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 Kitsap County Parks and Recreation Department will use this grant to buy about 35 acres next to the 572-acre Illahee Preserve, a Kitsap County regional park located in the most densely populated part of the county, which borders Bremerton. The County plans to use the land for recreational activities, picnicking, family gatherings, and access to trails and the future Native American natural exhibit in the preserve. The area has not been developed because of its unique natural features and is so pristine and wild that it has been called “The Lost Continent.” The County has purchased major portions of the preserve during the past decade, but several key parcels of land, including these 35 acres, are critical public access points and have been unavailable in the past. Kitsap County will contribute $790,690 in cash, a grant from the salmon recovery program, and donations of cash and land from the local community and the landowner.