Vashon Park District to hold a Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Vashon Fields

The Vashon Park District will break ground on Saturday, June 11th at 10:00 a.m. at a gold shovel ceremony to begin the construction of the Vashon Fields. The project is a 4.59 acre renovation of the fields adjacent to the Harbor School to be used for soccer, baseball, softball, football, and lacrosse.

The development of the fields will relieve a critical need on the Island for sufficient playing fields. Sports teams who want to use fields on the Island are often hard-pressed to find an available fields to use. As a result, the current inventory of fields is deteriorating from overuse.

In addition to the need for more fields that can stand the wear and tear of an active sports community, the fields also address other youth needs on the island. Twenty-six percent of youth in King County are obese or overweight and get less physical activity than their peers in the State. And data from the Healthy Youth Survey also shows that the isolation and lack of healthy activities on the Island lends itself to higher rates of drug use among teens, even as early as in eighth grade.

The $1.3 million Vashon Fields project is primarily being funded by state and county government grants. In fact, the current State budget has discontinued the Youth Sports grants under the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office, so Vashon Island is lucky to have applied for and received the grant when it did. Many community members have also stepped up to provide matching grants for those who donate from the soccer and lacrosse community, and to make significant donations to the project in cash or by purchasing pavers.

The park district sent out requests for bids for construction and is currently reviewing those bids, which include an in-kind component required for the grant match. Once the bids are vetted and approved, the district will know the exact amount remaining to fundraise from the local community. It is estimated to be about $200,000.

Those funds will be raised primarily through selling pavers to the community that will be placed in the plaza around the concession stand. Pavers are 12” by 12” and are $225, or $150 for text only. The funds will also be raised through naming opportunities for structures and key facilities, such as dugouts, bleachers, and a batting cage. Most of the structures are $10,000 and would be great way for the corporations with a local presence, or businesses to contribute to the project.

Advocates for the fields are steadfast in their hopes to complete the project on time and under budget. King County has lifted the stop work order after settling that the original permit was acceptable for the project. And now that they gray skies are parting, literally, the district is anxious to start construction so that disturbances to the already strained sports community are minimized.

The project means to be a community gathering place for families and friends. It will be the only athletic field site on the Island with real restroom facilities (as opposed to port-a-potties). Plans for the site are not only cost-efficient, but incorporate aesthetic qualities as well. It will be a great place for the whole family to spend the day supporting youth development and healthy, active lifestyles.

Please join us at the Vashon Fields site on June 11th at 10:00 a.m. to break ground and wish the project a happy and successful completion. You can visit www.vashonparkdistrict.org to read the case statement for the project as well as make a donation or purchase a paver. The Vashon Park District is open M-F from 8-4; telephone 463-9602.