There will be city matching requirements for all projects but no general fund dollars would be required, Betz said. Instead, the city would use impact fees and other park-related revenues for the city’s match.

Ballinger Park’s proposed viewing platform and walking trails through an ALEA grant that will be matched with park impact fees. This viewing platform, as detailed in the Ballinger Park Master Plan, extends from the southwest shoreline of Ballinger Park out into the lake. This grant would fully fund the west side of the parks pathways, coinciding with the Army Corps of Engineers project to move Hall Creek, reconstruct the bridge crossing over the creek, and build a new boardwalk on the south end of the creek.

“There is a ton of public support for this project,” Betz said

– Two grants — $500,00 from the Land Water Conservation Fund and $350,000 from the Youth Athletic Facilities fund —  will be requested to install a new turf infield, LED lighting, fencing, dugouts, backstop and new metal poles for protective netting at Evergreen Playfield #3. The project scope also includes removing the existing bleachers and score booth.  The city will contribute park impact fees and fees from wireless providers with cell antennas currently on park property. The city received earlier grant funding to add a turf infield to Evergreen Playfield #1.

– A Youth Athletic Facilities fund grant for $350,000 to assist with restoring the Evergreen Playfield tennis courts, which includes the triple court and single court. The current tennis courts were built in the late 1970s and have not been resurfaced in a number of years due to the high cost. The proposed project would include repair and resurfacing of the courts, add new net posts and nets, replace the “skinned” fencing with black vinyl, new LED lighting, improved access to the courts from the parking lot and specific ADA improvements to the parking lot. This project total is approximately $600,000 and will be matched by wireless rental fees as well.

– A $390,000 Washington Wildlife Recreation Program Local Parks grant to replace the Evergreen Playfield Complex restrooms and utility building. The city is asking for almost $400,000 and will match with $130,000 in wireless fees for a project total of $530,000. The new proposed restroom will incorporate a new concessionaire space with men’s and women’s restrooms similar to the format currently in place. The plan calls for removing the current utility room/concessions facility located just to the south and replacing it with a new utility facility that allows for material storage and maintenance equipment storage.