Help is available to community groups, youth organizations and others who are interested in developing or renovating neighborhood youth sports facilities in King County.

“I’ve seen first-hand how these grants can transform a community,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “In a time of limited resources, I encourage neighborhood groups to stretch their budgets by partnering with King County to provide new or improved sports facilities for our youth.”

The Youth Sports Facilities Grants Fund (YSFG), which is administered by King County Parks and Recreation, is accepting applications from qualified groups that partner with a public agency, such as a school district or city parks department, to develop or renovate sports facilities.

The YSFG program provides matching grant funds of up to $75,000. Past grants have been awarded for athletic fields, skate parks, playgrounds, sport courts and rowing facilities, among others. Grant requests range from $5,000 to $75,000.

The YSFG program is funded and sustained through a quarter of 1 percent of car rental taxes. The program also receives $100,000 annually from the YSFG endowment established with the sale of a county building.

Since its inception in 1993, the YSFG program has awarded more than $10 million in grants and contributed to more than 250 new or renovated athletic facilities throughout King County.

As a member of the County Council, Executive Constantine supported numerous YSFG projects in underserved areas, including a $75,000 grant for construction of a new athletic track at Evergreen High.

Applications for King County YSFG grants will be accepted until June 11, with letters of intent due May 3. Visit the King County Web site and click on the YSFG link for an application packet. For more information, contact Butch Lovelace, program manager, at (206) 263-6267 or e-mail at butch.lovelace@kingcounty.gov.