Dunn announces $9,900 King County grant for Bicycle Rescue for Youth

September 4, 2024

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn on Wednesday announced that Bicycle Rescue for Youth in Ravensdale was awarded a $9,900 Healthy Communities & Parks grant to support its Everyone 
Deserves a Ride program in South King County. 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. 

“With this grant, more low-income kids in South King County will get to experience both the joy and the physical benefits of bicycling,” Dunn said. “I thank Bicycle Rescue for Youth for all their work fixing, maintaining, and gifting these bikes to help keep kids active. I’m proud to support their work!” 

The Everyone Deserves a Ride program will increase inclusivity in cycling by providing a free refurbished bicycle and helmet plus essential cycling safety education to low-income youth in South King County. At-risk youth are offered the chance to experience the freedom and joy of cycling promoting both physical activity and environmental stewardship among under-served communities. Funding from this grant will allow Bicycle Rescue for Youth to acquire, refurbish, and distribute 150 bicycles and provide bike safety education. Bike distribution, workshops and classes currently occur in the greater Tahoma area in South King County, including Auburn, Maple Valley, Ravensdale, Hobart, Covington and Kent, with the program planning to expand its reach south to Black Diamond and Enumclaw.

"Bicycle Rescue for Youth is deeply grateful to King County for their generous operating grant,” said Bicycle Rescue for Youth Executive Director Brad Belcher. “This crucial funding will significantly benefit over 150 low-income children in Southeast King County by providing them with bikes, helmets, and locks. Our goal is to promote physical activity and combat childhood obesity by giving these kids a fun and healthy way to exercise. We rely on grants like this to help support our important work, and we sincerely appreciate King County's commitment to our cause."   

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.