A bird's-eye view of the type of interactive water feature that could be included in Crown Park renovations is shown in this illustration by Greenworks, the consultant firm that developed the master plan for Camas Crown Park in 2018. (City of Camas)Photo Gallery
A lot has happened since Camas officials approved a master plan for the city’s historic Crown Park in November 2018.
In the three years since the master plan’s unveiling, the city has weathered not only a two-year pandemic but also:
Public outcry over the 2019 demolition of the historic Crown Park swimming pool.
90 percent of voters opposing the city’s community-aquatics center bond proposal.
The election — and then unexpected resignation — of a write-in mayoral candidate.
The retirement of longtime parks manager Jerry Acheson in December 2020 and the hiring of the city’s current Parks and Recreation director, Trang Lam, in early 2021.
Lam hit the ground running January 2021, jumping straight into the initial phases of a six-year Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Comprehensive Plan update, which will help guide the development and maintenance of Camas’ parks, green spaces and recreation areas through 2028.
Now, Lam is ready to tackle the Crown Park Master Plan.
In mid-November, Lam updated the Camas City Council on the master plan and said some of the initial cost estimates have changed since consultants worked on the plan in 2017 and 2018.
“The estimate in 2018 for all of the features was $5.6 million, now it’s closer to $6.2 million,” Lam said.
Even a pared-down Option 2, which would include most of the master plan’s major features — including an interactive splash pad, new playground equipment, ADA-accessible paths, a sports court, improvements to the park’s existing pavilion and a new, permanent restroom — would cost at least $3.1 million instead of the 2018 estimate of $2.6 million, Lam said.
Lam asked city councilors if they would approve moving forward with the design and engineering work on either Option 1 — the full master plan with all of the facilities included in the 2018 plan — or Option 2, which includes major features from the 2018 plan, but leaves out things like a picnic shelter, amphitheater, improvements to Scout Hall, landscaping and lighting.
Councilwoman Shannon Roberts said she would support the city moving forward with the full master plan.
“Since we’re finally going to be able to do these upgrades, should we do it right and go ahead and do Option 1?” Roberts asked during the Council’s Nov. 15 workshop. “This is everything we will probably do in five to 10 years. If you go ahead and plan for this, you’ll find the money somewhere.”
Lam said she would be happy to move forward with the more extensive Option 1 improvements.
“I would champion that,” Lam told Roberts. “If you can find me the money, I would love to build the entire park.”
Councilwoman Bonnie Carter said she also would “like to go bold,” but worried moving forward with the costlier Crown Park improvements might impede the city’s efforts to build and connect trails throughout Camas.
“I would like to see what the trade-off is if I go all-in on Option 1,” Carter said.
Lam said there are opportunities for city staff to move forward with things related to the Crown Park Master Plan before the city council adopts the full Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Comprehensive Plan in March 2022, and that the public will have ample opportunities to weigh in on the types of improvements planned for Crown Park.
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