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Park Foundation of Thurston County outlines countywide grants, events and acquisition support for Lacey parks
Summary
At the March 5 Lacey Parks, Culture & Recreation Board meeting, the Park Foundation of Thurston County presented its 2025 priorities, including a $100,000 grant program, community events and facilitation of land acquisitions across the county.
The Park Foundation of Thurston County told the Lacey Parks, Culture & Recreation Board on March 5 that it will continue countywide grantmaking, event sponsorship and fiscal-agency work that supports Lacey parks and regional projects.
The foundation’s president, Ashley Chandler, told the board the organization awarded more than $100,000 in grants in 2024 and aims to award at least $100,000 again in 2025. “Our mission is strengthening communities and quality of life,” Chandler said, describing priorities that include stewardship, arts resiliency and youth scholarships.
Chandler and other foundation representatives described a simplified grant application opening in April intended to be accessible to smaller volunteer-run groups as well as municipalities. The foundation also highlighted recurring events it sponsors — including Earth Day (planned April 19 in Lacey this year) and a new emphasis on National Trails Day — and said it will continue partnerships to host volunteer-driven cleanup and stewardship activities.
Board members and staff asked about whether the foundation funds routine maintenance such as playground replacement; Chandler said the foundation is “much better at acquisition and construction than we are at maintenance” and typically supports jurisdictions by helping secure capital grants (for example, Recreation and Conservation Office grants) or by serving as a fiscal partner for emerging nonprofits.
Chandler described recent countywide projects the foundation helped facilitate, including land acquisitions in other cities and a $2.3 million RCO grant secured for a Yelm trail connection. She said the foundation sometimes acts as the fiscal sponsor for new groups until they can operate independently.
The presentation closed with the foundation noting it operates with three contracted, part-time staff and a volunteer board and that it seeks to keep overhead low so a larger share of funds goes back into community grants and projects.
Board Chair Aaron Wheeler thanked the foundation for its long-term partnership with Lacey parks and for countywide coordination.
Less-critical details and follow-up items discussed during the meeting included timing for the foundation’s grant cycle (application opening in April), the foundation’s plan to continue youth scholarship funding, and the foundation’s willingness to serve as a fiscal agent for small volunteer organizations working in Lacey parks.
