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Park vehicle closures upset users

Some question actual savings reaped by county

By Dave Kern
Published: March 22, 2010, 12:00am
2 Photos
Three youngsters enjoy a picnic lunch under the trees at Lewisville Park.
Three youngsters enjoy a picnic lunch under the trees at Lewisville Park. Following a two-month closure, the park is open to vehicles again. Photo Gallery

Clark County saved $122,666 by keeping some parks closed to vehicles in January and February, a parks official said.

But Bill Bjerke said he, parks workers and county commissioners got an earful from many upset by the move.

And plans call for parks again to be closed to vehicles this December and next January and February, Bjerke said.

Bjerke said people who called “said they couldn’t understand how we were saving money by closing the parks.”

Donnie Lemberg, 56, of Vancouver, died Feb. 25. He was the grounds maintenance specialist at Lewisville Park. More than that, "he was friendly, approachable and conscientious about his job, and loved life," park enthusiast Theresa Estes of the Battle Ground area said. Estes and other park visitors have donated about $150 to a memorial in the park for Lemberg. Bill Bjerke, Lemberg's boss, said a bench and plaque might be placed in the Dogwood section because, "That was Donnie's favorite spot." Estes also said she hopes a "Lemberg Way" sign will be erected in the park. To donate, visit http://www.parksfoundation.us/.

Donnie Lemberg, 56, of Vancouver, died Feb. 25. He was the grounds maintenance specialist at Lewisville Park. More than that, “he was friendly, approachable and conscientious about his job, and loved life,” park enthusiast Theresa Estes of the Battle Ground area said. Estes and other park visitors have donated about $150 to a memorial in the park for Lemberg. Bill Bjerke, Lemberg’s boss, said a bench and plaque might be placed in the Dogwood section because, “That was Donnie’s favorite spot.” Estes also said she hopes a “Lemberg Way” sign will be erected in the park. To donate, visit http://www.parksfoundation.us/.

First, he said, parks were closed to vehicles but not to walkers and bicyclists.

The savings came because of limited maintenance, including closing restrooms and not picking up litter. Also, the county laid off six full-time employees and 12 park caretakers for two months.

“A lot of people called up and they were very sad, particularly in this downturned economy,” Bjerke said. “They realized they were still able to get into the park but not by means of vehicle. Of course, I sympathized dearly with them.”

The most complaints, Bjerke said, were from people who use Lewisville Park north of Battle Ground. He said Lewisville is the county’s most popular park.

“We have people who go out there everyday. We call them the regulars,” Bjerke said. “They go on their daily walk. There is a 2½ mile loop in the park.”

Six parks were closed to vehicle traffic: Lewisville, Moulton Falls, Lucia Falls, Vancouver Lake, Frenchman’s Bar and Lacamas Lake.

Four parks stayed open because of partnerships, Bjerke said. They include Capt. William Clark Park (partnership with Washougal and Port of Camas-Washougal); Salmon Creek Park, (now part of the Metro Parks District).

Haapa boat launch and Daybreak park had reduced use and received financial support from Clark-Skamania Flyfishers, Fish First, Coastal Conservation Association and Vancouver Wildlife League, Bjerke said.

In approving the 2010 budget, Clark County commissioners okayed $1.6 million in service cuts and fee hikes.

Unless something changes, the same park closure plan will go into effect for three months starting in December, Bjerke said.

In an e-mail to The Columbian, Allen and Theresa Estes of the Battle Ground area wrote: “We walk or run at the (Lewisville) park nearly every morning and have for the past 17 to 20 years. Many of us know one another by sight or by name. … To a person, everyone understood the county’s budget problems, but did not feel the money saved amounted to what it must have cost to close the park for two months. Parking was severely restricted, no restroom and no trash. There are many windfalls, trees down, etc. during the winter months but no one to pick them up. There was a certain amount of time spent in preparing the park for closure (swings put up, trash cans removed, restrooms taken care of, etc) and then the same amount of time to prepare them for opening. Also, there would have been the cost of unemployment benefits. This park is very heavily used and more so the last couple of years. With the economy in the tank, we think more people come to the park not just for exercise, but stress relief and family outings.”

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