Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
State Parks OKs $25 million slate of RCO grant requests for 2027–29 biennium
Summary
Commissioners approved a staff‑proposed list of 35 proposed projects to submit to the Recreation and Conservation Office, requesting roughly $25 million across acquisition and development categories. At least half of the requested funding is for acquisitions as required by statute; staff will prepare grant applications and return in July to rank state‑parks category projects.
Washington State Parks on Jan. 29 approved a proposed package of 35 grant projects to submit to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) for the 2027–29 biennium. Planning staff presented a list that requests about $25 million across categories including state parks (WWRP), trails, boating facilities, restoration and NOVA (off‑road vehicle) grants. Statute requires at least half of the state parks category funding be allocated to acquisitions; staff organized acquisition projects in the top half of the list and included development projects and alternates.
Staff described the multi‑step coordination used to build the list: regional capital program managers and area teams proposed candidate projects over the last several months; headquarters planning staff reviewed scope, cost estimates, feasibility and readiness; and program subject‑matter experts advised on likely competitiveness for RCO scoring. Common themes identified statewide were aging infrastructure, ADA improvements, boating infrastructure, trail development and cabin/overnight accommodations. Staff noted recent RCO advice that State Parks has historically under‑applied in the WWRP state parks category.
The slate includes nine acquisition projects (two alternates) and 10 development projects (three alternates), plus projects in boating, trails and restoration. Staff emphasized alternates give flexibility if funded projects fall off due to feasibility or timing. Commissioners asked specific questions about project readiness, permitting timelines and cost drivers; staff said detailed project descriptions and maps were provided in the meeting packet and that applications would be finalized for the spring application deadline.
The commission moved, seconded and approved the grant list; staff will prepare application materials for RCO and return in July 2026 for the required commission scoring and ranking of the WWRP state parks category projects.
