King County announces partnerships to improve youth recreation facilities

King County Executive Ron Sims said that a series of nine matching grants totaling nearly $475,000 will provide a much-needed boost to youth sports and recreation facilities in communities throughout the county.

King County has awarded $473,490 in Youth Sports Facility Grants (YSFG) to organizations that promote youth sports, including school districts, suburban cities and community groups. The funds were part of Sims' proposed 2007 budget that was approved recently by the Metropolitan King County Council.

The grants, as large as $75,000, will be used to build new sports complexes, playgrounds, sports courts, acrobatic equipment and an equestrian arena.

"These activities are vitally important to keeping kids off the streets, building self esteem, teaching teamwork and promoting good health," Sims said. "By leveraging these grant funds that come from car rentals in King County, with additional funds this year from the sale of surplus property, we are able to continue improving recreation opportunities for our kids."

Administered by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, the YSFG program is funded and sustained through a one-quarter of 1 percent car rental taxes. Funds can only be used for developing and constructing facilities and not for maintenance or operations costs.

Participating community organizations must match the grant money.

"By partnering with these worthy organizations, we are able to do more than any of us could do alone," Sims said.

Projects that will be funded with Youth Sports Facility Grants in 2007 are:

More than $8 million in grants have been awarded since the program's inception in 1993, resulting in over 220 projects new or renovated youth sports facilities. Suburban cities and school districts are encouraged to partner with youth sports leagues and community organizations to apply for grants. Grant funds can be used for a variety of projects, including construction or rehabilitation of ball fields, playgrounds and sport courts, among others.