Celebrations Calendar
Here are events such as opening ceremonies, dedications, and ribbon cuttings for facilities funded through the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board and the Salmon Recovery Funding Board.
Grand Opening for Magnuson Park Shore Ponds Project |
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Date: May 12, 2012 Time: 11:30 a.m. Location: Magnuson Park, Seattle (On top of the view mound by the exit from the boat ramp). Grant Award: Seattle used a $365,000 grant from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program to create about 2 acres of new wetlands as part of a larger restoration project to improve habitat and water quality. Work included adding new wetlands and enhancing existing wetlands by removing invasive plants, planting, and creating small ponds. Seattle also converted grasslands to a new wetland, and enhanced the upland buffer functions by creating upland shrub and eventually upland forest habitats in a mosaic. Seattle contribute $365,000 from voter-approved levy funds. |
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Grand Opening for Maple Hollow |
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Date: May 18, 2012 Time: Noon Location: 4411 Van Beek Road, Lakebay Information: Ceremony begins at noon, followed by a catered, barbecue lunch and a beach walk lead by a naturalist. RSVP by May 11 to answers@keypenparks.com, 253-884-9240. Web site: www.keypenparks.com/maple-hollow-park.htm. Grant Award: The Key Peninsula Metropolitan Park District used a $25,000, salmon recovery grant from the federal Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund to remove the remaining bulkhead and creosote railroad ties in the Maple Hollow natural area park on Carr Inlet, allowing for natural shoreline function. The park district also planted the disturbed areas with native plants. This was the second grant the park district received through RCO. Previously, the park district used a $344,200 grant from the Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account to renovate 10 of the park's 58 acres. Work included restoring the walking trail, viewpoints, picnic areas, and stairway to the beach, and removing most of the failing bulkhead. These improvements will allow the park to be opened to the public once again. The park has been closed to the public because of unsafe trails, a rotting wood retaining wall, and a failing bulkhead and stairway that provided the only path to the beach. Maple Hollow has more than a quarter-mile of saltwater beach and views of the Puget Sound and Mount Rainier. For these two grants, the park district contributed nearly $370,000 in matching resources. RCO had given a $75,000 grant to the state Department of Natural Resources in 1975 for the original development of the area as a boating destination. That funding came from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund and state bonds. |
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Grand Opening for Mason County Recreation Area Park's Infield Project |
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Date: May 1, 2012 Time: 5 p.m. Location: At the park, East 2100 Johns Prairie Road, Shelton Grant Award: Mason County used a $275,000 grant from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program to renovate two infields at the Mason County Recreation Area Park near Shelton. The 30-acre sports complex hosts seven baseball and softball fields, and is used by multiple youth leagues, the Shelton School District, and tournaments. The county replaced the dirt infields with synthetic turf. This project will improve field playability and reduce maintenance costs, rainouts, and the amount of water used at the park. The County also made facilities accessible to people with disabilities by paving park pathways and the access to the bleachers and dugouts. The County contributed $275,660 in cash, equipment, staff labor, and donations of equipment and labor. |
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Grand Opening for Auburn Environmental Park Boardwalk |
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Date: April 5, 2012 Time: 2:30 p.m. Location: Auburn Environmental Park, 413 Western Street. The park is at the end of Western Street, north of West Main Street. Information: Chris Andersen, environmental protection manager, 253-876-1962 or candersen@auburnwa.gov Grant Award: The City of Auburn used a $571,850 grant from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program to restore about 60 acres of low-quality wetlands to improve wildlife habitat and water quality in Mill Creek and provide a 2-mile trail. The trail is the city's first elevated boardwalk in a wetland. It meanders through the park between West Main Street and the city's existing bird viewing tower on Western Avenue Northwest that opened in 2010. The boardwalk features three viewing platforms and interpretive signs on the history of the area, how wetlands work, and the different birds and mammals that live in or visit the park. The city contributed $571,850. |
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Ribbon Cutting for New Docks in Cap Sante Boat Haven |
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| Date: March 16, 2012 Time: 11 a.m. Location: 1019 Q Avenue, Anacortes Grant Award: The Port of Anacortes used $1.4 million Boating Infrastructure Grant) to replace two guest moorage docks at Cap Sante Boat Haven with new docks that have 54 guest moorage slips. The Port replaced the more than 40-year-old wooden docks and piles with concrete floats and steel piles. The port also upgraded the power supply. Cap Sante Boat Haven has 30 guest moorage slips and receives more than 11,000 requests a year for guest moorage. Boat Haven is at a major Pacific Northwest destination, the gateway to the San Juan Islands in the Puget Sound. During boating season, Boat Haven has converted its permanent slips to temporary guest moorage slips to accommodate demand. The Port contributed $1.4 million. The picture is of the old docks being dismantled. |
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Susie Stephen's Trail Spring Creek Bridge Ribbon Cutting |
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 Date: November 26, 2011 Time: 10:30 a.m. Location: Winthrop Ice Rink (upstairs meeting room ) followed by a walk to the south end of the bridge for the ceremony at 11 a.m. Grant Award: Winthrop used this $1.4 million Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program grant to buy easements and design and construct a 1.3-mile, non-motorized trail. The 12-foot-wide, multi-use trail included a 400-foot cable bridge over the Methow River. The project has been a priority of the community for more than a decade. It links to the vast Methow Valley trail network, and in the future to trails planned by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and Okanogan County. The trail has generated numerous partnerships. Okanogan County granted funds to buy a trail head, the state Legislature included more than $1 million for the pedestrian bridge and a portion of the trail in the 2005 gas tax package, and several other organizations as diverse as the Bicycle Alliance of Washington and the North Central Washington Economic Development District have noted their support. Winthrop contributed more than $1.4 million in cash, a state grant, labor, and donations of cash, equipment, labor, materials, and property interest. |
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Riverfront Park's New Conservation Area |
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| Date: Nov. 3, 2011 Time: 1:30 p.m. Location: South End of Howard Street Blue Bridge, Spokane Grant Award: The Spokane Parks and Recreation Department used this $1 million Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account grant to buy .8 acre in the heart of the city’s Riverfront Park to open views of the majestic river falls. On the land sits a 46-year-old YMCA building, which the city plans to demolish. More than 2.5 million people visit the park annually. This location on the Spokane falls has been a gathering place for humans since time immemorial. Spokane will contribute nearly $4.4 million in cash and conservation futures. |
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Centennial Trail "Gap" Dedication |
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| Date: October 15, 2011 Time: 10 a.m. Location: Armar Road Trail Head, 15333 67th Ave. N.E., Arlington Grant Award: The Snohomish County Parks Department used a $1 million Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program grant to build nearly 2 miles of a 12-foot-wide paved, multipurpose, non-motorized recreational trail on abandoned railroad right-of-way from the existing Centennial Trail northward to the city of Arlington. This trail segment begins at the northernmost trail head of the existing trail (67th Ave. N.E. and 152nd Ave. N.E.), winds its way through forested property, across a bridge over Olav Strand Creek, and down to 67th Ave. N.E. and 172nd Ave. N.E. where it connects with Arlington's completed portion of the trail. This adds to the 17 miles of existing Centennial Trail, providing a critical and safe connection to Arlington. The county had received an earlier grant of $1.75 million from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program in 2005 to adds 9 miles of paved, non-motorized recreational trail and a parallel 6-foot soft surface equestrian trail north from Arlington to Skagit County. |
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Leach Creek Park Ribbon Cutting |
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Date: October 22, 2011
Time: 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. Ceremony followed by a walk of the site and site cleanup.
Location: Leach Creek Park
Grant Award: University Place used this $750,000 Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program grant to buy nearly 15 acres for a park. There are no other parks or public open spaces within the area, which serves about 11,590 residents. The park, which will have baseball fields, a picnic shelter with tables, children's play equipment, benches, and walking paths, also will be home to a trail head for the proposed Leach Creek Trail. The City contributed $750,000 in conservation futures.
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Whatcom Creek Trail Route Opening |
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| Date: Sept 29, 2011 Time: 1 p.m. Location: Whatcom Creek Trail, 1825 Ellis Street, Bellingham Platt Electric Supply parking lot Grant Award: Bellingham used two grants (Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program and Land and Water Conservation Fund) totaling $1.6 million to buy and develop 31 acres of park land for a non-motorized trail that runs along Whatcom Creek from Lake Whatcom to Interstate 5. The city’s ribbon cutting is celebrating the completion of the final link for the corridor between Lake Whatcom and Bellingham Bay, including a segment that was affected by the pipeline explosion and fire that killed two young boys playing in Whatcom Creek. The city has contributed more than $1 million in matching funds. (92-356, 92-389) |
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McLane Creek Nature Trail |
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| Date: September 23, 2011 Time: 2 p.m. Location: McLane Creek Nature Trail parking lot Grant Award: The Washington State Department of Natural Resources used a $82,896 grant from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program to renovate the McLane Creek Nature Trail to preserve public safety and protect natural resources. Work included replacing an aging log bridge, building an educational viewing platform to minimize damage to sensitive streamside plants and soil, redeveloping the entry by adding a covered structure for group gatherings, adding an information board, developing a new trail, and replacing the restrooms. (06-1769) |
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Chinese Reconciliation Park Fuzhou ting (pavilion) Dedication
Date: September 22, 2011
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: 1741 Schuster Parkway, Tacoma
Grant Award: Tacoma used a $419, 092 Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program grant to build a Chinese picnic shelter and a bridge over a grotto, landscape, install signs, complete utility work, and continue to stabilize and restore the beach in the Chinese Garden and Reconciliation Park, a multi-phased waterfront development on Commencement Bay. The park is dedicated to the reconciliation of the 1885 expulsion of the Chinese from Tacoma. Located at the southeastern end of the 2.5-mile Ruston Way recreation area, the park will provide access to a 200-foot beach for water activities. Phase 2 will include support from private corporations, foundations, the city, and the Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation. The completed Chinese Garden and Reconciliation project is anticipated to attract visitors worldwide. Tacoma will contribute $419,092 in cash, a grant, and cash donations. (06-1991)
Lions Park Completion
Date: Sept 9, 2011
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Park, 251 Lebo Blvd., Bremerton
Grant Award: Bremerton will use a $500,000 grant from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund to renovate the 1970s era Lions Park. The city will renovate the playfield, playground, restrooms, plaza, trails, signs, parking, and utilities. In addition, the city will restore the shoreline habitat, which will provide improved water quality for swimmers and boaters. The park is along Puget Sound. The city is contributing $1.2 million in cash and a state grant.
Enumclaw Ribbon Cutting for New Turf Field
Date: August 26, 2011
Time: 6 p.m
Location: Enumclaw Area Stadium, 45224 284th Ave. S.E., Enumclaw
Grant Award: Enumclaw used a $300,000 Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program grant to convert a 60-year-old sports field into a modern, multi-sports field with artificial turf. The field, known as Pete's Pool, was once the King County Fairgrounds Stadium and is the oldest football field in the state. The City will excavate the existing turf and soil, install a drainage system and artificial turf with football and soccer markings, update the visitor bleachers, replace the goal posts, install soccer goals, and put in accessible pathways to and around the field. The City also will make the parking lot accessible for people with disabilities. The field has poor drainage and turns into a muddy swamp by mid-season. There is no other artificial turf or lighted fields in the Enumclaw School District, which serves an area of more than 25,000 people. Enumclaw Field is the home field for high school and youth football teams. The City will contribute $600,000 in staff labor, local and private grants, and donations of cash, labor, and materials. (10-1410)
Percival Landing Grand Opening
Date: August 25, 2011
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Percival Landing Park, downtown Olympia
Grant Award: Olympia will used a $164,000 grant from the Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account to clear the shoreline of debris, partially reshape and stabilize it with natural materials, and replant native vegetation at the 3.38-acre Percival Landing Park. The boardwalk needs to be replaced if it is to remain open to the public. With this grant, crews added a connecting floating dock, which will complete the water-level pedestrian walkway all around the tip of Budd Inlet, as well as add two new gangways to access the pedestrian float system. The city contributed $164,000 toward the project.
The park features picnic areas, overnight boat moorage, restrooms, showers, a playground, and a .9-mile waterfront boardwalk that travels along the southern and eastern shoreline of West Bay in Budd Inlet.
Fallen Leaf Lake Park Dedication |
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Date: August 16, 2011 Time: 3:30 p.m. Location: At the park (Birch and 23rd) Parking: Marina’s North Parking Lot Grant Award: Camas used two grants to buy and develop 55 acres of shoreline, forest, and wetlands on the 20-acre |
| Fallen Leaf Lake at the north edge of the city. The land borders 45 acres of forested hillside that are preserved by the Columbia Land Trust. Historically, this site served as a private park and includes a large picnic shelter and tables.
Fallen Leaf Lake is part of an interconnected system of three lakes, known as the Lacamas Corridor, that includes Round and Lacamas Lakes. Camas and other partners already have helped preserve more than 800 acres within the corridor, and Fallen Leaf Lake is the last major acquisition to complete the community's vision for a linked system of waterfront parks and habitat. The two grants totaled $1.5 million and came from the state Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program and the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. The city contributed $567,800 toward the project. |
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Chinook Bend Natural Area Field Day Celebration |
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| Date: August 6, 2011 Time: 10 a.m. Location: 30200 NE Carnation Farm Road, Carnation, WA 98014 Grant Award: King County used a $395,350 Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account grant to provide a parking lot and trails in the Chinook Bend Natural Area, a prime fishing spot along the Snoqualmie River. Work included creating a safe entry road and parking lot; providing access for people with disabilities to new overlook of the wetlands; providing mowed trails through the wetland enhancement area and to the river; educational signs and a vault toilet. The County is controlling reed canary grass, which makes the land nearly impenetrable during its growing season. Over 15 acres of area has been planted with native trees and shrubs to enhance the wetland and to create a forested floodplain. The existing parking lot was unsafe because of its very short sight distance and steep hairpin turn to enter. The County contributed $884,000. (06-1704) |
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Auburn Environmental Park Ground Breaking
Date: July 16, 2011
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: North end of Western Avenue, Auburn
Grant Award: Auburn will use a $571,800 grant from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program to restore about 60 acres of low-quality wetlands to improve wildlife habitat and water quality in Mill Creek, improve storm water detention and flood control, improve the views along State Route 167, increase economic development opportunities and provide a 2-mile trail for bicyclists and pedestrians. Auburn will contribute $571,850.
Mukilteo Lighthouse Park Grand Opening |
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Date: July 16, 2011 Time: 10 a.m. Location: Lighthouse Park Grant Award: Mukilteo used $500,000 grant from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program to develop the north end of the 15-acre Mukilteo Lighthouse Park. The improvements will include: entry arbors and picket fencing that defines the bounds of |
| the lighthouse station; a plaza in front of the lighthouse; shade trees and shoreline plantings; a picnic shelter and band shell and restrooms; safe, accessible walkways within the lighthouse complex, along the waterfront and Front Street, and a section of a path to State Route 525; and interpretive signs that speak to the site’s rich natural and human history. About 1 million people use the park each year. The city contributed $500,000 in cash and cash donations.
Mukilteo received other grants for work in this park including a $500,000 grant from the Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account to begin the first of four phases of development of the park and two grants from the Boating Facilities Program totaling $770,000 to improve the boat launch and parking. |
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Klickitat Trail Celebration - Lyle to Fisher Hill BridgeDate: May 21, 2011 Time: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Location: Lyle Trail Head, on State Route 14, just east of the bridge, Lyle Grant Award: The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission received a $288,300 Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program grant to |  |
Kiwanis Boardwalk Ribbon CuttingDate: May 20, 2011Time: 4 p.m. Location: The boardwalk Grant Award: Mount Vernon Parks used a $322,000 Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program grant to build a children’s spray park and about .2 mile of boardwalk through a wetland. These are the last two | |
| elements to be built in the recently opened Kiwanis Park, located in the densest neighborhoods of Mount Vernon. The Boardwalk Trail will serve as the main pedestrian connection between the park and several apartment complexes as well as an interpretive feature for all park users. The city contributed $322,000 in cash, labor, and cash donations. The city received an earlier grant in 2006 for $300,000 from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program to develop the park. |  |
Seafarers' Memorial Park Re-Opening
Date: May 20, 2011
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: 601 Seafarer’s Way
Grant Award: The Port of Anacortes received a $304,500 grant from the Boating Facilities Program to install guest moorage buoys, a 200-foot-long grounding float, and make improvements to the surrounding area. The Port of Anacortes contributed $304,600 to the project.
Badger Mountain Park Splash and Play Grand Opening |
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Date: May 19, 2011 Time: 1:30 p.m. Location: At the park, 350 Keene Road, Richland Grant Award: The City of Richland used a $190,000 grant to build a 6,000-square-foot, water spray park in Badger Mountain Park, providing the only free, |
| aquatic facility for 18,000 residents within a 3-mile radius. Badger Mountain Park is an 80-acre community park with 40-acres dedicated mostly to youth activities. The spray park is accessible to people with disabilities and is next to a playground, picnic shelters, and paved parking lot. The City contributed $190,088 in cash and cash donations. This is the third grant the city has received. Previously, it received a $298,000 grant in 1997 to begin initial development of the park and another $44,000 grant in 2007 to add lighting to a sports field. The grants came from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund and the state Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program and Youth Athletic Facilities program. | |
