Funding equity-driven projects and programs in Burien is a challenge that requires putting together lots of individual pieces to create a much larger impact. Those pieces can include staff resources, partnerships, and funds. One specific kind of fund that contributes toward this greater impact is the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, which helps support activities in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods such as infrastructure improvements and public services that build stronger communities.
Before those funds land in Burien, they are initially received by the King County Housing and Community Development Division, who administers the funds to King County, Burien, and other cities participating in the King County CDBG Consortium. The Consortium makes it more feasible for cities like Burien to manage complex federal grant requirements.
Along with other cities including Kirkland, Renton, and Redmond, the City of Burien is part of the Consortium’s Joint Recommendations Committee. Each partner provides funding recommendations and guidance on a wide range of housing and community development issues.
The City of Burien’s Human Services Division collaborates each year with staff from the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services (PaRCS) and Public Works Departments, as well as the Economic Development Division to determine the most effective use for Burien’s CDBG dollars. The yearly process includes recommendations from advisory bodies, a public hearing, and approval of the plan from the Burien City Council.
Deputy PaRCS Director Daniel Robben acknowledges the importance of this funding source as the City has limited resources available. Thanks to the CDBG Program, he says, the City has been able to secure amenities and upgrades throughout the community.
“The Community Development Block Grant program is a guaranteed bucket of money to help facilitate projects on our list,” said Robben. “These funds are crucial to subsidize project costs and leverage limited City funding towards projects that benefit neighborhoods most in need.”
The results of capital projects PaRCS has been able to complete with CDBG funding are already visible throughout the city. Over the past several years, CDBG funding has been used to help purchase Lakeview Park and add new play equipment, improve the Burien Community Center, and create accessible pathways at Lake Burien School Memorial Park.
For 2025, $149,413 of CDBG funds was allocated toward the $350,000 budget required to replace play equipment in Chelsea Park. At more than 24 years old, the park was due for new equipment, as playgrounds often last around 20-25 years before needing to be replaced. Neighbors will help guide the design of the play equipment that will serve children from the ages of two to twelve. With some delays due to unexpected federal funding issues, the project is currently in progress and is scheduled to be completed in 2026.
The City Council approved additional CDBG funding for park projects in 2026. An estimated $149,413 will go toward the $215,000 budget required to replace damaged pavement at Jacob Ambaum Park to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
In addition to parks, another portion of the CDBG funding helps support local programs. The Human Services Division has historically awarded about $40,000 each year to Southwest Youth and Family Services (SWYFS) to support their New Futures programming in Burien. The programming, to be hosted at Burien’s Woodridge Park Apartments and Arbor Heights Apartments, will continue promoting school and youth success in the city.
Bryan Hayes, Associate Executive Director of Programs for SWYFS, shares that part of their success comes from working directly with City leaders to serve as many people as possible. “Our success is the result of the ongoing support city leaders provide to our programs and staff,” said Hayes. “This support has allowed us to deliver meaningful programs and experiences to many individuals in our community.”
This ongoing support has continued since 2019, when the City began supporting the New Futures program at the Alcove at Seahurst apartment complex. The program provides a local community resource center, a holistic wrap-around program serving families. On average, SWYFS has been contracted to serve 200 people through the program but tends to serve even more.
According to Hayes, the New Futures program offers high-quality after-school resources and activities for students in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade, including academic tutoring, STEM and arts education, and leadership opportunities. Through structured learning, the participants excel.
“The program supports student learning and academic success, plus healthy social-emotional development,” said Hayes. “Together, these experiences help young people build their skills and grow in self-confidence.”
The Human Services Division prides itself on prioritizing funding efforts to build thriving, resilient communities supported at a national level. Anyah Zupancic, Human Services Manager, shares that their division is strategic in how they make decisions to fund organizations.
“We want to make sure that we are consistent in the way that we’re assigning funding and the way that we’re asking for data and reporting,” said Zupancic. “Also, in the way that we’re using information to be supportive of the agencies and to help meet the needs that we are seeing across the county.”
SWYFS Executive Director Essence A. Russ, MA, shares how the City of Burien has long advocated for the New Futures program and has supported them through some challenging times over the years. Highlighting the collaboration with the City, Russ recounts how Zupancic “worked with us to reallocate funding when we’ve had to downsize our sites.” Russ also credits the City of Burien’s Economic Development Specialist, Lorraine Chachere, who “jumped right in to help us in seeking out new, budget-appropriate sites that would allow us to effectively continue services to the youth and families who rely on our services.”
In the spring of 2025, the New Futures Alcove program assisted families in applying for a local charter school, and all students who applied were accepted. They also celebrated Mother’s Day and Children’s Day, where students and staff worked together to make flowers for the moms and goodie bags for the children.
Earlier in the year, the New Futures program saw multiple students improve their English proficiencies. They also launched a GOKiC (Geeking Out Kids of Color) program, an educational partnership that explores the intersection of race, art, gender, culture, and technology education within a critical lens. The program recently had a cohort of 14 student participants.
“We are proud to report that our 2025 summer program demonstrated exceptional success, with over 90 percent of participants remaining in and completing the program,” said Hayes.
Building on these successes, partnerships, and strategic prioritization, the City will continue to use CDBG funds to make a difference in the neighborhoods where they are needed the most.
