St. Helens Parks & Trails Commissioners spent a significant portion of their Jan. 12 meeting debating a park‑assessment pilot launched in recent months. Opinions diverged: some members said the pilot did not deliver usable data to staff, while others defended its value for collecting public feedback.

"It was an experiment, and it failed," one commissioner said, arguing that assessment data had not reached maintenance staff and duplicated existing schedules. Supporters pointed to the tool’s ability to gather on-site public responses and suggested a hybrid approach that keeps the survey tool available without mandating its use.

As a concrete next step, commissioners approved a nonbinding motion that each commissioner visit Breaklifts Park individually before the February meeting and note features they like and dislike. The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote; members emphasized the visits were informal and not intended to create a quorum or require staff notice.

Commissioners asked staff to place the assessment pilot and its future on the next agenda for a 30-minute discussion and to follow up on data access for maintenance staff.