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 objective of this project is to extend the amount of playing time on an existing softball field at Skagit Playfields (“Custer Field”) that has insufficient drainage, poor turf quality, and no lighting. This field has deteriorated to such a condition that it is playable three months less a year when compared to other fields in the immediate area as well as being the last to receive lights. This renovation work will include leveling, sand layer, drainage, fencing, backstops, dugouts, and installation of field lighting. We expect these changes to increase the length of the play season and improve the quality of the play environment. In addition we expect this renovation to save the Parks and Recreation Department money in maintenance. The field currently must be mowed in a time-consuming manner with hand mowers as the more efficient but heavy tractor mowers sink in and damage the wet field. Additionally, the improvement of this field will contribute economically to the community in tourism dollars generated on tournament weekends. Skagit Playfields Complex is part of an inter-local agreement signed in 1978 between Skagit County and Skagit Valley College. This project is supported and utilized by a number of organizations. Skagit County Parks and Recreation uses this field for many of its league games and Skagit Valley College schedules several levels of collegiate play there. The Skagit Valley Softball Association, a non-profit organization, has offered $75,000 in support.