupled with slow growth in industry severely taxes the city’s ability to fund needed recreational facilities. Although managed by West Richland, this project will serve Benton City, Kiona and the entire Tri-City area. Legal description of project: Sec 8, T9N, R28E, W.M., West Richland, Benton County, WA. Bombing Range Sports Complex Master Plan, is affixed as Attachment A to this Agreement.