Includes funding for Yelm dog park, Orting Soldiers’ Home, Eatonville cleanup, and sidewalks and Frontier Park in Graham

OLYMPIA – The Washington Senate Wednesday approved a capital budget providing funding for public works construction statewide, including projects for the 2nd Legislative District in Yelm, Orting, Graham and Eatonville.

Senate Bill 5651 passed the Senate 49-0, and now moves to the House for further consideration.

Sen. Jim McCune, R-Graham, said the capital budget proposal reflects top local priorities. “I’m delighted that we have been able to continue what we started last year at Frontier Park in Graham,” McCune said. “By improving park facilities, we provide a gathering place and a point of community pride.”

The Senate capital budget proposal provides $70,000 for improvements to the goat barn at Frontier Park. That builds on appropriations last year of $89,000 for the goat barn roof and $1.8 million for a horse arena cover.

The capital budget, funded primarily with bonds, pays for public works construction across the state. This year’s budget supplements the two-year plan adopted by lawmakers in 2021. Lawmakers have until their scheduled adjournment on March 10 to adopt a final plan.

Other projects include:

• $50,000 for the Yelm dog park. The new off-leash dog park will be located on a city-owned parcel of land on the east side of Rhoton Road.
• $250,000 for Graham sidewalks, along Eustis Hunt Rd. E and 216th Street E, providing access to Graham Kapowsin High School, Frontier Middle School and Nelson Elementary School.
• $180,000 for paving of Cemetery Road at the Washington State Soldiers Home in Orting.

The Senate proposal also provides $4 million for cleanup efforts at the former Eatonville landfill and $1.6 million for Pierce College facilities at the new Bethel High School in Graham.