Grand Coulee seeks park grant

If awarded a grant, Grand Coulee’s Shane Proctor Park could have new playground equipment, a half-court basketball court, and more. 

The city of Grand Coulee applied for a $162,000 grant from the Ephrata-based Paul Lauzier Foundation to make improvements to the park located along SR-174 between the gas station and the Mexican restaurant.

The grant would pay for new playground equipment and playground surface, a half-court basketball court, and to make the park compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“The last couple of years there has been discussion about the playground equipment needing to be replaced,” City Clerk Lorna Pearce told The Star in an email. “Last year (Public Works Director Dennis Francis) was looking into grants and this year had all the information needed to complete the application.”

Pearce said the play equipment has a 10- to 15- year life expectancy, but  the materials to be used under the play equipment has a lifetime warranty, “and will not be scattered all over the park or thrown at other kids! And with the removal of the existing slide, no little ones should burn their hiney! This is something that I feel will be a place local kids can go to run off some energy!” 

At Grand Coulee’s March 16 city council meeting, Francis told the council the park improvements could include a new barbecue area, another drinking fountain, additional sidewalks, and a handicapped-accessible bathroom. 

The city should find out if they are selected for the grant sometime this summer, Pearce said, with the park improvements most likely to be made in 2022.