Parks district plans ahead on Salmon Creek Community Club Neighborhood Park

Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation is planning ahead – far ahead, as far as real estate prices are concerned.

Staff from its Greater Clark Parks District presented its draft concept plan for Salmon Creek Community Club Neighborhood Park Wednesday for a public comment period lasting until May.

“We’re going to take it up to approval of the plan, and then we’re going to shelve it until we have funding,” said Jilayne Jordan, the district’s spokeswoman. “It’s completely dependent on the economy. If the economy stays weak, it will take longer.”

She’s of course talking about the Metro Parks District levy, which funds maintenance of county parks. It depends on further weakening real estate prices, which in turn further weaken its fund-raising capabilities. Without secure funding for maintenance, parks and recreation is holding back on construction of some new facilities.

Finishing planning allows the district to apply for grants and start fund-raisers for a project that is expected to cost $699,366. Surveys, environmental assessments, concept planning, public outreach and other material costs have cost the district approximately $10,000, according to Jordan. The district will present another draft plan, revamped based on public comment, in mid- to late-May.

It’s dead last on a list of seven neighborhood parks yet to be designed or built – the 30th installment of what the district hopes will be 30 neighborhood parks.