The Legislature this year approved the largest investment in parks and natural areas in Washington's history. 

Lawmakers approved a two-year capital construction budget that increases funding for Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) grants to $100 million.
With the Governor's commitment to support $100 million, the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition chalked up success and a winning campaign to fund 135 projects around the state.

The campaign will fund:

• Outdoor Recreation - $36 million for 68 state and local parks, trails and shorelines.

• Habitat Conservation - $36 million for 34 natural areas, urban and critical habitat and land stewardship.

• Riparian Habitat Protection - $19 million for acquisition or restoration of 23 marine and fresh-water habitat areas.

• Farmland Preservation - $9 million for conservation or restoration of 10 working farms.  This is the first state funding for a farmland preservation program!

• Puget Sound - Of the 135 funded projects, 33 help protect or restore the Sound.  They total $21 million and leverage $30 million in local matching funds. 

WWRP grants go to cities, counties and state agencies.  Public and private dollars match local projects at 50 percent and state projects are used to match federal grants.

Funding for the program has remained around $50 million a biennium ever since the Coalition persuaded the legislature to establish the program in 1990.  Inflation and real estate prices have eroded the WWRP's buying power.

The Capital Budget had solid bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, but House Speaker Frank Chopp (D-Seattle) and Representative Bill Fromhold (D-Vancouver) were early champions of the $100 million goal.