Youth Athletic Facilities (YAF)
The Youth Athletic Facilities program provides funding to acquire, develop, equip, maintain, and improve community athletic facilities.
The grant program was approved by Washington voters as part of Referendum 48, which helped fund the Seattle Seahawks stadium.
The primary focus of the program is the athletic facility needs of people through the age of 18 who participate in sports and athletics. Compatible multi-generation use – including amateur adult use – of facilities funded through this program is strongly encouraged.
An athletic facility is a facility dedicated to the purposes of sports and athletics. Athletic facility excludes playgrounds, tot lots, vacant lots, open or undeveloped fields, and level open space used for non-athletic play. In essence, facilities eligible for funding are used for sports or activities that are competitive.
Typical Projects
- Building ball fields, swimming pools, tennis and basketball courts
- Renovating fields by adding artificial turf, lights, and drainage systems
- Buying land for athletic complexes
Funding Source
An initial $10 million was contributed by the Seattle Seahawks "team affiliate" in December 1998.
Who can apply?
- Cities
- Counties
- Non-profit organizations active in youth or community athletic activities for at least three years
Match requirements
50 percent match is required and at least 10 percent of the total project cost must be from a non-state, non-federal contribution. Match may include, but is not limited to:
- Appropriations or cash
- Bonds
- Donations of cash, land, labor, equipment, and materials
- Federal, state, local, and private grants
- Applicant’s labor, equipment, and materials
Grant Caps
- New facilities: $150,000 for each project
Improving existing facilities: $75,000 for each project
Maintaining existing facilities: $25,000 for each project
Funding Anticipated (Average)
Original donation has been spent. No funds available at this time.
Eligible Projects
- Land acquisition
- Outdoor athletic fields, such as baseball, field hockey, football, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, and softball
- Open areas associated with track and field events
- “In bounds” items such as playing surfaces, goals, nets, bases, pitching mounds, fences and backstops for softball and baseball, irrigation, drainage, and field lighting
- Support elements such as scoreboards, bleachers, landscaping, restrooms, concession stands, parking lots, fire lanes, and landscaping
- Restrooms, drinking fountains, bleachers, signs
- Roads, driveways, and parking lots
- Architectural and engineering costs
- Field surface repair including re-grading, replacement of sod or grass, replacement infield and other surfaces
- Heavy equipment rental
Ineligible Projects
- Any facility intended exclusively or primarily for professional or “semi-pro” sports use
- Caretaker residences, staff housing, or offices
- Indirect costs
- Indoor facilities (i.e., gyms, courts, pools, etc.)
- Elements that cannot be defined as fixtures or capital items, such as uniforms, bats, balls, and coolers
- Signs or displays promoting tobacco products or alcoholic beverages
- Any work done on a facility not eligible for a Youth Athletic Facilities grant
- Consumable” supplies such as spare light bulbs, toilet paper, fertilizer, chalk, and fuel
- Organizational operating expenses or overhead including staff salaries
- Purchase of maintenance equipment, tools, or supplies
- Routine maintenance such as lawn mowing
- Utility payments such as monthly water or electric bills
Grant Application Schedule
Grants not available this year. Grant schedule.
Grant Evaluation Process (6 months)
- Applicants submit an online application and make an in-person presentation.
- Applications and presentations are reviewed and scored by staff and a panel of athletic facility experts.
- The ranked list is presented to the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board for consideration.
- The board awards grants.
Long-term Commitments for Funded Projects
Land acquired with grant funds must be kept available forever for youth and community athletic facility purposes. Land or facilities improved with grant funds must be available for public youth or community athletic use for at least 20 years from final grant payment.
