Clark County outlines trail concepts, children's garden and pavilion for Heritage Farm in Hazel Dell

Wendy 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," a county-owned site in the Hazel Dell neighborhood. The video presents two trail concepts, plans for a children's garden and the design intent for a multipurpose building the county calls the Harvest Pavilion, and asks the public to respond to a survey open through 01/08/2026.

The project grows out of a master plan that Clark County updated in 2020 and the county council adopted after public engagement, Wallach said. The county aims to provide a safe way for people to explore the farm and to connect Northeast 78th Street to Northeast 68th Street and Hazel Dell Community Park. Wallach said the full design and construction of the community trail is expected to begin in 2027 and that the pavilion design will undergo review by Clark County's Historic Preservation Commission.

Wallach emphasized the site's mix of open fields, wooded areas and wetlands, noting wildlife such as killdeer and red-tailed hawks and the presence of an historic cemetery "where farm workers and community members were buried" when the property served as the Clark County Poor Farm. She said the farm is listed on national, state and local historic registries.

County staff said the project will support active urban agriculture and local partners: the farm currently provides crop production space for community organizations including Latinos Unidos and the Clark County Food Bank, and hosts programming with Washington State University Master Gardeners. Wallach noted volunteers contribute thousands of hours annually.

The county presented two broadly similar trail concepts. Concept 1 would start at a north trailhead by the Harvest Pavilion, feature circular loops around gentler slopes and a wetland, then climb south to the farm's high point with views of Mount St. Helens before passing the historic cemetery and connecting to Hazel Dell Community Park. Concept 2 keeps more trail at a lower elevation initially, adds a loop that wanders deeper into the wetland and offers closer views of actively farmed terraces before climbing to the same hilltop.

Wallach cautioned about accessibility limits: "Due to the topography of the site, all trails are not going to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines," she said, adding the county will "focus on developing the most accessible trail system we can." The Harvest Pavilion concept includes two public restrooms and space for the children's garden; a fence is shown on the plan separating recreational areas from active working-farm areas.

The county is asking the community to review materials on the project website, view a time-lapse of the proposed trail experience and complete the online survey through 01/08/2026. Wallach closed by asking viewers to share the video and survey link with neighbors and organizations to help spread the word.