This column was submitted by Village Green Foundation Executive Director Nick Jewett, with input from the board of directors.

The event of the year — so far — is the governor’s signature on a capital budget that included funding for the Community Center at the Village Green, under the state Department of Commerce Building Communities Fund.

This $1.03 million grant both recognizes progress and confers credibility on the project.  We had to secure at least 35 percent of needed funding in order to qualify, and at least eight people over five years traveled to Olympia to talk with legislators about the project.

In addition, this grant will make us still more eligible for funding from other sources going forward.  It’s a big day for the community and for the project.

Who had a hand in securing the state grant money? Everyone who:

• Wielded a rake or shovel at the Village Green in 2009l

• Fed the park volunteers (Cup & Muffin, that’s you!)

• Baked, served, or bought a pie at either Pie in the Park parties.

• Traveled to Olympia to lobby since 2005.

• Pledged/ paid individual or business support to the project.

• Gathered signatures for the park district, campaigned for the  district, voted for the district or ran for district commissioner.

• Met with state representatives.

• Supported our Boys & Girls Club in any way.

• Reviewed, wrote, or contributed data to the grant application.

Electricity upgrade: The upgraded power on the pump shed at the road entrance to the Park should be energized soon.   This power upgrade includes four 50 amp breakers for spider outlets and eight 20 amp 110v outlets that are mounted on the west side of this building. When these outlets are ready for use, and you need electricity for an event at the park, you’ll want to locate your event near that corner of the park so that you don’t have to run cords across the road.

Design progress: The subsurface soils investigation has been completed and the wetlands have been delineated. The historical research has been completed and Village Green Foundation is ready to submit its portion of the first permits to the County and will do so in conjunction with the senior-housing developer, SRI, when they are complete, which could be within a few weeks.

Alternatives are still being evaluated on the best way to handle storm water on site.  Also, the existing invert elevations of the sewer pump station piping are creating some ADA access challenges for the finished site. Moving those lines is a costly proposition.

P-patch garden: Three high school students, Kameron Ashley, Brianna Belger, and Samantha Randall, stepped forward to create a P-Patch site development plan, including by-laws, garden organization, garden management, and other things to satisfy requirements of a history class project.

Many thanks to these three, who also want to carry their involvement forward to next year.  Special thanks to Jane Mack, Bobbi Wodtli and Karen Adams, who have secured two grants from the Kingston Garden Club totaling $1,400, and thanks to an anonymous donor, who donated $500 this year.

These funds have been set aside in foundation accounts and should be sufficient to take us through the planning phase and into fencing, water access, and possible garden launch next year.

Picnic shelter: A group of volunteers has come together to evaluate ways that the proposed picnic shelter (near the existing playground) might be built earlier than the community center project. It could be a phased project with the shelter being the first step and incremental amenities added (i.e. power, water, fireplace etc.) as money becomes available. To assist, email projects@kingstonvillagegreen.org

Finally, we thank the mowers for keeping the park looking so spiffy. We haven’t needed to water yet, but when we do, the Village Green Metropolitan Park District will be footing the bill, along with the diesel to operate the mower.