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 Spokane’s Parks and Recreation Department will use this grant to develop a half-acre into a regional playground in Riverfront Park in downtown Spokane. The City will turn a dirt parking lot into a safe and fun central playground, serving the dual purposes of encouraging active lifestyles and telling the story of the Ice Age Floods that sculpted the region. The former location of Expo ’74, The Worlds Fair, Riverfront Park has not had a comprehensive investment since 1978. There is only one small and outdated playground in the park and in downtown. The playground lacks equipment for children over pre-school age, doesn’t serve children with disabilities, has no elements connecting it to nature, and does not engage children in activities essential to early development. Spokane will contribute $1 million in voter-approved bonds and a grant from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.