The Park CommUNITY Fund advances park equity in Seattle through a community-led funding process. The fund invests in both large and small capital projects, utilizing participatory budgeting and equitable grant-making practices. The Seattle Park District has allocated funding to the Park CommUNITY Fund for investments in Seattle communities between 2023 and 2028.

During the summer of 2022, program staff were hired to conduct early engagement with City of Seattle staff, partners, and frontline community groups to gain feedback about Seattle Park and Recreation's park development process and how to develop a new community-centered funding program.

Using this feedback, program staff developed a 4-stage pilot cycle that launched in 2024. The pilot cycle tested the initial program framework to ensure it meets the department’s vision for the program - to create partnerships with communities and continue investment in parks and park facilities in neighborhoods with a history of racial disparities in access to green space and safety from environmental harm.

In 2024 Frontline communities worked alongside Seattle Park and Recreation staff through a Project Selection process, which included three phases. The next round of Project Selection will start in 2026.

• Idea Collection: Community members submit ideas for improvements in-person or online.
• Project Development: Ideas are developed into proposals, reviewed for priority, and narrowed to a small list of finalists.
• Final Selection: Finalists undergo a three-part selection process to determine awarded projects, including community selection, selection by the Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners, and Superintendent final approval.

Seattle Park and Recreation’s park development process will be used to implement the selected projects. No grants are given to community for the projects. There is a reserve of $200k for Capacity Awards to support community engagement on the selected projects.

Following Project Selection, the program will conduct an Evaluation and Workshop series with communities to gain feedback on improving the program, creating a more equitable park development process, and creating a space for Frontline communities to share/build resources.