More park improvements planned for Royal City in ‘26

ROYAL CITY — Lions Park in Royal City now has a soccer field, so city officials will be working on the next phase of improvements in 2026. The first phase of upgrades to Apple Avenue also is scheduled for 2026, and both are among the projects reflected in the city’s 2026 budget. The budget was approved by Royal City Council members Tuesday.  

Expenses in the city’s current expense fund are budgeted at about $1.83 million. Finance Director Janice Flynn said park maintenance and improvement are paid for through the general fund. 

“We have budgeted $75,000 for additional park expansion,” Flynn said. 

The current expense fund is projected to generate about $20,000 less in revenue than budgeted expenses. The current expense fund balance is projected to drop about $200,000 The budget also includes money for street construction, a new well, and planning for a new wastewater treatment facility. 

The current expense fund also pays for services like the Royal City Police Department and most personnel costs.  

Council members haven’t yet determined how the park money will be spent in 2026, Flynn said. It’s still a work in progress; some infrastructure still is needed, and there is a list of possible improvements. The first phase was adding a soccer field.  

The city received a grant from the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office to pay most of the cost of soccer field construction. The field was finished in October.  

“We have invested in some equipment,” Flynn said.  

The new equipment will make park maintenance easier and more efficient, she said.  

There is still some unimproved land between the soccer field and the rest of the park, Flynn said, with no grass and no irrigation system. Upgrading that is one option for 2026, City officials want to discuss with residents what else should be added to the park – and when, since it’s a multi-phase project. 

Residents have expressed interest in a splash pad, Flynn said, and city officials have discussed additional playground equipment. Recreation options like pickleball courts also have attracted some interest.  

“There are lots of things to think about,” Flynn said.  

Reconstruction of Apple Avenue from 13th Street SW to Poplar Street Northeast is scheduled for 2026.  

The city received state funding to rebuild the road, and 2025 was spent planning and designing the project. Once that section is complete, city officials plan to apply for funding to rebuild the rest of the street from Poplar to Road 12 Southwest, Flynn said. 

The city will be spending about $1.02 million for planning and design of a new well. 

The new well also is a multi-phase project, Flynn said. City officials received the grant earlier this year. Total cost is projected at $3 million.  

“It takes a long time to get funding lined up,” she said. 

The city’s wastewater treatment facility is in need of upgrades, and city officials have applied for a combination of grants and loans to start that process. Flynn said the city should be notified in the first quarter of 2026 if they received the money.  

The first phase will be planning and design, she said. If the city receives the grant, the first phase should take about a year. 

    SOURCE: ROYAL CITY/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD GRAPHIC - Figures in the millions are rounded to the nearest $100,000.