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Why build these sports fields here?
When will construction start?
How much will this project cost?
Where will the funding come from?
This property is identified as a contaminated Superfund site. Will it be safe for public use?
Is the soil on the county's property contaminated?
What will happen to the EPA's monitoring wells on the county property?
Who will use these fields?
Will the community be able to use the site, or is it just for the sports groups?
Is it legal for the county to patner with King's Way Christian Schools?
Will the site also include a neighborhood park?
How many trees will be removed?
How will wildlife in the park be affected?
How much additional traffic will be generated during games?
How many parking spaces will be provided in the park?
Why is the connector road between NE 78th Street and NE 82nd Street necessary?
How will NE 82nd Street be improved?
How will NE 80th Street connect to the park?
When will games and practices be held?
How will noise be addressed?
Will the ball fields include lights for night games?
How can I get involved?
How can I get more information?
Why build these sports fields here?
Voters approved the Greater Clark Parks District in 2005 to allow development to move forward on a number of new parks, trails and youth sports fields in the unincorporated urban area of Clark County. One commitment of this program is to provide additional fields for youth sports.
Clark County began reviewing sites for sports fields in this area in 2007. Several potential locations were considered, including county-owned property on NE 78th Street, adjacent to King’s Way Christian Schools, Fairgrounds Community Park, and the former WSU experimental agricultural site on NE 78th Street. Based on this review, the county concluded the site next to the schools was the best option because stormwater management would cost less. It also provided an opportunity to partner with King’s Way Christian Schools to share resources and save money. In addition, the county’s plans for the WSU site, which is now known as the 78th Street Heritage Farm, sought to preserve and celebrate the property’s agricultural past.
When will construction start?
Construction is expected to begin in early 2011.
How much will this project cost?
The county currently estimates that design, permitting and construction will cost approximately $8-9 million.
Where will the funding come from?
Real Estate Excise Taxes (REET), which are collected whenever property is sold, will pay for design and construction. Clark County will pay for basic maintenance and operations of the site with property taxes collected by the Greater Clark Parks District.
This property is identified as a contaminated Superfund site. Will it be safe for public use?
In 1995, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) placed the Boomsnub/Airco site on the National Priorities List for Superfund cleanup. Groundwater and soil were contaminated with chromium and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at the primary contamination site. This site is located southeast of the intersection of NE St. Johns Road and NE 78th Street, over a quarter mile away from the county’s property.
The EPA removed most of the contaminated soil in the 1990s and started cleaning the groundwater. Contamination levels have dramatically decreased as a result.
Today, the contaminated groundwater extends northwest from the primary contamination area and passes under the southern third of the county’s property, 50 to 90 feet below the surface.
In June 2009, the EPA published a fact sheet about the Boomsnub/Airco Superfund site that stated:
“The contamination does not pose a risk. People can walk, run and play in this area. If playfields are developed on Clark County’s property or on adjacent properties, children will not be exposed to the chromium or VOCs from the Boomsnub/Airco Site.”
Is the soil on the county's property contaminated?
There is no known soil contamination at or near the surface of the county’s property. The soil contamination associated with the Superfund site occurred at the Boomsnub commercial/industrial property, which is on NE 47th Avenue, southeast of the St. Johns Road/78th Street intersection. The county will conduct soil surface tests to verify quality prior to construction.
What will happen to the EPA's monitoring wells on the county property?
The current concept plan separates the sports fields from existing EPA monitoring and extraction wells, ensuring the federal agency has continued access to the wells.
More detailed information about this Superfund site is available in this fact sheet:
Who will use these fields?
The primary user will be Salmon Creek Little League. Secondary users will include the Clark County Junior Baseball Association and the Westside Soccer Club.
The county also is working on a joint use agreement with King’s Way Christian Schools to allow some public access to the school’s new football field, parking lot and future soccer, lacrosse and field hockey fields. In return, the school would receive secondary access to the county’s fields and parking lot. Activities on school property will not interfere with public use of the county’s sports fields.
Will the community be able to use the site, or is it just for the sports groups?
The Hazel Dell sports fields is a public project for public use. The parks department will publish a calendar on its Web site showing scheduled games and when fields would be available for public use. The trails, neighborhood park and playground will always be available for public use.
Is it legal for the county to partner with King's Way Christian Schools?
Yes. State law gives the Board of Clark County Commissioners legislative authority to care for all county property (RCW 36.32.120(6)). Both the Washington state Legislature and the Board of County Commissioners encourage public-private partnerships to save taxpayer money and share resources. Over the years, Clark County has partnered with local school districts, nonprofit youth sports groups, religious groups and churches on similar projects.
In 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that if a state or local government were to make public facilities available to private groups but deny access to religious groups, it would violate the Equal Protection Clause outlined in the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. (See GOOD NEWS CLUB, ET AL. v. MILFORD CENTRAL SCHOOL, 533 U.S. 98 (2001))
State law also outlines the ethical obligations elected officials have regarding public contracts and agreements. Municipal officers, including county commissioners, are prohibited from receiving any "beneficial interest" from a contract or agreement (RCW 42.23.030) State law also says that if an elected official’s interest is considered remote and is both publicly disclosed and officially recorded, the elected official still may vote on the contract. The contract, however, must be approved by the majority of the body’s remaining elected officials (RCW 42.23.040).
Will the site also include a neighborhood park?
Yes. Approximately six acres on the north side of the county property is designated as a future neighborhood park. The county add nature trails, a picnic table and two benches to this park as part of the sports fields project. When funding becomes available, the county will gather public input to prepare a concept plan to complete the park.
How many trees will be removed?
The concept plan has been modified several times since April 2009 to retain more trees. At this time, the plan calls for removing 402 of 682 trees with a diameter greater than 10 inches. The county recently took core samples of the eight largest trees on the site in order to determine their age. The oldest of these eight trees was 82 years old and the youngest was 62. The core samples did not harm the trees.
How will wildlife in the park be affected?
The county will preserve as much habitat and native vegetation as possible, including the wetland in the northwest corner of the property. The county is conducting a bird survey to get a better understanding about what types of birds use the property. There are no known threatened or endangered species on the site.
How much additional traffic will be generated during games?
The traffic study shows each sports field generating 35-41 additional trips per hour, depending on the type of sport and age of players. Games will be staggered to reduce traffic congestion. With Salmon Creek Little League as the primary user of the sports fields, the majority of traffic will come from the west. If traffic patterns change in the future, the county will develop a new traffic study and make transportation improvements if warranted.
How many parking spaces will be provided in the park?
There will be 123 spaces in the main parking lot, plus 61 more spaces in a secondary parking lot. This will provide enough parking for regular sports fields use (i.e. games and practices) within the park. Additional parking will also be available during occassional special and events and tournaments through an agreement with King’s Way Christian Schools. On-street parking will not be allowed on interior park roads.
Why is the connector road (NE 39th Avenue) between NE 78th Street and NE 82nd Street necessary?
Clark County Code (40.350.030(c)) requires developments, including parks, to have cross circulation streets every 800 feet. The connector road will improve emergency response for residents on NE 82nd Street, provide emergency access for sports fields activities, reduce travel distances and reduce traffic congestion on St. Johns Road and NE 78th Street.
The main entrance/exit at NE 78th Street will have a stop sign. There will be right- and left-turn pockets for traffic exiting onto NE 78th Street. Private developers will be required to pay for and install a traffic signal at NE 78th Street entrance when the planned commercial development on the south side of NE 78th Street is built.
The intersection of the connector road and NE 82nd Street may be controlled with two-way stop signs for north-south traffic.
The connector road (NE 39th Avenue) will be a public road and will not be closed or gated at night.
How will NE 82nd Street be improved?
The south side of NE 82nd Street will be widened for sidewalk, curb and gutter in front of the park.
How will NE 80th Street connect to the park?
Pedestrian/bicycle access for neighbors living in the development on the northwest side of the park will be provided from NE 80th Street into the park. There will be no vehicle access into the park from this street.
When will games and practices be held?
The sports fields will be available for games and practices daily, between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.
How will noise concerns be addressed?
A study has been conducted, which examined noise generated by both sports activities and traffic. The study concluded that any sustained noise would not exceed 55.5 decibels at the adjacent property lines, which is within state requirements. The county also plans to include a vegetation buffer between all adjacent properties and the county’s property.
Will the ball fields include lights for night games?
At least one field will include lights for night games. Any ball field lighting will use the latest technology to minimize impacts to adjacent neighborhoods. In addition, an automatic timer will turn ball field lights off no later than 10 p.m.
How can I get involved?
Timeline showing public review and/or input opportunities (Updated 6/30/10 - 20 kb PDF)
There have been a variety opportunities for the public to provide input about this project, including:
- April 2009 public meeting to review draft concept plan and an online comment period for those who couldn't attend the meeting.
- July 2009 public meeting to review updated draft concept plan and an online comment period for those who couldnt' attend the meeting.
- October 2009 Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission meeting to review the draft concept plan with opportunity for public testimony.
- December 2009 Board of Clark County Commissioners Consent Agenda to review and take action on the draft concept plan with opportunity for public testimony.
- May 2010 Open House to allow the public to review the latest design drawing, associated studies and documents. A postcard invitation to this open house was mailed to residents living within a few miles of the property. The documents are also all available on the Web.
- A formal public comment period as part of the Type III development review and SEPA environmental permitting processes starting in May 2010. This included an opportunity to provide written comments, or provide oral testimony at a land use public hearing on June 29, 2010.
For regularly updated information about this project, sign up for the project e-mailing list by filling out the electronic form on the main project Web page.
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Matt Griswold, Project Manager
Clark County Public Works
P.O. Box 9810
Vancouver, WA 98666
Phone: (360) 397-6118 x. 4372
E-mail: Matt.Griswold@clark.wa.gov
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