The local effort to renovate the Pete’s Pool football field has received a $75,000 award through the King County Youth Sports Facilities Grant program.
The announcement was made as part of a press release issued Thursday morning by the county’s Department of Natural Resources and Parks.
The grant had been anticipated by members of Your Enumclaw Area Stadium, the grassroots organization dedicated to transforming the local football field into a modern facility. The field and facilities have seen little change through many decades and are acknowledged to be the worst in the region.
During the recent high school football season, the Enumclaw High Hornets moved to Orting for their final two home games after Pete’s Pool became a mud bog and was deemed unplayable.
The YEAS committee is first focusing on replacing the grass field with an all-weather, synthetic turf, but is eyeing a total project that would include bleachers, concession areas, restrooms and more.
Members of the YEAS committee have indicated they are within $100,000 of making Phase I – the replacement turf – a reality.
The county money comes with strings attached. The city of Enumclaw, as owner of football field, must come up with nearly $19,000 to accept the grant. The money has not been included in the city’s 2011 budget, City Administrator Mike Thomas said, noting that the council will eventually discuss possible means for generating the cash.
Enumclaw’s award was one of 13 funded by the county’s Youth Sports Facilities Grant program, part of a funding package that totaled nearly $630,000. Enumclaw was one of four projects receiving $75,000, the largest amount given.
The YSFG program is funded and sustained through a one-quarter of 1 percent tax on car rentals. Funds can only be used for developing and constructing facilities and not for maintenance or operations costs. King County has awarded more than $10 million in grants since the program’s inception in 1993. The program has resulted in more than 270 new or renovated youth sports facilities.
YEAS committee members are constantly looking for ways to generate funds and individual donations are always accepted. Anyone interested in donating to the effort can do so by visiting www.enumclawstadium.com and clicking on the “YEAS Donation Information” link.
