Park CommUNITY Fund

Updated: July 25, 2025

Summer 2025

Thank you to the over 2,900 people who participated in our Project Selection Process! We are happy to announce that $4,250,000 has been allocated to 15 projects. Learn more about the project descriptions here.

Central:  

Funding Amount  Project Project Status
$150,000 Exercise Equipment Replacement at Hing Hay  On hold 
$10,000 Water Bottle Refilling Station at Garfield Teen Life Center  The water bottle station was installed in 2025 
$400,000 Access Improvements and Plan for Denny Blaine Park  Finalizing an agreement with design consultants to develop a comprehensive study to identify, prioritize, and implement selected improvements. 
$700,000 Black Legacy Community Parks Master Plan in the Central District   In the process of selecting a consultant to develop a master plan to improve and maintain several Central District parks.

North:

Funding Amount Project  Project Staus
$40,000 Bathroom Study in NE Seattle parks  In the process of conducting a study that identifies potential sites for added restrooms.
$100,000 Outdoor Cultural Space at Green Lake Community Center  On hold 
$100,000 Community Gathering Improvements at Haller Lake Street End   Working with the SPR in-house design team to complete design work.
$1,075,000 Access Improvements at Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center   In the process of selecting a consultant to develop design plans and support the project through improvements.

South: 

Funding Amount Project Project Status
$120,000 Art Installations and Signage at Hutchinson Playground  On hold 
$50,000 Spray Park Feasibility Study in Rainier Beach  Beginning feasibility study in Late Fall 2025.
$40,000 Kids' Basketball Hoops at SE Parks   On hold 
$1,125,000 Covered and Lit Basketball Courts at Be’er Sheva Park   In the process of finalizing an agreement with consultants to develop design plans and support this project through construction.

West:  

Funding Amount Project Project status
$150,000 Covered Shelter Area at Roxhill Park  On hold 
$150,000 Duwamish Art & Signage at Herrings House Park  On hold
$150,000 Outdoor exercise equipment in South Park  On hold  

Program Overview

The Park CommUNITY Fund advances park equity in Seattle through a community-led funding process. The fund invests in large and small capital projects using participatory budgeting and equitable grant-making practices. Seattle Park District has allocated $14.8 million to the Park CommUNITY Fund for investment in Seattle communities between 2023 and 2028. 

Pilot Cycle

ParkCommUNITY Fund program cycle

Program Planning/Design

During the summer of 2022, program staff were hired to conduct early engagement with City of Seattle staff, partners, and frontline community groups to gain feedback about SPR’s park development process and how best to develop a new community-centered funding program.

Using lessons learned through this engagement work, program staff developed a 4-stage pilot cycle that launched in 2024. The pilot cycle will test the initial program framework to ensure it meets the department’s vision for the program to create partnerships with communities and continue investment in parks and park facilities in neighborhoods with a history of racial disparities in access to green space and safety from environmental harm.  

Project Selection

In 2024 Frontline communities worked alongside Seattle Park and Recreation (SPR) staff through a Project Selection process, which included three phases. The next round of Project Selection will start in 2026. 

  • Idea Collection: Community members submit ideas for improvements in-person or online.
  • Project Development: Ideas are developed into proposals, reviewed for priority, and narrowed to a small list of finalists.
  • Final Selection: Finalists undergo a three-part selection process to determine awarded projects, including community selection, selection by the Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners, and Superintendent final approval.

Project Implementation

SPR planners and project managers will follow SPR’s park development process to implement the selected projects. No grants are given to community for the projects. There is a reserve of $200k for Capacity Awards to support community engagement on the selected projects.

Evaluation Workshop 

Following Project Selection, the program will conduct an Evaluation and Workshop series with communities to gain feedback on improving the program, creating a more equitable park development process, and creating a space for Frontline communities to share/build resources. 

Parks and Recreation

AP Diaz, Superintendent
Mailing Address: 100 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA, 98109
Phone: (206) 684-4075
Fax: (206) 615-1813
pks_info@seattle.gov

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