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Council weighs $53M parks plan and a proposed impact‑fee increase, prioritizes shade at Wills Park
Summary
Staff presented a 10‑year parks and trails plan estimating about $53.5 million in projects and an illustrative impact‑fee estimate; council asked staff to trim lower‑priority items to lower the fee and prioritized shade structures and maintenance work for Wills Park within a roughly $300,000 budget.
City parks staff and Sunrise Engineering presented an update to Washington City’s parks, trails and recreation master plan on July 8, saying projected population growth will erode current levels of service and that a 10‑year program of projects would total roughly $53.5 million.
Blaine Worrell, the consultant, summarized existing levels of service (about 7.7 acres of apparent park availability per 1,000 residents against a target of 6.0) and projected declines if park expansion does not keep pace. The presented 10‑year capital list included about $41.5 million of park projects and $11.5 million of trails work. Using the plan’s housing forecasts, the packet showed an illustrative per‑unit impact fee around $5,494; staff and council noted that figure is a plan output and could be reduced by removing projects or pushing items outside the 10‑year window. Council members said they prefer caution on any large increase given housing affordability concerns.
Council and staff then discussed several individual park proposals that could be trimmed or delayed — Mill Creek natural area, Coral Canyon park, and long‑horizon Harmon Farms were among the items council questioned — and asked staff to return with a revised project list that would keep the city’s impact‑fee target closer to current levels.
On Wills Park upgrades staff presented a list of short‑term maintenance and amenity fixes and a proposed set of shade structures, trash receptacles and picnic furnishings intended to be affordable within roughly $300,000 of available funds. Council directed staff to prioritize shade and site furnishings over decorative elements (an archway was moved down the priority list), to reduce some quantities to fit the budget, and to proceed quickly with bid and timelines so work could begin in weeks. Staff also flagged the need for a budget amendment so purchases can proceed.
Council also debated the Wills Park athletic fields master plan — some members recommended four multiuse grass fields and flexible open space rather than eight specialized ballfields — and asked staff to show alternatives that would support neighborhood use and city events rather than primarily travel sports.
What happens next: staff will return with a refined capital list and an impact‑fee recommendation tied to a prioritized 10‑year project list, and will prepare bids and timelines for Wills Park items to fit the ~ $300k funding window as directed by council.
