SOAP LAKE – After several years of challenges, Smokiam Park in Soap Lake has a new basketball court for community members.
“It’s been a long process,” said Mona Kaiser, Soap Lake Parks and Recreation Committee Manager.
She explained that the entire process, from original idea and design to completion, took about four years.
The project began in 2018 when the first sketches of the idea for a life-size basketball court in the park were considered with a landscape architect. In the spring of 2019, the committee applied for a grant through the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.
“I think there were 12 (organizations) that received money; different cities, different parks,” Kaiser said. “And we were number 13.”
If a recipient cannot meet the requirements for any reason, then the grant is awarded to the next group in line. In December 2020, the committee was informed that Soap Lake had been selected for the grant due to another group dropping out.
One of the stipulations of the grant required the city to “match” a certain percentage of the funds. According to Kaiser, the city was to contribute about $25,000 of the more than $200,000 grant. The Town of Soap Lake contributed approximately $5,000 while the remainder came from donations and fundraising from community members, business owners and friends of Soap Lake.
“When we applied for this grant, the city was confident they would have the money to put in their fair share,” Kaiser said. “Well, then COVID-19 came along, then difficulties in the city happened and they didn’t have the money.”
Kaiser said the all-volunteer committee looked to the public to step up and raise the money needed.
“It was just heartwarming,” Kaiser said.
The $25,000 goal was reached in March 2021, according to a statement posted on the Town of Soap Lake’s website. In another September 2021 release, it was announced that construction bids for the project would be requested this fall with plans for completion of the courts in 2022. ESF Solutions LLC, Walla Walla, was selected and brought to life to the project. Construction began in mid-August and over the past weekend the final stages were completed on the land and it was ready for use.
The terrain features orange and blue colors. Kaiser said blue represents the color of the Soap Lake School District and orange is an official city color palette.
“We held more than one meeting to get public feedback,” Kaiser said.
Rebecca Pettingill can be reached at [email protected].