Richland schedules Howard Amon playground grand opening; staff outlines shoreline stabilization, trail repairs and PROS outreach

Parks and Public Facilities Director Waite told the Parks and Recreation Commission on May 8 that the city will hold a grand opening for the Howard Amon Sturgeon Cove playground on Friday, May 16 at 11 a.m., timed to coincide with the Washington Recreation & Parks Association conference being held in the Tri-Cities.

The announcement was part of an overview of capital projects and planning work that Waite presented to commissioners. The director said the city is completing a short reconstruction of the McMurray Pathway on the George Washington Way side to address root heave and other trail damage, with construction expected to finish by the end of May.

Why it matters: Several Riverfront sites are showing erosion that threatens city park assets, and Waite said the city is pursuing both long-term and short-term responses. For the plaza near the Court and Marriott area staff are developing 30% designs that compare a vegetative slope option (less expensive but likely to reduce the viewing platform footprint) against mechanically stabilized earth (more costly but able to retain the existing footprint). The city is also commissioning geotechnical work farther north along the Riverfront Trail to evaluate undermining and stabilization options.

Waite said Columbia Point Marina Park is experiencing significant shoreline loss on Army Corps-controlled land that is encroaching on city park assets, and staff recently amended a consultant contract to examine lower-cost, short-term protections such as rock-filled basket structures (often called gabions or "basket" options) to slow erosion and protect benches and asphalt trail sections.

She described the West Parks project's first phase as a six-acre community park within a planned 30-acre development. That phase will remain subject to weather and irrigation establishment; staff tentatively scheduled a grand opening for the end of May but said the date may shift to ensure sod and seeded areas are established.

Waite said the city has funded the playground for the next phase of West Parks and will bring playground concepts to the commission, followed by neighborhood engagement to select final features. She also reminded commissioners that the parks, recreation and open space (PROS) plan will move into community engagement in June and July: a public survey is expected to be distributed in mid-June and fielded for about 30 days, followed by stakeholder interviews in July and August.

Other project updates included: Columbia Playfield parking lot (design and engineering in 2025; construction likely in 2026), Leslie Groves tennis court reconstruction (finalizing construction documents and expected to go to bid in 30' to 45 days), and an upcoming land-exchange item for South Orchard Park that staff said will return to the commission with additional legal documentation.

Commissioners asked about the confidence level for shoreline fixes and the type of plantings being considered for vegetative slopes; Waite said the plaza's options are furthest along and likely to yield a long-term solution, while other sites will require additional geotechnical information before a final determination.

Ending: Waite said several staff and commission members will participate in the WRPA conference and noted park staff and consultants complimented Richland's maintenance levels during a recent parks tour. She invited commissioners to the Howard Amon grand opening and encouraged public participation in the PROS plan survey and outreach.