Parks advisory board backs three grant projects, urges Dungeness campground shower upgrades if grants fail

The Clallam County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on May 5 recommended that staff and the Board of County Commissioners prioritize three grant applications for the 2027 parks capital program and flagged a $35,000 campground shower upgrade at Dungeness Recreation Area as a potential county‑funded fallback.

The board’s recommended priorities are Freshwater Bay (updated cost estimate in packet: $264,000, previously shown as $300,000, with a 50% county match that would be roughly $132,000), Rain Shadow Disc Golf (project estimate about $350,000 with a 15% match largely expected as in‑kind volunteer labor) and improvements at Agnew Soccer Fields (a grant the presenter said is a little over $200,000 with an approximate 50% match, implying roughly $100,000 county share). Chair (S5) summarized that the three grants were already submitted and that two rely heavily on volunteer labor or sweat equity, reducing out‑of‑pocket costs to the county.

Why it matters: the board must present recommended capital priorities to the Board of County Commissioners before budget deadlines in June and July. Choosing grant‑driven projects can stretch limited county dollars if awards arrive, while a small number of maintenance projects funded locally (for example, the Dungeness campground shower upgrades estimated at about $35,000) could address high‑use facilities if grants are not awarded.

Staff (S2) described practical hurdles that affect grant numbers. “I wish you could sit over my shoulder and watch me use PRISM because it is a wonky system,” the director said, explaining that the state portal often forces reaggregation of line items and requires reallocation of contingencies, which can change how matches and totals display in the application packet. Board members asked staff to supply final, itemized numbers before the June meeting so the advisory board can make a formal recommendation to the commissioners.

On in‑kind matches, staff said much of the Rain Shadow Disc Golf match would come from volunteer labor (valued at about $40 per hour), and that equipment purchases—such as a top dresser or aerator—could be counted toward matches for athletic‑field grants and used across county sites. The presenter noted a pared‑down option for Freshwater Bay is already budgeted in the five‑year plan as a replacement vault toilet (about $140,000), while the full grant would fund an ADA‑accessible restroom and a campsite tied to the Cascadia Marine Trail.

Next steps: staff will circulate updated grant totals before the end of May. The advisory board plans to finalize recommendations at its June meeting so county staff can reflect priorities in the 2027 budget process and present them to the Board of County Commissioners.