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 project involves expansion of an existing 10 acre park through acquisition and development of an adjacent 17 acres. Our existing park contains a rodeo ground and two softball fields. Access to and parking for the park are threatened by the imminent construction of a new state highway segment. This project will provide new access and parking for the combined expanded park. It will also provide two new softball fields, a soccer field, a footbridge linking the new parcel to the old, trails, and stormwater ponds. Eventual build-out of the site will include picnic facilities, more trails, a playground, and one more ball field. The acquisition site is ideal. Topography and soils are good, and an existing stand of mature trees beautifies the north boundary of the site. Trails planned by both the city and the county will access the site. Finally, the site is central to Sumas’s UGA, facilitating pedestrian access for both existing and future residents. The expanded park will offer both active and passive recreation, will host regional events (the Sumas Rodeo), will serve as a local park, and will promote economic development. The project is strongly supported by residents and businesses and has attracted large private donations.