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 Vancouver developed a 7.3 acre park on the Columbia River in downtown Vancouver, located west of the I-5 bridge in Clark County, known as the “Vancouver Waterfront Park” . This project achieved the city’s vision to reconnect downtown Vancouver to the Columbia River with a vibrant waterfront park for passive and active recreation that reestablishes public access to ½ mile stretch of the river that had been blocked for over 100 years. The overall project includes overlooks, pathways, extension of the Columbia Renaissance Trail, reconstruction of the shoreline, open lawns, terraced stone seating, retaining walls, stairs, upland sandy beach with fish sculptures, children’s climbing net, interpretive panels, signage, restroom facilities, landscaping and irrigation, lighting and utilities consisting of water, electrical, and storm water facilities. The project is anchored by the iconic Grant Street Pier and Plaza, and an interactive water feature that tells the story of the Columbia River. RCO contributed to the development of 2.75 acres of the park. RCOs contribution was used to fund the viewpoints and overlooks, secondary pathways, open lawns and landscape areas, basalt stone seating terraces and walls, irrigation, an upland sand beach with fish sculptures, benches, bike racks, trash receptacles, entry and interpretive signs and partial utilities consisting of water, stormwater and electrical services,.