The kids were ready to break ground as soon as they spied the shovels lined up; it’s hard to contain their excitement as they watch their hometown fields unfold into a top-notch sports complex. King County Parks, along with Ravensdale Park Foundation (RPF) and the City of Maple Valley, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony of the second phase of the Ravensdale Park redevelopment with a strong showing of community support, including the following key leaders that helped bring the necessary funding together to complete the project: King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn, Maple Valley Mayor Bill Allison, Washington State Senator Joe Fain, Washington State Representative Chad Magendanz, and Ravensdale Park Foundation board members Rob Nist and Scott Serpa.

Phase 1 construction initiated an impressive makeover in 2012 that updated the existing fields to synthetic turf, in addition to the indoor baseball training facility. Fast forward to May 20, as we came together with our partners to break ground and begin construction on Phase 2 this summer. Ravensdale Park will gain two new lighted multi-sport synthetic turf fields, restrooms, a parking lot, maintenance building and a community meadow that are all anticipated to be completed by early this fall.

King County Parks’ Community Partnerships and Grants Program and the City of Maple Valley are each providing $2 million in funding toward the project, in addition to more than $1 million in funds, in-kind services and other resources provided by the RPF.

A big “thank you” to RPF, the City of Maple Valley, the State, all the kids, families and community supporters that rallied to push for the many recreational benefits that this project will bring to the south King County community. More year-round playing time on the upgraded fields means many more fly balls to be caught out there in left field!