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Commission prioritizes parks plan review and shoreline access while tracking capital projects
Summary
Gig Harbor Parks Commission discussed an annual review of the parks plan, prioritized some capital work (Crescent Creek, Preston Creek) and singled out improved public shoreline access at Ferry Landing as a high-priority community issue, while noting budget constraints for new projects.
Commissioners discussed reviewing the parks plan, ongoing capital projects and public access concerns along the waterfront.
Members agreed the parks plan functions as a guiding document and recommended staff conduct an annual review with the commission to identify priorities for budgeting and projects. Commissioners suggested that each member review the plan individually and return with one specific item for committee focus rather than reviewing the entire document in a single meeting.
Staff updated the commission on capital projects: Preston Creek Park master plan was passed and staff will seek ballpark cost estimates for a historic building survey; Crescent Creek Park had council approval with further environmental study requested and permit work underway; the Cushman/loop trail connection permit was reported as received and staff expects to open a primitive trail segment soon.
Shoreline access at Ferry Landing drew sustained attention. Several commissioners described the lack of clear legal access to parts of the shoreline and urged the commission to consider public access improvements. "We live on a coastal community, and we have no access to our shoreline," one member said, calling legal, ADA-accessible access a high priority. Commissioners noted private property lines and long timelines for legislative or property-acquisition remedies but affirmed the public value of better shoreline access.
The commission also heard a brief report that City Council recently approved naming the Allen Anderson boathouse and passed Crescent Creek items; staff noted public feedback and some misinformation about process that staff attempted to clarify.
Next steps: staff will continue environmental and permitting work on active capital projects, follow up with cost estimates where needed, and take public access questions into account as part of longer-term planning and master planning work.
