Parks commissioners seek community input as city pursues RCO grant for Pavilion Park
March 21, 2026 | Liberty Lake, Spokane County, Washington
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Parks and Arts Commission members updated the Community Engagement Commission on March 18 that the city is finishing an updated parks plan and plans to pursue Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) grant funding for Pavilion Park.
"This is 200 pages in a nutshell," Jen Camp said of the parks plan executive summary staff circulated to commissioners. She said the plan is being finalized for graphics and will support applications to RCO, the state agency that awards competitive matching grants for park projects.
Camp and Nancy Hill described options for Pavilion Park and said early, high-level estimates to renovate the playground and include the splash pad exceed $1,000,000; RCO matching grants would require local match and the maximum RCO match referenced in the presentation is "up to $500,000." Camp said the commission must choose whether to pursue a full renovation, an in-kind replacement of play structures, or a renovation that adds amenities and possibly retains the splash pad.
Nancy Hill urged the CEC to support outreach and community engagement to refine priorities such as swings, separate play structures by age, benches and shade, surfacing choices and whether to include a splash pad. "We were really hoping that you can help us with the outreach to see what the community wants, how important is the splash pad, how important is the playground, the amenities," she said.
Staff outlined the RCO grant process timeline: an application and technical reviews this spring and a final ranking the following fall, with award notifications typically the next spring. Commissioners discussed venues for engagement (Pavilion Park events, farmers market, Touch a Truck, town halls) and the timing constraints tied to the city's budget schedule: results are needed early enough to inform the August budget cycle.
No formal action was taken; commissioners agreed to help with outreach and to return at a later meeting with a plan for engagement and priorities to present to council.
"This is 200 pages in a nutshell," Jen Camp said of the parks plan executive summary staff circulated to commissioners. She said the plan is being finalized for graphics and will support applications to RCO, the state agency that awards competitive matching grants for park projects.
Camp and Nancy Hill described options for Pavilion Park and said early, high-level estimates to renovate the playground and include the splash pad exceed $1,000,000; RCO matching grants would require local match and the maximum RCO match referenced in the presentation is "up to $500,000." Camp said the commission must choose whether to pursue a full renovation, an in-kind replacement of play structures, or a renovation that adds amenities and possibly retains the splash pad.
Nancy Hill urged the CEC to support outreach and community engagement to refine priorities such as swings, separate play structures by age, benches and shade, surfacing choices and whether to include a splash pad. "We were really hoping that you can help us with the outreach to see what the community wants, how important is the splash pad, how important is the playground, the amenities," she said.
Staff outlined the RCO grant process timeline: an application and technical reviews this spring and a final ranking the following fall, with award notifications typically the next spring. Commissioners discussed venues for engagement (Pavilion Park events, farmers market, Touch a Truck, town halls) and the timing constraints tied to the city's budget schedule: results are needed early enough to inform the August budget cycle.
No formal action was taken; commissioners agreed to help with outreach and to return at a later meeting with a plan for engagement and priorities to present to council.
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