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 scope of this project is to construct an approximate 35,000 square foot accessible water play area at Crossroads Community Park in Bellevue. This will be the first playground in Bellevue specifically designed to accommodate the needs of the physically impaired, and the first to incorporate water as a significant play element. Interactive play features will provide for all levels of physical abilities, and designed to promote an appreciation of the different cultures represented in the area. Crossroads Community Park is ideally suited for this project. The water play area is an integral part of the adopted park Master Plan, which reflects the international flavor of the area. The neighborhood is the most ethnically diverse and economically challenged in Bellevue. 35% of its 10,000 residents are foreign-born and nearly 60% are at low to moderate income levels. The park includes family gathering places and accessible restrooms adjacent to the project site, and is home to the Kindering Center, which serves children with developmental disabilities. The project is a partnership between the City of Bellevue and the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club. The Rotary Club has committed to a major fundraising effort to construct this facility, and has raised $100,000 to date. The City has committed over $110,000 in local funds, has received two grants totaling $89,600, and received a $250,000 State CTED appropriation for this project.