Kitsap Planning Commission adopts 2025 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan with added language on smoke impacts

The Kitsap County Planning Commission voted June 9 to adopt the county's 2025 Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan after adding a short amendment noting that wildfire smoke presents challenges for outdoor recreation for vulnerable groups.

The plan, presented by Alex Wissenski, Parks Director, was described as a six-year strategic plan that guides department goals, policies and the capital facilities program. The commission voted to approve the plan as presented and adopt a one-sentence amendment — moved by Commissioner Adrianne Hampton — that reads in full: "Smoke also presents challenges for outdoor recreation, particularly for vulnerable groups like children, older adults, and those with respiratory conditions." The amendment was adopted and the main motion to approve the PROS plan as amended carried.

The PROS Plan update compiles public input and a long list of prioritized capital projects. "PROS stands for Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan...It is a six-year strategic plan," Wissenski told the commission during the presentation. Staff said the draft before the commission follows a five-week public comment period earlier this year, during which "over 440" public comments were received and addressed in a comment matrix; the Planning Commission's recent review included a shorter public comment period that produced 44 additional comments followed by seven more after an extension.

The Parks Department said the updated plan was reviewed by DCD staff for consistency with the county comprehensive plan, was recommended to move forward by the Parks Advisory Board in April, and received a SEPA nonproject determination of non-significance (DNS). Wissenski told commissioners the department had accepted and implemented edits based on earlier comments and explained that not every comment results in a textual change if staff determined the concern was already captured by existing language in the draft.

Public commenters at the meeting urged additional work on the plan before adoption. Several speakers, including Joe Lubisher and Doug Haman of Indianola, asked the commission to slow the timetable so that specific public suggestions would be incorporated; staff responded that many themes from prior plans, including stewardship and volunteerism, were carried into the 2025 draft, though some language and organization changed from the 2018 plan. Other public speakers pressed for stronger protection and definition of "heritage parks" and for biological conservation in North Kitsap Heritage Park.

During deliberations commissioners reviewed chapter structure, goals and objectives, stewardship and volunteer programs, trail accessibility and environmental considerations. Commissioner discussions included questions about how the department will track plan implementation and project outcomes; staff said projects will be updated annually and tied to monthly updates to the Board of County Commissioners.

The commission approved the final motion to adopt the PROS plan as presented and amended. The plan will next move to the Board of County Commissioners for a public hearing and decision; upon commissioners' approval the plan will be submitted to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office for review as required for state grant alignment.

The meeting record shows no roll-call vote by name; commissioners present at the meeting and recorded in the transcript were David Fleet (vice chair, presiding), Aaron Murphy (North Kitsap), Ashley Hall (South Kitsap), Caleb Nelson (South Kitsap), Adrianne Hampton (Central Kitsap) and Tammy Bowen (North Kitsap). The motion and amendment carried during voice/hand votes.