The Washington Legislature on Tuesday approved nearly $4 million to help make a 7.3-acre public park on the Vancouver waterfront a reality.
“It’s just what we needed at just the right time to move that project along,” said Mark Brown, a lobbyist who represents Southwest Washington region in Olympia.
Initial reaction to the overall $3.9 billion capital spending budget was positive.
“At first blush, it looks like Clark County did well,” said Rep. Jim Moeller, D-Vancouver.
The capital budget dedicates money to build new mental health and education facilities across the state.
Lawmakers in the House voted on the capital budget Tuesday evening immediately after it was posted for the public to view. The 96-2 vote by representatives was swift and taken with little discussion. One lawmaker called the budget “one of the best mental-health budgets” he’s seen since being in office.
Tuesday night, the Senate approved the same budget by a vote of 44-1.
The money for the waterfront park will help spur a $1.3 billion residential and commercial development in Vancouver stretching across 21 new city blocks on 32 acres of formerly industrial property.
Brown, the lobbyist, said it would continue a “tremendous amount of economic development for the region” for a project that is “unprecedented in its scope.”
“It’s beyond my wildest dreams,” he said, adding the credit goes to the 49th Legislative District lawmakers for using their political capital to ensure the funds were included.
The project list also allocates $1.2 million to help build a 11,400-square-foot facility for CDM: Caregiving Center, which helps the elderly and disabled in Clark County.
“It’s a great compromise budget; it’s about $50 million total for Clark County,” Moeller said.
Other projects include $1.5 million for a La Center Parks and Recreation Community Center and $10,000 for Camas-Washougal Babe Ruth youth baseball.
Rep. Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, said even though the 142-year-old Providence Academy building in downtown Vancouver is not in his district, he was disappointed to see money to renovate it was not included in the budget proposal.
“It’s a project I wanted, and I’m disappointed,” Harris said.
