King County Parks has received 19 applications for funding from the Youth Sports Facilities Grant (YSFG) Program, which works with community partners to renovate or build public sports amenities in neighborhoods across the county.

Since its inception two decades ago, the YSFG Program has awarded $12 million in grant funds to improve hundreds of sports facilities and benefit tens of thousands of youth in King County.

The YSFG Program provides matching grant funds ranging from $5,000 to $75,000. King County partners with a public agency, such as a city parks department or a community non-profit, to develop or renovate sports facilities.

The 19 applications received by King County Parks from throughout the county requested nearly $1.3 million in grant funds. With a budget of $500,000 Parks hopes to fund as many projects as possible – things like athletic fields, playgrounds, a rowing facility, a bike park, and a skate park, among others.

Each of the 19 applications will be evaluated during the summer and when the county budget is adopted in November, a formal announcement will be made regarding the grant awards.  Organizations that receive an award must match the grant money.

The program is funded and sustained through a quarter of one percent of car rental taxes. The program also receives $25,000 annually from the YSFG endowment, which was established by the sale of a County building.

Learn more about King County Parks’ YSFG program at http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/partners/ysfg.aspx