Grants Database

The project we are proposing is part of a three phased approach to addressing Clean Water and culturally based environmental justice solutions in the historically Redlined community neighborhoods in Seattle known as the Central Area, a formerly African American neighborhood that is now the target of rapid gentrification. In our first phase, the Central Area Collaborative (CAC) received a grant from the King County Waterworks program. In phase one, we are constructing a rain water/storm water drainage project to mitigate the effects the run off and pooling are creating on an adjacent public park, that the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation have failed to address over the years. Phase one is to be completed by the end of May 2022. In our next two phases, the CAC is looking to 1) create a neighborhood area flood assessment, around the various redevelopment projects that are contributing to the rain water/storm water problems around our public spaces (parks, community centers, playgrounds) and 2) provide a student led STEM project around water sampling and analysis of Lake Washington, where it borders the eastern edge of the Central Area neighborhood community. There have been several infrastructure projects addressing sewage and storm water runoff effects into Lake Washington in other wealthier neighborhoods, such as Madrona, Mt Baker and Seward Park. However, our inquiries have not resulted in the identification of such projects in our lower socio-economic and historically marginalized communities. Part of this funding would be to create student teams to collect water samples and have them analyzed during the spring and summer (especially at the beaches) to ensure water quality safety is being addressed equitably and/or highlight any abnormal findings. To be clear, depending on the level of funding received, the CAC is looking to begin either phase or both concurrently.