[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6606507,"mediaKeyId","2963289-e71a8d96ff3e317840119bb4af6e7c50","parentId",2963289,"title","Four new members join Richland Parks and Recreation Commission","audioSeconds",73,"startMs",1659000,"endMs",1732000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2963289-e71a8d96ff3e317840119bb4af6e7c50&start=1659&end=1732","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2963289-e71a8d96ff3e317840119bb4af6e7c50/thumbnail_1659000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6606507/Richland/Benton-County/Washington/Four-new-members-join-Richland-Parks-and-Recreation-Commission","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606507-ac10158924faac50764badede1b402cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195648&Signature=Lpw7VkOtModXwwo673t74UMWjZYqHw7Kl9iGESr-jQaFXMhaMgPCNt0jmG6rWqe3NW8kCMH0qTW6kxDYT1v42QENFds-EJlQt9VCfZLHPsZqEUxtZEjFTWFeC541i8dH3Iyq92mJIlGJ8BUGR7lpbrQ9JA7ZDvrCJKGUMNyiA4lTeUy-8QBZK-uVipvqo8K3~dkoK1uJVmmJooLHHlJijJasyG1O1UkJaWtYrVEtQHSa4dFCRjkO37Y1fe4KozoShdAU8m8t36kL~bXHXGk5fxhhiI-uJab1WUMQBMSJ9u1NcNS8NdaHv-amVj4s4IwY~yjomwm2-f7nDmbGFdHMTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richland","date","2025-04-10T00:00:00Z","article","Chair Patty Watrous invited the four newly appointed commissioners to introduce themselves at the end of the April 10 meeting.

Patty Jones said she is a long-time Richland resident, works full time as a cost-and-schedule analyst for a Hanford subcontractor and operates a local yoga business. Sawyer Christ identified themself as a student youth commissioner and a sophomore at Hanford High School who participates in tennis, Key Club and DECA. Carl Thompson said he is the golf course superintendent at Columbia Pointe Golf Course. Trion Thalapalli identified themself as an eighth grader at Anna Levy Middle School involved in sports and in a student leadership club.

Chair Watrous said the commission is excited about the range of representation the new members bring to the body and asked seasoned commissioners to welcome them. Commissioners echoed the welcome, and the meeting then adjourned its business portion and moved to a workshop on the PROS plan.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richland - Parks and Rec. Commission - Apr 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Commission introduced four newly appointed commissioners — Patty Jones, Sawyer Christ, Carl Thompson and Trion Thalapalli — who each gave brief personal and professional introductions.","taxTitle","Richland , Benton County, Washington","taxId",5097,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6606511,"Richland parks reopenings, outreach pilot and openings scheduled; staff report progress",241,520000,761000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2963289-e71a8d96ff3e317840119bb4af6e7c50&start=520&end=761","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2963289-e71a8d96ff3e317840119bb4af6e7c50/thumbnail_520000.jpg","/articles/6606511/Richland/Benton-County/Washington/Richland-parks-reopenings-outreach-pilot-and-openings-scheduled-staff-report-progress","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606511-a873279bb19eea685a83be1f1dc5a990/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195648&Signature=cq8ozIEwDBjYUeSkRLN4qi9wKN-lMz0ua3BgGKY6hcsgnR85Rq34cKKY7~2tEW7Sf1oJrrzDxxxzRuH0vMyhtb6EoAYpuDuO0EtprNWeYjgxQUfdizdchoK~sLof8CCU9J1MZMbkOfarAn6jLeTq1Uv8uEOr7vK6QC-7ez6ZK4qdwCe~dj3xHNpctah25xNqsncy3V7VIWyeaWpGK1ANZ~hptm0SFq6DZqJAxYyWZeg815p0TJaaL-Loe-ZgPN5QvCXAosWO20AfSuxPKBB7j00Um5JYOtZrlzw6vmEqR2IYAN79h4I36AxD6wVv7saKpNC~JvM0m8DKlmkwk5jqyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Richland Parks and Recreation staff reported progress on park reopenings, an outreach pilot for unhoused individuals and several upcoming events and openings at the Commission’s April 10 meeting.

Director Chris Waite said Columbia Park West and White Park have reopened and staff have not seen a recurrence of the incidents that previously prompted closures. As part of the reopening, staff started a pilot outreach program in coordination with Benton County Human Services and other community partners; Waite said the teams made contact with 13 unhoused individuals in the first two weeks and assisted a number with referrals and emergency housing placement.

Waite credited the Richland Police Department with accompanying staff on outreach visits and providing support. He also said the city hired Jonathan Colvin as a park supervisor; Colvin will start next month and the department plans a formal introduction at a future meeting.

The department set May 16 at 11 a.m. for the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the Sturgeon Cove Playground at Howard Amon Park, Waite said. He noted that the date coincides with the close of a statewide parks and recreation conference being hosted in the Tri-Cities, and staff expect to invite conference attendees to the celebration.

West Village Park is progressing: Waite said the turf was hydroseeded last fall, irrigation testing is scheduled for about April 15, and staff want several mowings before scheduling a grand opening. In reopened parks, staff reported one instance of restroom tagging but otherwise described the sites as “fairly clean.”

Julie Piper, who delivered the recreation report earlier in the meeting, promoted an April weekend event called Ready, Set, Hop featuring 5,000 Easter eggs and a color walk at Howard Amon Park. Piper also noted that American Cruise Lines vessels are beginning to call at the city this season and that staff can arrange ship tours when the vessels are in port.

Waite also recognized staff achievements: he said Julie (Piper) was elected Eastern Regional Representative for the Washington Recreation and Parks Association. He said the pilot outreach and partner visits have been “extremely successful” and that the department plans to continue the weekly outreach visits with community partners.

Commissioners were invited to participate in upcoming park events and in future ribbon-cutting ceremonies.","Director Waite reported reopenings at Columbia Park West and White Park, a partner outreach pilot that connected 13 unhoused individuals to services, a May 16 grand opening for Sturgeon Cove Playground, and other operational updates including hiring a new park supervisor.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6606516,"Richland launches yearlong update to parks, recreation and open space plan",711,889000,1600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2963289-e71a8d96ff3e317840119bb4af6e7c50&start=889&end=1600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2963289-e71a8d96ff3e317840119bb4af6e7c50/thumbnail_889000.jpg","/articles/6606516/Richland/Benton-County/Washington/Richland-launches-yearlong-update-to-parks-recreation-and-open-space-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606516-93061e3225137202f7b3957a005f47fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195648&Signature=P4UtcQenTChqmc755kFzNukvhY32mWay1uhWF28jBs8hTsOqh6k3sgL0TbjseFaaC-xMObDwE-GlyzlBE-QZuP~NAn5Pmb-V2gU5ZjU0ZCWg674~Je2jMeE9e2ZHQ7suMVcjLHwayDU2D2xHftWmOe61q0ZX1zVAbaN3MG9fgZc7OpGAiDFlUvpS03TU6wvD0870coLF8s9fsla0~WunyMOXoLS-3aeTaBetOpZ7NTU1~yKnDQb-bmUjpINq0rtyJMOxkJXNst9A1JmmKEWzHUMqkt9F6uTUCEBhJVtORWlk~HmHE11BdPu10saBFUGoSbcpRRZ5TZy7tZTpRiejBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Consultants from MIG outlined a yearlong process to update Richland’s parks, recreation and open space comprehensive plan, telling the Parks and Recreation Commission on April 10 that the effort will center on community engagement and a multi-phase technical analysis.

John Finesse, principal with consulting firm MIG, told commissioners the work will start with an assessment of the city’s existing system and proceed through community needs analysis, action planning and final plan adoption. “This is a community driven plan, and the outcomes are going to be built on that community engagement,” Finesse said.

The project is split into four phases: (1) system assessment and inventorying, wrapping up early in the process; (2) community needs analysis including level-of-service and access mapping plus a tree-canopy evaluation required by Washington State climate planning laws; (3) development of vision, goals and a prioritized capital project list; and (4) compilation of the final PROS plan with public review. MIG’s Lauren (last name not provided in the presentation) said the team will produce interim briefs after phase 1 and phase 2 to document findings for staff, the Commission and City Council.

Commission staff and consultants said the plan will align with the state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) required elements and coordinate with the city’s broader planning efforts, including the comprehensive plan and transportation system planning. Lauren said the team expects to use both online outreach and in-person engagement — including a community survey, interviews and a project website — and asked commissioners to serve as ambassadors to help reach residents.

Director Chris Waite introduced the consultants and told the Commission they will move immediately into a workshop to discuss the plan in more detail. The Commission adjourned the formal business meeting and convened a workshop to continue PROS discussion.

Next steps identified during the presentation include the city/consultant park tour and inventory work already under way, an in-person staff workshop to review maintenance and programming needs, a community survey in phase 2, and public review opportunities for the draft plan in phase 4. Consultants said a tree canopy evaluation will inform both parks planning and the city’s compliance with recent state climate planning requirements.

The presentation did not set final dates for each public engagement milestone; consultants said they would share a project website and the schedule as the work progresses.","City consultants presented a four-phase timeline for a new Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) comprehensive plan, emphasizing community engagement, service-area analysis and alignment with state requirements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Four new members join Richland Parks and Recreation Commission

Richland parks reopenings, outreach pilot and openings scheduled; staff report progress

Richland launches yearlong update to parks, recreation and open space plan