In January, Clark County will put a call out for construction bids for a Hazel Dell sports complex.
The 20-acre park is expected to be game-ready by spring 2012.
But what should the $9.1 million complex, which will include one full-sized multipurpose field, two baseball fields and two T-ball fields, be called?
The list of potential names includes Luke Jensen Memorial Park, for a 9-year-old who died in May after a two-year battle with leukemia.
Luke attended King’s Way Christian Schools, where his father, Steve, serves as a principal. The schools are next to the future sports complex and will share sports fields and parking.
Other potential names, submitted during public open houses, are: Padden Park, St. Johns Park, Greater Clark County Sports Complex and Greater Vancouver Sports Complex.
Jilayne Jordan, spokeswoman for the Greater Clark Parks District, which was formed after voters approved a property tax hike in 2005, said the public will be able to weigh in on the name next year by voting online or via phone. Once voting is completed, the naming issue will be considered by the Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, which will make a recommendation to the county commissioners.
A primary user of the sports complex will be Salmon Creek Little League.
Cliff Yount, vice-president of the league, suggested naming the park after Luke.
Yount said last week that he did not know Luke, but did attend high school with Luke’s mother and followed Luke’s story on http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lukejensen, which has had more than 300,000 visitors.
He was touched by the support the family received throughout Luke’s illness, such as when family friends drove up to Mount Hood and brought back truckloads of snow to put on the Jensens’ lawn so Luke could have one more chance to play in the snow.
“The biggest thing for me is that Luke brought a community together,” Yount said. “That’s what parks do.”
Vikki Jensen said last week that she and her husband were honored that Luke’s name was suggested.
“He would love it,” she said.
Both Yount and Jensen made it clear they were not going to lobby for the cause.
The planned complex has been referred to as the Hazel Dell sports fields, but “Hazel Dell” won’t be in the formal name. Clark County already has a park with Hazel Dell in the title, and the county tries to avoid the confusion of similarly named parks, Jordan said.
The complex, which has been protested by some neighbors, was approved by a hearings examiner in July.
The site will also feature batting cages, nature trails and a building with restrooms and concessions.
The land is a federal Superfund site because of toxic compounds lying at least 50 feet beneath the surface. The Environmental Protection Agency said there’s no danger of exposure from building the ball fields.
In his July decision, hearings examiner Dan Kearns said there’s no credible evidence supporting the idea that contaminated groundwater will ever reach the surface.
The county has placed conditions to mitigate significant environmental impact. Those include making sure field lights and the public-address system won’t be used after 10 p.m. and properly planning for increased traffic.
At a Dec. 21 meeting, the county commissioners approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the county, Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Department, Vancouver First Church of God and King’s Way Christian Schools.
The 25-year agreement sets out the terms for shared use of parking and fields as well as maintenance.
Hazel Dell resident Jack Davis, who lives next to the proposed sports complex and testifies against the project at nearly every commissioners’ meeting during open public comments, again took the opportunity to criticize the decision to build sports fields on a Superfund site.
Davis also questioned the partnership between the county and Vancouver First Church of God, which Commissioner Tom Mielke attends.
Mielke was not at the meeting.
The MOU was approved by Commissioners Marc Boldt and Steve Stuart. Stuart said Mielke, who was on vacation, would have recused himself from voting.
Public Works Director Pete Capell said the agreement was one of the last steps before the construction contract goes out for bid.
Construction will be funded by the real estate excise tax, which is paid whenever property is sold.
The basic maintenance of the park will be funded by the Greater Clark Parks District, a special district approved by voters in the unincorporated urban area of Clark County in 2005.
Stephanie Rice: 360-735-4508 or stephanie.rice@columbian.com.
