College Place reviews 90% parks plan, seeks public feedback by March 7

College Place Parks, Arbor and Recreation Board members received a presentation on the city’s 90% parks plan and related capital improvement plan updates, and were asked to provide feedback on inventory sheets by Friday, March 7.

The consultant leading the presentation, Elizabeth Smith of JEB Engineers, told the board the draft plan adds design elements, color and photos and refines goals and objectives. Smith said two new objectives were added under facility integrity: a standardized sign design using Kiwanis Park as a template, and a regular review and update cycle for park design standards.

Smith outlined changes to the plan’s classifications and criteria, including a new acquisition-scoring table that scores candidate properties across five sections — location, need, size and space, maintenance feasibility and funding/budgeting — and notes that properties scoring 30 points or more are considered better candidates for acquisition though they may need further review. The plan also includes revised land-dedication standards intended to replace the city’s current contribution formula. Smith said the existing formula is a simple square-foot-per-dwelling calculation (she estimated it is about 1,000 square feet per dwelling unit for developments of 10 or more lots) and that the new standard will require an update to the city’s development regulations.

Board members were asked to review updated inventory sheets for each park. Smith said the inventory now shows both condition (excellent/good/poor) and a new capacity column (exceeds capacity / meets capacity / under capacity). She said capacity entries are currently “TBD” and asked commissioners and staff to use their experience as park users to help populate that column; she emphasized those inventory sheets will feed the capital improvement plan.

Smith presented finalized concept plans for three park sites. Ledbetter Park is shown as a 2.6-acre site with about 0.3 miles of trail and amenities including a pavilion, restroom, playground, picnic shelters and a half-court circular basketball area placed on a large mound. Sunset Villas is a 4.6-acre park with about 0.16 miles of trail, a pavilion, restroom, shade canopies, covered pickleball courts and a multi-use grass area that could serve as a soccer field. Stone Creek Park is proposed at about 19.8 acres with roughly 1.1 miles of internal trail and an additional 1.1-mile perimeter loop; planned amenities include two playgrounds, a nature play area, three pavilions and restrooms, shade canopies, pickleball and basketball courts, and a nature path with boardwalk. Smith said the Stone Creek concept reduced some active recreation — removing a hockey rink and a set of soccer field outlines from earlier concepts — to create a larger mix of passive and active uses.

Board members asked whether development is anticipated adjacent to Stone Creek; Smith and staff said residential development is proposed nearby but that a complete master-plan application is still pending. Smith added that a neighboring property owner to the east asked that their parcel not be included in conceptual designs; the team left a potential trail alignment as an idea only.

No formal action was taken on the parks plan at the meeting. Smith and staff said they will incorporate board feedback into a final document to be prepared in March and proposed adoption in April. Commissioners and staff were asked to review inventory sheets and the draft capital improvement plan during the one-week comment window ending March 7.

The board meeting agenda noted that 90% plans and the draft CIP were attached to the meeting materials for review.