PORT ANGELES — Clallam County will hit the refresh button on its parks and recreation master plan to stay eligible for future grants to improve its parks system.
The three commissioners Tuesday tabled a resolution to adopt an updated plan for one week, allowing staff to make final adjustments to the 128-page document.
The draft update of the 2005-2015 comprehensive park and recreation master plan is available at www.clallam.net.
Clallam County Parks, Fair and Facilities Manager Joel Winborn outlined the revisions at a public hearing Tuesday.
Most of the changes are technical, with no immediate additions or subtractions to the county’s 20-park system.
“In order for us to continue to apply for state grant funding to assist in acquiring new or improving existing park lands, our comprehensive parks and recreation master plan must be up to date and on file with the state Recreation and Conservation Funding Board,” Winborn said.
“Once our plan is approved, it will then be sent on to the state for their approval.”
The deadline for filing is June 15.
The purpose of the plan is threefold, Winborn said. It provides guidelines for the county to develop its parks and recreation potential, identifies specific needs for park facilities and recreation programs, and establishes an action plan.
The county Parks Board and staff unanimously approved the proposed changes.
Key revisions in the update include:
■ Adds a statement of best-management practices and clarifies the public input process.
■ Updates a list of historical sites and resource maps.
■ Adds new information on existing parks and a list of public beaches and beach access points.
■ Updates Americans with Disabilities Act standards as they pertain to county parks.
■ Updates population figures and the results of a Parks Department community interest and opinion survey.
■ Adds properties to a list of proposed tideland and upland acquisitions and capital improvement plan for existing parks.
Lake Aldwell Road gate
Meanwhile, commissioners said they would schedule a second work session to discuss a request from the National Park Service to put a gate on Lake Aldwell Road, the county road that provides access to the southwest edge of the former Lake Aldwell.
The gate would block vehicle access to the dry lake bed but would permit foot traffic.
In a letter to the county road department, Elwha restoration project manager Brian Winter requested permission to install a gate in one of three locations to prevent “resource damage and theft” on the dry lake bed.
County Engineer Ross Tyler said the request stemmed from off-road vehicles using the lake bed and the theft of a wagon wheel that was posted for sale on Craigslist.
Commissioners Monday said they would allow the gate at the site closest to the river lake because it provided the best public access.
Tyler added that the park’s preferred location for the gate — the middle of the three — had limited parking.
“You’d have to do gymnastics to get turned around,” he said.
Lake Aldwell was drained as part of the National Park Service’s $325 million project to restore the Elwha River to its natural condition.
The last remnants of the century-old Elwha Dam, which formed the man-made reservoir, were removed in March.
“It is truly a fascinating look back in time,” Tyler said.
“People should really go down and take a look at it.”
After Ed Bowen of Clallam Bay raised concerns over public access Tuesday, commissioners said they would schedule a second work session with Winter and Olympic National Park Acting Superintendent Todd Suess to discuss foot access and the future of the area.
“I think there needs to be some close coordination between the caretaker who’s making this request and the county, and make that a public process so that we know what’s going on,” Bowen said.
The new gate would not affect vehicle access to Olympic Raft & Kayak, an Olympic National Park concessionaire headquartered on Lake Aldwell Road near U.S. Highway 101.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
