The city of Camas was awarded three grants totaling $2.25 million from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office’s Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, according to a press release from the state agency Tuesday.
The first grant, for $1.25 million, will be used to buy 55 acres of forest land that connects to the Lacamas Lake trail system.
The land is the “missing link needed to create a continuous, protected greenbelt when combined with the Green Mountain area and partner-owned lands to the east and west,” according to the state.
The land will create opportunities for hiking, jogging, biking, and nature watching, and provide opportunities for scenic viewpoints. There is also potential to connect the land to Camp Bonneville and the Lake-to-Lake future trail system.
The total project cost is $3.86 million, with the city providing $2.61 million in funding.
For more information about the project, go to https://shorturl.at/epBK7.
The second grant, for $500,000, will be used to make improvements to a Lacamas Lake Regional Park trailhead. According to the release, Camas will use the funds to improve the trailhead at the south end of the park, including paved parking, restrooms, pathways accessible to those with disabilities, picnic areas, signs, landscaping, and improved stormwater systems.
With limited parking at the main entrance to the park, the trailhead upgrades will “help improve access on the south end of the park and allow for greater accessibility to the park,” the state agency said.
The trailhead leads into the Lacamas Creek trail and a regional trail system through the park to the north, as well as the Washougal River Greenway Trail to the south.
The total project cost is $1.15 million with Camas providing matching funds of $654,837.
For more information about the project, go to https://shorturl.at/cjrH7.
The final grant, also for $500,000, will go to rejuvenating Crown Park on Northeast 17th Avenue.
Camas will use the grant funds to “build an interactive water play feature, inclusive play areas, a restroom, and pathways and install some furnishings,” the release said.
Donated to the city in 1934, Crown Park has mature fir trees, a picnic shelter, two play areas, a basketball half-court, two tennis courts, and Scout Hall. Its open-air public swimming pool was demolished in 2019.
“It is also the community’s gathering space, especially for summer events such as concerts and movies. As a legacy park for Camas, the park is ready for rejuvenation,” the state said.
The total cost for the project is $2,726,000 with Camas contributing $2,226,000 in funding.
For more information, go to https://tinyurl.com/38eknjas.
