During the past two decades, the King County Youth Sports Facilities Grant (YSFG) Program has worked with community partners to renovate or build hundreds of public sports amenities in neighborhoods across the County at minimal taxpayer expense.

“Countless children and their families have benefitted from this program since its establishment 20 years ago, and King County is grateful for the commitment of community partners to build or renovate 300 youth recreational facilities where they are needed the most,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine.

The YSFG Program provides matching grant funds ranging from $5,000 to $75,000. Past grants have been awarded for athletic fields, skate parks, playgrounds, sport courts, and rowing facilities, among others.

“Youth sports facility grants are a good deal for taxpayers and a great deal for the youth of King County,” said King County Councilmember Larry Phillips, who co-authored the original YSFG Program legislation in 1993. “They draw matching investments from communities for recreation and play areas, create livable neighborhoods, and give kids opportunities to be active.”

Fund administrator, the Parks and Recreation Division of the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, is now accepting applications from qualified groups that partner with a public agency, such as a school district or city parks department, to develop or renovate sports facilities.

Applications for King County YSFG grants will be accepted until June 21, with letters of intent due May 3.

For an application packet, visit www.kingcounty.gov/parks and click on the YSFG link. More information is available by contacting Butch Lovelace, program manager, at 206-263-6267 or email at butch.lovelace@kingcounty.gov.

Since its inception, the YSFG Program has awarded $12 million in grant funds benefiting youth athletics in King County. In 2012, the program funded 11 projects with approximately $530,075 in grant awards.

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 established with the sale of a County building.