2007 First Annual Fall Breakfast a Success

“The festive breakfast ceremony in a Seattle hotel was packed, but the real celebration for outdoor recreation and land preservation is in hundreds of communities around the state.” – Seattle Times Editorial, Sept. 29, 2007. Over 300 guests joined us for the Coalition’s First Annual Fall Breakfast at the Seattle Sheraton. The breakfast raised nearly $100,000 for the Coalition’s effort to secure funding for parks, trails, shorelines, wildlife and working farms through the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP).  Special thanks go to REI, our Title Sponsor, along with all of our sponsors and table captains for making the event a success! 

Top Ranked Projects and Rep. Fromhold Recognized

At the breakfast founding co-chairs Governors Daniel J. Evans and Mike Lowry presented awards to the City of Auburn, Clallam County and the Department of Fish and Wildlife for the #1 ranked WWRP projects in Outdoor Recreation, Habitat Conservation, Farmland and Riparian Protection categories.

Rep. Bill Fromhold was recognized for his outstanding leadership in the legislature this year. As the chair of the House Capital Budget Committee, Fromhold set the bar at $100 million, doubling funding for the WWRP. 

As the budget proceeded through the legislature, Senator Karen Fraser, chair of the Capital Budget for the Senate, also supported $100 million. Together the House and Senate forwarded this historic funding for recreation and habitat lands to Governor Chris Gregoire who signed the final budget and the $100 million into law.

Changes at the Recreation and Conservation Office

Kaleen Cottingham was recently appointed by Governor Gregoire to serve as Director of the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), formerly the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation. The RCO is a state agency that administers the WWRP and seven other state and federal grant programs. It also staffs the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, the Biodiversity Council, Invasive Species Council and the Governor's Forum on Monitoring Salmon Recovery and Watershed Health.

Bowen Field, Whatcom Co.

Local residents, the mayor and city council members of Sumas recently celebrated the expansion of Bowen Field to include more ball fields and trails. The city received nearly $500,000 in matching funds through a grant from the WWRP. The park is supported by local residents and businesses and is central to Sumas’ Urban Growth Area, facilitating pedestrian access for current and future residents.

Barbour Recreation Complex, Stevens Co.

A ceremony was held in September for the dedication of the Barbour Recreation Complex Tennis Courts. Funded through a grant from the WWRP, the five new courts are the first public tennis courts in Chewelah and will be shared by the small local community and the school district.

Help Support Our Work

The Coalition is a non-profit membership organization which does not receive any of the funding it advocates for in Olympia, so we rely on the support of members like you!

Your support leverages millions of dollars for outdoor recreation and protected wildlife habitat. Click here to contribute to the Coalition today!