King County offers grant funds for urban reforestation, habitat restoration projects

Restoring habitat in urban areas is what King County’s “Wild Places in City Spaces” grant program is all about.

Administered by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, the program provides grants up to $12,000 to volunteer organizations, community groups and government agencies for projects to reforest urban areas and restore habitat within the Urban Growth Area of King County and incorporated cities.

Examples of projects that have been funded include removing invasive species and planting native plants in woodlands near other natural areas; stream and upland restoration, including stewardship training that includes field activities; and placing woody debris.

Proposals must have on-the-ground benefits, provide public access (with appropriate restrictions to protect sensitive resources) and address or promote a demonstrable reforestation or restoration benefit, such as increasing the diversity of urban forest stands, or improve wildlife habitat.

Awards typically do not exceed an 18-month period, and a compelling public benefit must be demonstrated for projects proposed for completion on private land.

Schools, special districts, tribes, local governments and private, non-profit organizations are all eligible to apply for a grant. Businesses, individuals and King County departments are not eligible.

There is no minimum grant amount request, and the deadline to submit a grant request is Feb. 29. A grant application and additional information are available at

http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/grants-and-awards/grant-exchange.aspx, or by contacting:

Ken Pritchard, Grant Exchange coordinator
King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks
201 Jackson Street, Suite 600
Seattle, WA 98104-3855
206-296-8265
800-325-6165 ext. 68265

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