When Jefferson County announced that the Port Townsend Recreation Center was at risk of closing, a community-led effort quickly took shape. The Future of Recreation, a group of local community members, established the Support Parks & Rec Fund at Jefferson Community Foundation to raise the $85,000 needed to keep the doors open. Jefferson Community Foundation’s role in supporting this effort was to provide the technology and processing systems they needed to move quickly.
The Recreation Center is a critical hub for youth connection and activity. In a time when opportunities for young people to gather, move, and engage are increasingly limited, the potential loss of this space would have left a significant gap in our community. Last year alone, the Center saw 6,860 visits, with an average visitor age of just 12 years old. For many of these youth, the Recreation Center is more than a place to play—it’s a place to belong.
This is why, as a charitable advisor to more than 100 individuals and families across Jefferson County, JCF also activated its network of fund holders, who responded immediately, raising half of their goal to serve as a matching challenge to the broader community. What followed was extraordinary. The full $85,000 goal was met in less than one week, a powerful demonstration of this community’s commitment to its young people.
The Support Parks & Rec Fund is now closed, and all donations have been sent to the Jefferson County Parks & Recreation Department to support Recreation Center operations through 2026. The Future of Recreation group has decided to pause all fundraising until a more sustainable strategy is developed. We are grateful to The Future of Recreation for their leadership, and to the many donors who stepped forward to make this possible. We celebrate what is possible when a community comes together with urgency, trust, and shared purpose.
While this achievement is worth celebrating, it cannot replace the need for a sustainable, county-supported model that ensures consistent, equitable access to youth programming for years to come. Now the county has time to develop one without having to stop critical services for our young people.
At JCF, our role is to listen, connect, and act—bringing people and resources together to meet the moment. As we look ahead, we remain committed to supporting thoughtful, long-term strategies that strengthen the health and vitality of Jefferson County for generations to come.
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Jefferson Community Foundation connects people, ideas and resources to build the future of Jefferson County. JCF strengthens Jefferson County through community philanthropy, leadership, and strategic investment. We connect and support the people, places, and programs that make this community thrive—today and into the future.
