The UPRD is pleased to announce that the Underwood Park and Recreation District will soon be the official recipient of a competitive state grant to restore and rebuild our outdoor athletic fields and courts in Underwood!

For over a year, the UPRD has been collaborating with the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) to secure a Community Outdoor Athletic Facilities (COAF) grant to improve the outdoor athletic fields and courts in Underwood. In May 2024, the UPRD submitted its first-round grant request seeking $152,000 to refinish the tennis court, basketball court, and baseball/softball diamond at the park. After the RCO’s initial review of our request, we were asked to complete a full application. We advanced through the selection process, but unfortunately, we ranked third for our region, and only two grants were awarded in the county last year.

Fast forward to July 2025, when UPRD board member Alicia Beyer received a phone call from the RCO indicating that Washington State had received extra funding for the Community Outdoor Athletic Facilities grants, and they were awarding the UPRD its entire $152,000 request for updates and renovations.

Why is this such a big deal? Because our Underwood tax dollars alone do not always cover the costs associated with major infrastructure projects that keep our Community Center and Park in top shape. One of the UPRD goals for 2025 was to diversify its revenue streams for improvement projects. Securing this grant is a major win and a significant step in a more sustainable direction for the maintenance and operations of our facilities.

At the baseball diamond, the backstop will be extended, dugouts will be added, and spectator seating will be updated with COAF funding. Grant dollars will also cover the resurfacing of both the basketball and tennis courts with modular tiles. After the surface work is complete, our tennis court nets and basketball hoops will be upgraded.

The UPRD’s next task is to ensure that we complete all the necessary work to fulfill the requirements of the RCO grant. Our timeline for improvements is still under development, but we anticipate that baseball diamond updates will begin in Spring 2026, with additional updates to follow as funds become available. The UPRD is looking forward to seeing these upgrades made to Underwood’s sports facilities, and we’re proud to be creating a park that can be used by future generations to come.

Finally, a special thanks to Underwood residents Kate Bertash of the Skamania Dispatch and Alicia Beyer of the UPRD Board. Together, Kate and Alicia have spent countless hours writing and revising application materials to secure these grant dollars, and without them, RCO funding for these community projects and improvements would not have been realized. Thank you, Kate and Alicia! We appreciate you.