Due to funding constraints, the City of Yakima had to make some budget reductions for 2026 that will impact Yakima Parks and Recreation programs and facilities. Thanks to a partnership with the Yakima Valley Community Foundation, there are ways you can directly support these programs/facilities:

• YAKIMA PARKS & RECREATION COMMUNITY RECREATION FUND – Keep the Magic Alive in Yakima’s Parks! For generations, families across Yakima have gathered under the stars at Chesterley Park for movies, and filled Franklin and Miller Parks with music and laughter. Free summer events aren’t just entertainment—they’re where neighbors become friends, kids make memories, and our community comes together. Rising costs and budget cuts threaten these beloved traditions. These events make Yakima more vibrant, connected, and alive. They give our local artists a stage and our families a reason to gather. Every dollar you give keeps the music playing, the movies rolling, and our community thriving. Help us ensure every family in Yakima can enjoy these cherished summer traditions. Give today.

• HARMAN SENIOR CENTER FUND – Since 2004, the Harman Center has been more than just a building—it’s where Yakima’s seniors thrive. Every day, this vital hub buzzes with life as neighbors reconnect over line dancing, stay strong through Forever Fitness classes, create beautiful quilts, and share meals together. It’s where seniors access affordable lunches, receive health screenings, learn to protect themselves from scams, and navigate Medicare with confidence. It’s where loneliness is replaced by laughter, and isolation gives way to friendship. The Harman Foundation’s generous gift gave our community this treasure. Now, it’s our turn to protect it. Budget constraints threaten the programs that keep our seniors healthy, engaged, and connected. Your donation ensures that the quilting circles continue, the fitness classes keep moving, the educational seminars remain accessible, and beloved traditions like the Strawberry Social and Holiday Bazaar endure. When you give to the Harman Center, you’re investing in the dignity, health, and joy of the seniors who built this community. They deserve a place to gather, grow, and belong—and with your help, they’ll have it.

• Lions Pool Fund – For over 50 years, Lions Pool has been where Yakima learns to swim, heals, competes, and connects. It’s where children conquer their fear of water, seniors find relief through gentle exercise, injured community members rebuild strength, and young athletes train for state championships. This isn’t just about keeping a pool open—it’s about preserving a lifeline that touches every generation in our community. In 1984, our community came together through donations and a voter-approved bond to make Lions Pool the year-round facility it is today. Now, we’re asking you to carry that legacy forward. Your donation will ensure children continue learning life-saving swimming skills, provide accessible rehabilitation space for those in recovery, support our high school swim teams, and maintain a safe gathering place where families create lasting memories. Lions Pool has been here for us for half a century. Today, it needs us. Every dollar you give keeps the doors open, the water warm, and the opportunity alive.

• WASHINGTON FRUIT COMMUNITY CENTER – For decades, the Washington Fruit Community Center has been a vital gathering place in northeast Yakima, serving seniors, children, and families across generations. Every day, we provide seniors with affordable lunches and activities, offer safe after-school care and summer programs for children, and host community events like salsa dancing, Taekwondo, and family nights. Thanks to the generosity of Washington Fruit & Produce Corporation and dedicated community donors, we’ve been able to enrich countless lives—but now we need your help to continue this important work. Without immediate support, we face closure. Your donation directly impacts real people in our community—helping a child attend summer camp, providing a senior with a hot meal and companionship, or ensuring families have a welcoming place to gather and grow together. Join us in keeping this treasured resource alive. Together, we can ensure the Washington Fruit Community Center continues serving Yakima for generations to come.

• YAKIMA PARK MAINTENANCE FUND – Nearly 400 acres of parkland. 42 parks. 7.3 miles of pathways. Countless memories made under open skies. This is where Yakima comes alive—where toddlers take their first swing, teens practice layups until sunset, families picnic under shade trees, and neighbors discover the joy of simply being outside together. Our parks are the backyard we all share, and they deserve to be spaces we’re proud of. Behind every mowed field, every safe playground, every welcoming trail stands our dedicated Parks and Recreation maintenance team working to keep these treasured spaces clean, safe, and beautiful. But budget shortfalls are making it harder to maintain the standard our community deserves. That’s where you come in. The Yakima Park Maintenance Fund gives you the power to directly impact the places you love—ensuring the tennis courts stay smooth, the playgrounds remain safe, the picnic shelters stand ready for your family gatherings, and the green spaces stay vibrant. Every dollar you give goes straight to the ground beneath our feet and the spaces where our community grows. When you support this fund, you’re not just maintaining parks—you’re preserving the places where childhood happens, where health improves, and where Yakima feels like home. Together, we can keep our shared backyard beautiful.

Thank you!