Three King County parks awarded more than $6 million in grant funds

SEATTLE — King County agencies will receive more than $6 million in federal grants to revive and develop three parks in King County.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland made the announcement on Friday that the parks would receive grants totaling $6,274,375 from the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program.

Two of the three parks that qualify for the program, which was established in 2014, are Seattle’s Garfield and Be’er Sheva parks. A third public park, referred to as Lakeland North Urban Park but has yet to be officially named, will be developed when King County Parks acquires 21 acres of open space with trails, play features, parking, landscaping and restrooms, according to the Interior Department.

Garfield Park, which is in an urban setting and lacks recreation opportunities, will be transformed into a multi-use park with new play equipment, restrooms, parkour elements, a covered picnic area and a circular pathway with lighting.

Improvements will also be made to its sports fields and landscape.

Seattle Parks and Recreation will also improve and redevelop 2.4 acres of Be’er Sheva Park in the Rainier Beach area along the shores of Lake Washington.

Improvements include the installation of a fitness zone, a lighted walking path, exercise equipment, picnic tables, barbecues, bike racks and a community gathering space.

The ORLP program is funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund State and Local Assistance Program.

According to Haaland, the ORLP has helped communities to create new parks and renovate existing parks in economically underserved communities through a competitive grant process.

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