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City approves three neighborhood park grants totaling $25,000
Summary
Longview council approved the Park and Recreation Advisory Board's recommendation to fund three neighborhood projects with the 2025 Neighborhood Park Grant Program, allocating the program's $25,000 to two sports groups and a totem pole restoration.
The Longview City Council on March 13 approved the Park and Recreation Advisory Board's recommendations for the 2025 Neighborhood Park Grant Program, allocating the city's $25,000 matching-fund pool to three projects.
Why it matters: The neighborhood park grants are an annual matching program designed to stretch city dollars by partnering with local groups. The council's approval will fund small capital or maintenance projects that support youth sports and park preservation at a neighborhood scale.
What passed: The council approved funding for: - Central League Sandlot at Archie Anderson Park: project cost about $12,000; council approved a neighborhood grant of $6,000 to buy a Connex storage box and install a temporary shade structure to support the summer program and the Sandlot youth league. - Longview Youth Baseball at Jaminal Park: project cost about $39,000; council approved $19,000 for siding on concession stands, roofing for batting cages and two scoreboards. - Pioneer Lions Club to restore the Lake Sacajawea totem pole: estimated cost about $7,000; council approved $3,500. The Parks Department said there were $4,000 in leftover grant dollars from 2024 that could cover part of the totem-pole request if needed.
Parks staff explained the Connex box will be split between the Sandlot program and Archie Anderson summer programs, and the shade structure is designed for sun protection rather than rain cover and will be removed at the end of the season. Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Wills told council that security and painting options for the Connex box had been considered; staff said the units use recessed pin locks that are harder to cut and that public-art painting projects could be used to deter graffiti.
Applicants spoke in favor. Roger Oldomar, identified as Longview Baseball's president, said the organization had not applied for the grant in recent years and intends to proceed with work this season, starting with batting-cage repairs and scoreboards once weather allows.
A council member who disclosed membership in the Longview Pioneer Alliance abstained from the vote on the Lions Club project. The motion to approve the Park Board recommendation passed with the remainder of the council voting aye.
Funding context: Parks staff said the city has run the neighborhood park grant program since 1997 and has funded 15 projects with $636,000 in matching funds, leveraging about $1.2 million of park work. Parks staff also said there is approximately $88,000 in the Coontz Fund (about $80,000 remaining) earmarked for maintenance and restoration and that fund could be tapped for projects such as the totem pole if needed.
Ending: Staff will notify recipients and proceed with grant agreements and project timelines; work is expected to start as weather permits.
