Yelm Highway Community Park Acquisition

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 Olympia will use this grant to buy 63 acres for an athletic field-oriented community park near Wiggins Road. The City will build three, full-size soccer fields, which currently are unavailable in the city’s park system. The city’s newest athletic field complex, Yauger Park, was built in 1982. Since then, Olympia’s population has grown by nearly 80 percent and youth soccer participation has grown along with it. There are more than 220 youth soccer teams and 2,600 youth soccer participants in one Olympia club alone. The City has seen similar growth in other sports that will use these fields such as lacrosse, ultimate Frisbee, youth football, and flag football. Olympia will contribute more than $6 million in voter-approved bonds.

Quick Facts

WWRP Applicant: Olympia City of Category: Local Parks WWRP Grant: $1,000,000.00 Applicant Match: $6,035,057.00 Project Type: Acquisition County: Thurston Legislative District: 35 Status: Active RCO Project # 20-1534

Location Details

From downtown Olympia, go south on Capital Way S. Turn left on Custer Way SE, then right on Cleveland Ave SE. Continue onto Yelm Highway SE. The property is on the right (south) side of Yelm Highway SE after Rich Road SE but just before Wiggins Rd. SE. There is a berry stand and signage identifying the site as Spooner Berry Farms.

What is the WWRP

The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) is a state grant program that creates and conserves local and state parks, wildlife habitat and working farms. The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office administers WWRP grants, and the legislature funds the program.