Youth Athletic Facilities
Forecasted
Youth Athletic Facilities supports Washington communities in buying land and developing or renovating public outdoor sports facilities so young people through age eighteen can participate in athletics.
Funder: Recreation and Conservation Office
Due Dates (Anticipated): April 2028 (Application Due) | July 2028 (Technical Completion Deadline)
Funding Amounts: Small Grants: up to $350,000; Large Grants: $25,000–$1.5 million; generally 50% match
Summary: Grants support land purchases and outdoor athletic facility development or renovation for youth through age eighteen.
Key Information: Funded facilities must be open to the public for youth or community athletics.
Description
The Youth Athletic Facilities program is administered by Washington’s Recreation and Conservation Funding Board with support from the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO). It funds outdoor places for sports and competitive athletics serving young people through age eighteen. Eligible work includes buying land, developing facilities, and renovating existing facilities, depending on the grant category.
Projects may involve athletic fields, sport courts, tracks, skate parks, skating facilities, or outdoor competitive swimming pools, along with supporting features such as lighting, restrooms, bleachers, and scoreboards. RCO encourages designs that also serve adults and accommodate multiple activities. Playgrounds, tot lots, undeveloped fields, and open space used for non-athletic play are not athletic facilities under this program.
