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Current Status
Phase 1 construction began in May 2009, and is expected to be complete by summer 2010.
What is built as part of Phase 1 was based on the amount of funding available for construction. Phase 1 provides as many community park features from the master plan as possible, including:
- Walking and biking trails
- Playground
- Restroom
- One large and one small covered picnic shelter with tables
- Two basketball half-courts
- Plaza
- Irrigated open lawn play areas
- Parking lot and entry road from NE 164th Street
- Landscaping
- Benches and other site furnishing, signs, etc.
- Street improvements on NE 164th Street (widen road for bike lane and sidewalks in front of the park)
Phase 1 Development Plan (April 2009 - 132 kb PDF)
Long-term master plan (Nov. 2005 - 609 kb PDF)
Click the following links, or scroll down the page, to access additional project information:
Construction Information
Phase 1 Construction Site Plan (267 kb PDF)
June 2, 2009 Progress Report: Erosion control fencing and tree protection fencing has been installed. The access road and most of the active use areas of the park, including the parking lot, playground and picnic areas have been roughed in and excavation has begun. Road work along 164th Street has also begun.
Project Description
This 88-acre community park site is located on NW 164th Street at NW 11th Avenue in the Fairgrounds area. The site is adjacent to the Clark County Fairgrounds and Whipple Creek Regional Park. The property currently features a variety of landscape types including wetlands, forests, meadows, steep slopes, and former agricultural fields.
The approved long-term master plan (609 kb PDF) for this park project contains the following features:
- Youth-based community league sports fields (baseball and soccer)
- Extreme Sports Park (skateboarding, BMX and in-line skating)
- Playgrounds
- Sports courts
- Bocce court
- Restrooms
- Multi-use trails
- Shared-use equestrian trail
- Parking
- Covered picnic shelters
- Benches and picnic tables
- Caretaker and maintenance facilities
- Wetland mitigation area and natural interpretive areas and viewpoints
What is actually built during the first phase of construction is based on the amount of money available for construction. Additional park features not funded during the first phase of construction can be added to the park in the future when additional park improvment money is available.
Guiding Principles
- Accommodate community based activities to meet the diverse needs of the entire community.
- Provide a balance of passive and active park uses.
- Address access, security and adjacent uses.
- Provide sports fields for youth sports programs.
- Preserve and enhance natural resources; Incorporate sustainability principles.
- Develop a plan which is financially responsible and viable for the long term.
- Establish visual interest throughout the park: open areas, forested areas, vistas.
Public Outreach and Involvement
Public involvement is an important part of planning and developing a community park. The unique perspective and input that can be provided by neighbors and other future park users (sports enthusiasts, off-leash dog park advocates, etc.) during the development process are vital to the success of the project. Public feedback identifies what is most important to the community, and is used by project staff in combination with adopted park development standards to create the park's master plan.
Public Involvement and Outreach History: 2003-2008 (43 kb PDF)
In 2003, a 10-member Park Advisory Committee was formed to represent the community's interests and provide guidance to project staff during the initial master planning process. A total of seven Park Advisory Committee meetings, two public open houses, and one neighborhood association presentation were hosted by Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation between July and November 2003. All public open houses were advertised via mailers and press releases to local media.
During the 2003 master planning process it became clear the capital and operational funding sources to support the tournament fields proposed in the master plan wasn't available. As a result, the Clark County Board of Commissioners redirected staff to retain the community park features, but remove the tournament fields in favor of fields serving community based sports programs. Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation began work on a revised master plan for the project in 2004. In 2005, project staff hosted two more public meetings to present the revised master plan to the community for review and feedback. All public meetings were advertised via mailers and press releases to local media. Project information and comment forms were also provided on the project Web page for those who couldn't attend the public meetings.
In September 2007, shortly after the first phase of the park project entered final design and permitting, a project update newsletter was sent out to neighbors living within a 3-mile radius of the park. Project staff also attended several local meetings and events in September and October 2007 to provide information and answer questions about the Phase 1 Development Plan. In late October 2007, project staff also requested input from neighbors and park users on the types of play experiences should be included in the new playground.
NEW: April 2009 Pre-construction letter (339 kb PDF)
Timeline
| July 2003: |
Master planning phase began. |
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| February 2004: |
Master plan presented to the Board of Clark County Commissioners. Due to funding constraints, the Board redirects project staff to retain the community park features, but remove the tournament fields in favor of fields serving community based sports programs. Project staff begins working on revised master plan. |
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| September 2005: |
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission reviews and approves the revised master plan. |
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| December 2005: |
The Board of Clark County Commissioners reviews and approves the revised master plan; master planning phase completed. |
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| December 2005: |
Design and permitting of Phase 1 construction project began. |
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| Fall/winter 2008: |
Design and permitting of Phase 1 construction project completed. |
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| May 2009: |
Phase 1 construction begins. |
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| Summer 2010: |
Phase 1 construction scheduled to be complete. |
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Environmental Benefits
This park lies at the headwaters of the Whipple Creek drainage, and provides an important connection to the county's open space network. Wetlands have been identified on the park site and confirmed by the Clark County Community Development Department. The property's unique topography and hydrology provide an opportunity to develop innovative solutions for stormwater management and wetland restoration, and all development design decisions are being driven by collecting and moving water in a way that will keep it clean enough to enter the wetlands.
Current US Army Corps of Engineers and Clark County permit requirements dictate that the master plan be designed to minimize impacts to wetlands and their buffers by utilizing upland areas for development before proposing any impacts to wetlands. Any impacts to wetlands require mitigation through creation of new or enhancement of existing wetlands. However, mitigation is a costly process both in terms of development cost and loss of usable land area, and will be avoided if possible. The regulatory criteria that will be applied to this project are based on the following sequence:
- Avoid impacts to wetlands (utilize dry uplands before disturbing wetlands)
- Minimize impacts to wetlands (limit impacts based on quantity and quality criteria)
- Mitigate for impacts (restore existing or create new wetlands on site for any impact)
As part of the park development project, the wetland areas located within former agricultural areas on the property and the degraded central wooded area will be restored, and the high quality native habitat on the east side of the park will be protected. The physical park improvements will use sustainable "green" technology to further reduce environmental impacts, and additional higher quality forest and wetland habitats will be created by adding native trees and plants.
Project Funding
Design and construction of the Fairgrounds Community Park development project is being funded by Park Impact Fees and the Real Estate Excise Tax. Maintenance and operation of the park after construction will be funded by the Greater Clark Parks District, a property tax-based special district passed by voters in the unincorporated urban area of Clark County in February 2005.
Contact Information
Jerry Barnett, Project Manager
Clark County Public Works
Phone:
360-397-6118 x. 4969
E-mail: Jerry.Barnett@clark.wa.gov
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