Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Trails topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Community Activities Commission reviews parks-and-trails plan to preserve RCO grant eligibility
Summary
The Community Activities Commission reviewed a draft parks-and-trails plan intended to preserve Recreation and Conservation Office grant eligibility, discussed project timing for Hazelwood Boardwalk and Lake Boren, and asked staff to refine heritage-tree language and CIP timing before forwarding the plan to council in February.
Bridal, the staff presenter, told the Community Activities Commission on Jan. 14 that the draft parks-and-trails plan updates goals and inventories required to keep the city eligible for Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) grants and positions the city to compete for programs such as the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP), the Land and Water Conservation Fund and youth athletic facility funding.
"This is a complete parks and trails plan with updated goals, objectives, and watch and analysis to meet the RCO requirements," Bridal said, noting that the WWRP application the city plans to pursue is due April 30. Bridal asked the commission to review the draft and provide recommendations before staff sends it to the City Council for adoption in February.
The presentation covered several capital projects the plan would support. Bridal said the Hazelwood Boardwalk design is finished but staff plans to delay bidding until spring to avoid wet-season complications and anticipates construction during the 2026 dry season. A smaller China Falls Park project to raise fence heights and reduce ball loss is planned for the quarter. Bridal also outlined continued work on the Lake Boren master plan, including a north-end turnaround and roughly six to seven parking spaces tied to sidewalk and drainage work.
On the Park-at-95th project, Bridal said staff is pursuing a Commerce grant to fund a 30% design for the first phase (fields, drainage, lighting, seating and parking). The 30% design is intended to strengthen future RCO grant applications. Bridal told commissioners the project is being phased because of cost and scope.
Commissioners pressed for more specificity in the draft plan''especially language that would protect landmark or heritage trees. Commissioner (speaker 4) asked that the plan explicitly call out a commitment to preserve large-stature trees rather than folding trees into a generic "natural areas" category. Bridal said staff is "fully on board" to explore language that could be tied to the adopted comprehensive plan.
Bridal also summarized public-outreach results: about 450 survey responses that generally favored a regional sports complex and prioritizing trail connectivity. Staff said outreach will continue and that the plan will incorporate feedback before it goes to council. Bridal asked commissioners to signal any recommended changes quickly; staff said the version in the council packet will be the formal document the council is asked to adopt.
The commission did not vote on the parks-and-trails plan at the meeting. Bridal said staff will take any recommended edits, finalize formatting, and, if ready, present the plan to council in either the first or second meeting of February.
