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
Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) will use this grant to develop a new park at the Lake City Natural Area in northeast Seattle. The property was acquired in 2018 and is currently a blank canvas ready to serve the community. SPR is seeking development funds for the recreation elements of the park. The project aims to address inequitable access to parks and open spaces in this racially diverse, underserved urban area. The park will feature a pathway, with site furnishings, view points and more through the floodplain and over Thornton creek, as well as an ADA parking space. The primary goal is to create an accessible natural area for passive recreation in a newly restored habitat offering opportunities for walking, picnicking, and socializing, enhancing community health and well-being. Restoration elements, which are outside the scope of this application, will protect and restore riparian habitat along the creek, benefiting priority species such as salmon. This project is a priority for SPR, Seattle Public Utilities, Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group, and the community due to its potential to address systemic inequities in park investment and enhance environmental stewardship in Lake City. The community-led effort to purchase and repurpose the property along Thornton Creek highlights the unique opportunity to protect urban natural resources while creating much-needed recreational space.