Local turnout at Rip City Rally dunks $40K for TD Parks; Board & Baker take it overtime for Sorosis swings
Brewster Whitmire and Kasey McCullough of The Dalles, sixth and eighth from the left, gladly except the check for Northern Wasco County Parks and Rec. on Sunday at the Moda Center in Portland during halftime before the Blazers beat the Kings. Photo courtesy Scott Baker
The Dalles, Ore., April 14, 2026 — It was a double win on Sunday as Brewster Whitmire and Kasey McCullough of The Dalles accepted a $40,680 grant at halftime for local parks at the Moda Ceenter and then the Portland Trail Blazers went on to beat the Sacramento Kings to secure the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference play-in tournament.
Whitmire and McCullough are Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation District board members.
“We’re extremely excited about it,” McCullough said on Tuesday afternoon. “The community support they received in The Dalles they said was unmatched and they really liked working with parks… and they wanted to give back to our community.”
Parks Executive Director Scott Baker said the district earned the award due to its high level of community participation during the Rip City Rally held at Riverfront Park in September.
“NWPRD was awarded $40,680 by MODA and the Trail Blazers,” Baker said. The Moda Health and Trail Blazers community grant program ties funding to turnout and engagement at Rip City events across Oregon.
The Dalles stop drew one of the strongest participation levels, helping the district secure the funding.
Locals were the key to winning the grant due to their high level of community participation during the Rip City Rally held at Riverfront Park on Sept. 18, 2025. Photo courtesy Scott Baker.
The district plans to use the $40,680 as matching funds for a grant through the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s Local Government Grant Program, Baker said. If awarded, the funding would support installation of “big kid” swings at Sorosis Park, expanding play options for older children.
Applications for the state grant are due in June, with award announcements expected in November. If successful, construction could begin in spring 2027.
The Oregon State Parks Local Government Grant Program previously funded about 60% of the cost for a new playground at Sorosis Park, making it a key funding source for ongoing improvements.
The latest award highlights how participation in community events can lead to lasting investments in local infrastructure, turning a one-day gathering into long-term upgrades for public spaces.
“It’s really really cool they picked us, and we will be able to to put money back into the community to build some tall swings at Sorosis Park,” McCullough said. “It’s exciting to have that option and to have the light shined on our community.”
