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County Teams Up With Community
For Quicker Better Parks
The county's 2008 budget includes funding to spur construction of new park amenities countywide through a matching-grant program. The Youth Amenities and Recreation Development (YARD) grants provide an opportunity to leverage county funds with money and labor from community nonprofits, governments and school districts.
With 10 successful grant applications this year, the county has turned a modest $450,000 investment into nearly $1 million in park and playground improvements throughout Snohomish County.
"It's very exciting to work with others in the community to provide needed park improvements," said Councilmember Dave Gossett. "By working together we can offer better services at a lower cost so our kids can have great parks now instead of years down the road."
Local YARD Grant projects include:
Forest View Elementary SchoolThe project includes the following elements:
· "Play Odyssey," a cluster/tree fort area for climbing, sliding, resting/talking;
· "Thunderhead," a climber/slide area appropriate for very young children and an access point for people with special needs;
· Picnic tables and nooks with activity panels for resting/talking;
· Landscaping, including 16 donated trees.
Funding: County: $24,100& Forest View PTA - $41,251.82.
Little Cedars Elementary
The project includes the following elements:
- A suspension bridge and climbing pole;
- A double-slide structure and stepped platforms;
- Loop Ladder and Mega Climbing Rock;
- Use of environmentally friendly building materials.
Funding: County - $49,640; Little Cedars PTA - $20,000; Snohomish School District - $18,000 & Volunteer Labor - $13,000.
Forest Crest Playfield Improvements The project includes the following elements:
- Removal and replacement of two baseball backstops, including installation of new posts, fencing and wood reinforcement directly behind home plate;
- Removal and replacement of two 8-foot T-ball player benches;
- Reconstruction of stairway from the upper parking lot to the middle ball field;
- Repair 40 feet of fencing along west side of field;
- Designate and line ADA parking on north and south ends of playfield;
- Purchase two tons of absorbent top dressing material for three infields;
- Ongoing maintenance on all three infields for improved playability including edging, weeding and leveling;
- Improve infield cut-outs for T-ball (north ball field) by trimming and leveling area.
Funding: County - $ 6,663; MTYAA - $6,663 & City of Mountlake Terrace - $13,325
Terrace Park K-8 School Playground Improvement
The project includes the following elements:
- The hills will be flattened and sloped to accommodate a safe base for the new playground equipment;
- Construction of a large playground structure;
- Addition of two free-standing pieces of equipment, the "X-Wave" and the "Sky Runner," next to the existing and new play structures.
Funding: County - $15,000; Terrace Park PTA - $35,000 & Edmonds School District - $50,000
Willis Tucker Community Park
A version of the Alpine Towers International (ATI) Odyssey III Challenge Course will be installed at Willis Tucker Community Park to serve youth, teen and adult groups.
Funding: County - $72,834& YMCA - $45,000
See all details on all 2008 YARD Grants. | 
