This page provides a list of resources and documents for local governments in Washington State related to financing park and recreation services, including grants, concessions, gifts/donations, and more.

Park Districts

Cities and/or counties may form several types of park and recreation districts, including park and recreation districts, park and recreation service areas, and metropolitan park districts, which may levy property taxes, issue bonds, and generate other revenues for park purposes. For more information, see our page Comparison of Recreation Districts.

Bonds and Levies

Local governments may issue bonds or levy property taxes to fund parks and recreation. These options typically require voter approval and often (but not always) require a 60% majority and minimum levels of voter turnout (validation).

For more information, refer to MRSC's City Revenue Guide, County Revenue Guide, and Comparison of Recreation Districts.

Additional information on ballot measures can be found at the following resources:

• Northwest Public Affairs: 3D Approach to Successful Ballot Measures – Power Point Presentation
• Association of Washington Cities: Winning Local Ballot Measures: Building a Strategic Campaign Plan (2004)

State Grant Programs

The State of Washington provides a number of grant programs for a variety of park and recreation programs. Many of these grants are provided through the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO).

The Washington Fund Directory, created by the State Treasurer's Office, provides a centralized online database listing state grants and loans to local governments, nonprofits, tribes, and other entities. There are listings for many different project types including recreation, transportation, housing, environment, infrastructure, and more.

• State Treasurer's Office: Washington Fund Directory: Recreation, Culture & Social Services – Includes RCO grants
• Recreation and Conservation Office: Grants – The "Browse Grants" feature allows you to filter by program type, agency type, and grant size

Finance Administration and Planning

• King County Parks and Recreation Business Plan
• Seattle Parks and Recreation Strategic Action Plan – Identifies emerging issues and policy questions relating to Parks and Recreation's current strengths, challenges and opportunities to ensure the most efficient and effective use of public tax dollars
• Vancouver/Clark County Parks and Recreation Department Organizational Assessment (2013) – Review of regional parks, recreation, and open space service delivery and recommendations on how to improve effectiveness, to form the basis for a revised interlocal agreement between the city and the county.

Concessions

Local governments may sign concession agreements with vendors to conduct business within parks (such as selling food and beverages or renting equipment) and charge the vendors a concession fee. Below are selected examples of concession/beverage requests for proposals (RFPs) and requests for qualifications (RFQs).

• Ephrata RFP for Beverage/Concessions (2015)
• Kennewick RFQ for Recreational Equipment Rental/Concession in Columbia Park (2007)
• Kirkland RFP for Food and Beverage Concessions in Parks (2016)
• Lakewood RFP for Concessionaire for Lakewood Parks (2019)
• Longview RFP for Food and Beverage Services at Lake Sacajawea Park (2016)
• Olympia RFP for Artesian Commons Concessions (2014)
• Seattle RFP for Golden Gardens Park Food Concessions (2016)
• Vancouver Municipal Code Sec. 15.08.100 – Concession agreements
  • Food Vendors at City Events, Guidelines and Procedures (2010) – Includes application form for concert series vendors

Gifts and Donations

Local governments, including park agencies, may raise funds through private gifts, donations, and bequests. Below are examples of some codes and policies related to gifts and donations.

General Gift Policies

• Auburn Municipal Code Sec. 3.04.270 - 3.04.280 – Landscaping and Community Beautification and Gift Cumulative Reserve Fund
• Kirkland Donations: Sharing Program Guide – Information specific to donations of benches and tables
• Olympia Municipal Code Ch. 3.56 – Donations
• Port Townsend Municipal Code Ch. 3.42 – Acceptance of Donations to the City
• Puyallup Municipal Code Ch. 3.64 – Donations to Puyallup Fund
  • Acceptance of Donations Policy (2002)
• Sequim Municipal Code Ch. 3.74 – Donations, Devises or Bequests
• SeaTac Municipal Code Ch. 2.85 – Acceptance of Donations Made to the City

Park Policies and Gifting Opportunities, Including Memorials

• Bellingham Park Donations and Memorials within the Park System (2005)
• King County Parks: Marymoor Pet Garden Request for Memorial
• Mercer Island Make a Donation
  • Park Improvement, Gift Acceptance and Donor Recognition Policy (2004)
• Newcastle Resolution No. 2014-588 (2014) – Parks Donation and Memorial Policy
• Pierce County Park and Recreation Donations – Donation programs include commemorative benches, endowment fund, holiday lights, summer fay camp, and companionship program for school-age individuals with disabilities and their friends/family
• Seattle Parks and Recreation Acceptance of Gifts and Donor Recognition Policy (2002)
• Sequim Donations and Gifting – Includes list of specific items that may be gifted or donated
• Snohomish County Assistance Programs – Includes youth & family activities sponsorship program, dedications, and equipment donations
• Vancouver Municipal Code Sec. 3.12.220-.230 – Memorials fund
  • Parks and Recreation Sponsorships & Donations

Scholarship Donation Programs

• Issaquah Scholarship Fund
• Olympia Donations: The Fun Fund
• Renton Gift of Play Scholarships

Other Memorials

• Fort Collins, CO Living Tribute – Tree program to pay tribute to persons living or dead. Site provide regulations and a list of suggested trees.
• San Jose, CA Monument Policy (2010) – Policy related to the installation of permanent outdoor Monuments on city property to provide the city’s commemoration of persons or events of note, or to otherwise convey the city’s position on various topics (referred to as “Government Speech”).

Park Foundations

Below are some examples of local park foundations.

• Anacortes Parks Foundation
• Clark County Parks Foundation
• King County Parks Foundation
• Seattle Parks Foundation
• Seattle Friends of Seattle's Omsted Parks
• Spokane Parks Foundation
• Tacoma Greater Metro Parks Foundation
• Whatcom Parks and Recreation Foundation

Recommended Resources

• Trust for Public Land Action Fund – Nationwide organization providing strategic, organizational, fundraising, and financial assistance for state and local ballot measure campaigns and legislative advocacy