City to pour concrete for new pickleball courts; playground upgrades planned at Lions Park
August 21, 2025 | Ephrata, Grant County, Washington
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City staff told the Euphrates City Council that work on a planned multi-sport court and a new playground at Lions Park will proceed in phases to match available funding. Josh, Parks and Recreation staff, said the city will use $300,000 in ARPA funds this year to install the concrete hardscape and parking work for the pickleball/futsal/basketball project and intends to bid the work next month.
The council was told the $300,000 covers hardscape and some paving but not the sport surface, fencing, striping or nets. Josh said the interior items would be “additional phase” items and that the city expects to add sport-court surfacing, perimeter fencing and court striping in a later phase, possibly in spring 2026. “We have $300,000 of ARPA funds to utilize,” Josh said.
On Lions Park, staff described plans to replace an aging play structure geared toward very young children with a larger set for ages roughly 5–12 plus separate features for infants and toddlers. Staff said the city budgeted $70,000 for playground equipment this year and planned to draw about $40,000 from impact fees to reach a target of roughly $110,000. One vendor, Great Western Recreation, offered matching funds and cited prior local work on a Columbia Ridge playground installed in 2015.
Council members asked about accessibility and timing. Josh said each play system under consideration includes transfer ramps or accessible bridges to provide a measure of ADA access, and that the playground vendor can customize features to stay within budget. Staff said the concrete pad for the courts should be in place this fall but that the courts may not be playable until the asphalt and interior elements are completed in a subsequent phase.
Discussion-only items included grant strategy and continued applications to the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO); staff said the project scored well on a prior RCO application but did not receive funding. No formal council vote was recorded specifically to authorize bids at the meeting; staff requested direction to move the design and bid documents forward so a solicitation can be issued next month.
Funding details, phased work and sequencing were emphasized during council questions. The project will use ARPA funds this year for concrete and parking work; a later phase will rely on additional grant funding, other identified funds and a separate budgeted allocation for surfacing and nets. Staff said they will continue applying to RCO and refine proposals with grant managers.
The council was told the $300,000 covers hardscape and some paving but not the sport surface, fencing, striping or nets. Josh said the interior items would be “additional phase” items and that the city expects to add sport-court surfacing, perimeter fencing and court striping in a later phase, possibly in spring 2026. “We have $300,000 of ARPA funds to utilize,” Josh said.
On Lions Park, staff described plans to replace an aging play structure geared toward very young children with a larger set for ages roughly 5–12 plus separate features for infants and toddlers. Staff said the city budgeted $70,000 for playground equipment this year and planned to draw about $40,000 from impact fees to reach a target of roughly $110,000. One vendor, Great Western Recreation, offered matching funds and cited prior local work on a Columbia Ridge playground installed in 2015.
Council members asked about accessibility and timing. Josh said each play system under consideration includes transfer ramps or accessible bridges to provide a measure of ADA access, and that the playground vendor can customize features to stay within budget. Staff said the concrete pad for the courts should be in place this fall but that the courts may not be playable until the asphalt and interior elements are completed in a subsequent phase.
Discussion-only items included grant strategy and continued applications to the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO); staff said the project scored well on a prior RCO application but did not receive funding. No formal council vote was recorded specifically to authorize bids at the meeting; staff requested direction to move the design and bid documents forward so a solicitation can be issued next month.
Funding details, phased work and sequencing were emphasized during council questions. The project will use ARPA funds this year for concrete and parking work; a later phase will rely on additional grant funding, other identified funds and a separate budgeted allocation for surfacing and nets. Staff said they will continue applying to RCO and refine proposals with grant managers.
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