The Washington state Senate’s construction budget, unveiled Wednesday, includes $3.5 million to go toward constructing a 7.3-acre public park on the waterfront in downtown Vancouver.
“We’re ecstatic about that,” said Mark Brown, a lobbyist who represents the region in Olympia.
Brown said overall the two-year $3.9 billion capital spending budget is good for the area.
“The Senate proposal looks good. No question about it,” Brown said, “Not just for Clark County but really Southwest Washington.”
The House passed its capital budget earlier this month; it also included money for the waterfront park but not as much. The Senate’s proposal is more than $100 million more than the budget passed by the House. Both budget proposals dedicate money to build new mental health and education facilities.
Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, said she was pleased the Vancouver waterfront development project was included on the list.
“The project will help better ensure a vibrant Vancouver for the future, and will further define our community and region as one of opportunity,” she said in a statement.
Like the House proposal, the Senate carves out $300,000 to upgrade the Washougal Senior and Community Center. Senators allocated $1.2 million to help build a 11,400-square-foot Clark County Aging and Resource Center.
Unlike in the House proposal, the Senate gives $500,000 for the city of La Center Parks and Recreation Community Center.
The biggest disappointment, Brown said, is money to renovate the 142-year-old Providence Academy was not on the list.
“We feel strongly that’s a historic building of statewide significance and the state has a role in helping us preserve that building,” Brown said. “So we’ll continue to stir that pot and push on that front.”
House and Senate leaders will now work to hammer out a budget both sides can agree upon.
Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, wrote in a text, “There’s a long way to go to get to the end – what we see in the end may look quite a bit different.”
