Dunn announces $15,000 King County grant for Ayeko Farm’s Enumclaw Youth Conservation Internship

September 4, 2024

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn on Wednesday announced that Ayeko Farm was awarded a $15,000 Healthy Communities & Parks grant to support its Enumclaw Youth Conservation Internship. This funding is one of 63 Parks levy grants approved on Tuesday by the King County Council that increase equitable access to the outdoors, support youth sports programs, and enhance parks and aquatic facilities.

“I am very pleased to announce funding for the Enumclaw Youth Conservation Internship Program,” Dunn said. “With this funding, more kids will have the opportunity to learn about sustainable farming and conservation practices in a hands-on format while spending time outdoors and working with the land. This is a terrific educational opportunity and I’m glad to see it offered in Enumclaw!”

Ayeko Farm will use this grant to improve access to open space for low-income and immigrant high school students in Enumclaw by engaging participants in a land-based internship program. The stipend pilot program includes hands-on learning in sustainable agriculture, conservation, and health and wellness; field trips to local parks; job training; and community outreach. This project is a pilot internship program for 6-8 high school students in Enumclaw. The 10-week program will take place two days a week after school for three hours per day, for a total of 60 hours of programming.

"The Enumclaw Youth Conservation Internship Program is a fantastic opportunity for students in Enumclaw to learn about sustainable agriculture and conservation and access our local parks,” said Enumclaw Mayor Jan Molinaro. “I want to thank King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn and King County Parks for helping to secure these funds for our community.”

The Healthy Communities & Parks Fund (HCPF), part of the Targeted Equity Grant Program, supports projects that increase access to recreation and use of parks, open spaces, and recreational facilities in underserved areas and communities. This grant program intends to reduce health disparities in various underserved communities and invest in their capacities to meet the unique needs of their residents. 

This funding comes from the voter-approved 2020-2025 King County Parks Levy, which is investing $110 million in grant funding over six years. On August 6, 2019, King, County voters approved a measure to renew the property tax levy supporting parks, trails, and open space in King County. The measure replaced the levy that expired at the end of 2019 and will generate an estimated $810 million over six years, costing approximately $7.60 per month for the owner of a home with an assessed property value of $500,000.