Clark County launches first phase of public access improvements at Heritage Farm; survey open through Jan. 8

Lindy Wallach, a park and trails planner with Clark County Parks and Nature, said the county is beginning the first phase of public access improvements at Heritage Farm in the Hazel Dell neighborhood and is inviting community feedback through an online survey open through Jan. 8, 2026.

The project will focus on creating a children's garden and on the design and construction of a multipurpose building the county is calling the Harvest Pavilion. "This phase will include the design and construction of a multi purpose building we're calling the Harvest Pavilion that will provide covered space and restrooms for farm programming as well as restrooms and a trailhead area for the future community trail," Wallach said. The pavilion design will be reviewed by Clark County's Historic Preservation Commission.

The work implements elements of the farm's master plan, which Wallach said was updated and adopted by the Clark County Council in 2020 after extensive public engagement. Full design and construction of the broader community trail are expected to begin in 2027, while the current phase concentrates on the trailhead, the children's garden and the pavilion.

Wallach described two trail concepts the county is presenting for public review. Both begin at the north end near the proposed Harvest Pavilion and include circular loops around gentler slopes and wetlands for visitors seeking an easier walk. Concept 1 climbs more directly to the site's highest point, provides distant views of Mount St. Helens, passes the historic cemetery and then connects to Hazel Dell Community Park in multiple locations. Concept 2 includes an additional lower-elevation loop that travels west across a farm road, giving visitors closer views of actively farmed areas and the terrace garden before also climbing to the hilltop and joining Concept 1's route.

Wallach said the site supports varied wildlife, including killdeer, red-tailed hawks, owls, deer and coyote, and that volunteers and community partners currently use the farm for active agriculture and education. She named community partners that use the site, including Latinos Unidos, the Clark County Food Bank and programming connected to Washington State University and local Master Gardener organizations.

She noted a site constraint: "Due to the topography of the site, all trails are not going to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines," Wallach said, adding that staff will "focus on developing the most accessible trail system we can." Wallach also pointed out ongoing wetland restoration by the county's Clean Water Division and the recent acquisition of a forested wetland area called the Hidden Property.

The site contains a historic cemetery dating to the period when the property served as the Clark County Poor Farm; Wallach said Heritage Farm is listed on national, state and local historic registries because of that history. The county intends interpretive signage that will honor Indigenous peoples and the farm's past uses.

County staff encourage residents to review concept maps and drawings on the project website, watch a time-lapse of a hypothetical trail walk and take the survey. "The survey is open now through 01/08/2026," Wallach said. The pavilion, trail concepts and resulting design will proceed through required reviews before construction of the full trail system begins as planned in 2027.