Centralia Parks and Recreation Master Plan
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Centralia Parks and Recreation Master Plan March 2007 This page left blank intentionally A VITAL MISSION There are many paths to healthy leisure activity leading to personal enjoyment and satisfaction. The Centralia Parks and Recreation Department recognizes the need for a diversity of choices, offering an opportunity for creative, wholesome and enjoyable leisure activities of benefit to the individual user, the family and the community. The Centralia Parks and Recreation Department formulates, stimulates and encourages frequent and regular communications with citizens in order to assure that programs, goals and objectives are consistent with community needs and desires. As stewards of the community and environment, we recognize the need to preserve and enhance the resources we have today for future generations – Centralia Parks and Recreation Department This page left blank intentionally Centralia Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan March 2007 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Centralia City Council Tim Browning, Mayor Bonnie Canaday, Mayor Pro-Tem Lee Coumbs Ted Shannon Carol Lee Rickard Dan Keahey Bill Moeller Centralia Parks Advisory Board Jim Wilkinson, Chair Jim Thomas Sean Meehan Susan Beck Robert Ellingson City of Centralia J. D. Fouts, City Manager Emil Pierson, Community Development Director Linda Whitcher, Senior Planner Julie Liseth, Recreation Supervisor Lois King, Parks & Recreation Office Manager Jan Sorenson, Recreation Assistant Rick Lawrence, Maintenance Supervisor Barry Hughes, Lead Park Technician Prepared by: Steve Duh, Principal, Conservation Technix, Inc. David Sacamano, Principal, Illahee Group, Inc. Mike Shepherd, The Write Thing This page left blank intentionally TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .........................................................................................................................................- 3 - PLANNING AREA & CONTEXT..........................................................................................................................- 7 - 1A. Introduction................................................................................................................................................- 7 - 1B. Community Overview...............................................................................................................................- 7 - 1C. Natural Features and Land Use...............................................................................................................- 8 - 1D. Historical Highlights – Trade, Transportation, Tourism.....................................................................- 9 - 1E. Growth of Parks & Recreation..............................................................................................................- 11 - 1F. Population and Demographics ..............................................................................................................- 13 - VISION, GOALS & OBJECTIVES .......................................................................................................................- 17 - 2A. A Vision For Centralia Parks & Recreation.........................................................................................- 17 - 2B. Goals and Objectives ..............................................................................................................................- 18 - DEFINITIONS & STANDARDS ..........................................................................................................................- 23 - 3A. Neighborhood Parks ...............................................................................................................................- 23 - 3B. Community Parks ....................................................................................................................................- 24 - 3C. Natural Areas & Open Space Corridors ..............................................................................................- 25 - 3D. Trails...........................................................................................................................................................- 25 - 3E. Special Facilities........................................................................................................................................- 26 - 3F. Service Standards .....................................................................................................................................- 27 - 3G. Modifications to Park System Classification from 1991 Plan...........................................................- 27 - EXISTING INVENTORY.......................................................................................................................................- 29 - PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT......................................................................................................................................- 49 - 5A. Community-Based Plans.........................................................................................................................- 49 - 5B. Public Opinion .........................................................................................................................................- 51 - NEEDS ASSESSMENT............................................................................................................................................- 53 - 6A. Assessment of Demand & Need...........................................................................................................- 53 - 6B. Neighborhood and Community Parks .................................................................................................- 54 - 6C. Natural Areas and Open Space Corridors ...........................................................................................- 55 - 6D. Trails...........................................................................................................................................................- 56 - 6E. Recreation Programs ...............................................................................................................................- 57 - 6F. Levels of Service Summary & Overall Future Need..........................................................................- 58 - TRAIL GUIDELINES ..............................................................................................................................................- 61 - 7A: Current & Projected Demand................................................................................................................- 61 - 7B: Trail Planning Recommendations .........................................................................................................- 62 - 7C: Trail Facility Guidelines..........................................................................................................................- 63 - 7D: Funding......................................................................................................................................................- 65 - 7E: Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................- 66 - CAPITAL FACILITIES PLAN & IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES........................................................- 67 - Capital Projects: A 6-Year Outlook .....................................................................................................................- 67 - Implementation Strategies.....................................................................................................................................- 71 - APPENDIX A: ADOPTING ORDINANCE......................................................................................................- 75 - APPENDIX B: PARK INVENTORY DETAILS...............................................................................................- 77 - APPENDIX C: COMMUNITY FEEDBACK .....................................................................................................- 81 - APPENDIX D: FINANCING & INCENTIVES................................................................................................- 95 - APPENDIX E: PRESS & MEDIA EXHIBITS..................................................................................................- 105 - City of Centralia Parks and Recreation Plan - 2 - This page left blank intentionally EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Centralia is blessed with a rich natural environment. Rivers, woods, rolling hills and prairies present a vast array of recreational opportunities for people of all ages and interests. The city itself has maintained its historic, small-town charm. Visitors come here for the enjoyment of just these advantages. Centralia and Lewis County provide relief from the hectic pace of urban life. Cautious planning keeps our environment healthy and can be a significant factor in keeping our economy strong. In 1991, the City of Centralia adopted a Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan of considerable scope. The aim was to provide a basis for making choices that could dramatically alter the character and quality of parks and other recreational facilities over the long term if not adequately planned. The comprehensive study analyzed supply, demand and need for public and private park and recreation facilities. In the years since the plan was adopted, the city and other recreation providers have met and dealt with significant challenges, such as facility and maintenance problems from limited capital spending