King County participatory budgeting to fund 45 community projects

King County announced on Aug. 17 dozens of community projects in Federal Way, Renton, White Center and other communities will receive funding as part of the county’s participatory budgeting process.

Over 2,600 ballots were cast earlier in August. Previously, King County Executive Dow Constantine proposed this community-driven budgeting process to empower the unincorporated urban areas of the county.

“These investments are proposed, evaluated, and decided by the people closest to the communities they will serve. Participatory budgeting is a demonstration of the power of community, and the culmination of hard work of dozens of volunteers and grassroots leaders over the last year,” Constantine said. “This program shows the way forward for community-led investments to upend historical and racial inequities and continue making King County a place where every person can thrive.”

More than 60 community members contributed ideas to the process, facilitated by King County Local Services and the Community Investment Budget Committee. Each of the areas selected its own winning projects.

The 45 winning projects include:

East Federal Way

• Lake Geneva Park upgrades — “Let’s Play” ($1.5 million)
• Community Garden/P Patch Fund ($100,000)
• Utility Box – Art Murals ($35,000)

East Renton

• Revive our Basketball Court at Maplewood Park ($100,000)
• Home Repair Fund ($100,000)
• Cemetery Pond: Acquisition – Critical Green Infrastructure ($50,000)
• Cemetery Pond and Wetland: Upgrade Public Access and Amenities ($35,000)

Fairwood

• Splash Pad/Cooling Center at Petrovitsky Park ($720,000)

Skyway/West Hill

• Strolling Safe on 57th Avenue S ($1.4 million)
• Campbell Hill – Community Track ($750,000)
• Street Beautification – Skyway Business District ($500,000)
• Grocery Outlet – Outdoor Community Space Upgrades ($250,000)
• Welcome Home – Down Payment Assistance ($250,000)
• Where is My Bus? – Metro Bus Stop Upgrades ($250,000)
• Redevelopment of Cynthia A. Green ($200,000)
• Hewet Skyway – Community Garden ($100,000)
• Community Garden Fund ($100,000)
• Rahwa Ogbe Habte – Memorial Project ($50,000)
• Utility Box – Cultural Art Mural Projects ($50,000)
• Skyway/West Hill (Funded by Marijuana Tax Revenue)
• Grant Program – Youth and Education Programs and Services ($280,000)
• West Hill Community Association – Capacity Building ($150,000)
• Acts on Stage – Summer Youth Theater program ($50,000)
• Green STEM apprenticeship program ($50,000)
• Refining Impact – Mobile Food Bank ($50,000)
• We.App – Speak with Purpose ($35,000)
• Double Dutch Divas ($30,000)
• Beyond High Schools – College Tours ($25,000)
• Rainier Avenue Radio Apprenticeship Program ($25,000)
• Skyway Business Revitalization Project ($25,000)
• Colorful Communities Parent Support in Schools ($20,000)
• Skyway Arts Commission ($20,000)
• Art in the Park ($15,000)
• Shine Nail Lab – Nail Art Workshops ($15,000)
• So Fresh, So Clean! – Laundromat Fund ($10,000)

White Center/North Highline

• White Center Food Bank “New Location Renovation Fund” ($875,000)
• White Center Community HUB “Construction Fund” ($750,000)
• Khmer Community Temple Support ($750,000)
• Spray Park/Outdoor Cooking Center; Cool Me Down – White Center ($725,000)

White Center/North Highline (Funded by Marijuana Tax Revenue)

• Gifts of Hope ($175,000)
• Neplanta Cultural Art Programming ($150,000)
• Acts on Stage – Programming ($75,000)
• Green Education – New Start ($66,000)
• Mental Health – Grief Support ($32,500)
• White Center Heights Elementary School – Family Resource Center ($25,000)
• Wolverine Select – Funding ($16,500)