PORT ANGELES — The future of Port Angeles parks will be reshaped during the next six months as the city assembles its five-year parks and recreation master plan.
Public input will play a key role, Recreation Manager Richard Bonine told Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce members on Monday.
The plan lays out how the city wants to develop its park facilities and recreation programs. It will be finalized in April, Bonine said.
“I want to hear everyone’s opinion,” Bonine told an audience at the Port Angeles CrabHouse Restaurant.
The best way for the public to make suggestions, Bonine said, is by filling out the parks and recreation survey on the city’s website, www.cityofpa.us.
Feedback will be taken through Jan. 10.
Public meetings are also planned for this Thursday and for Dec. 16.
Thursday’s meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the Port Angeles Senior Center, 328 E. Seventh St.
When asked about the status of Civic Field, Bonine said a recent $30,000 assessment confirmed that turf and lighting at the Race Street field “need to be addressed.”
“It’s a beautiful setting. It’s a beautiful facility,” Bonine said.
“What we have is taken care of very well by our parks staff. You go out there during baseball season before the heavy rains hit — beautiful turf.
“But you go out there two weeks after football season’s over, the turf is torn up because of lack of drainage and the weather.”
Bonine said the next major parks project is a community garden near City Hall at Fifth and Peabody streets.
“This will be entirely community-run,” Bonine said.
“Personally I think the community garden could be a success if nobody was able to grow one tomato plant. . . . The food is a byproduct, in my opinion. It’s more about community bonding.”
The city has budgeted startup funds for the garden. Bonine said those funds will be recovered by user fees.
“In budget times like this, we’ve got to be pragmatic in the fact that we can’t go out and start big programs and have them fully funded by city tax dollars,” Bonine said.
Bonine said the two Rotary Clubs in Port Angeles have made a “strong commitment” to build infrastructure for a dog park at Lincoln Park. A private donor has committed to paying for half of the maintenance costs for three years.
He said the dog park would likely require the relocation of three holes, or baskets, of the soon-to-be-completed 18-hole disc golf course at Lincoln Park.
The disc golf course was funded by the Port Angeles Disc Golf Association.
“That was all done by private donations, by these disc golfers going out there beating the bushes,” Bonine said.
________
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
