Ridgefield residents and visitors will have more opportunities to get out and enjoy some fresh air and exercise in the coming years. The city council reviewed development ideas for a waterfront park, skate park and updates at Abrams Park during a Dec. 21 study session.
“How we develop our current assets and our incoming assets is going to be critical for ensuring that we create a parks system that is going to properly support our overall community,” Corey Crownhart, parks manager for the city, told the council.
City Manager Steve Stuart said the purpose of the study session was to consider the next steps. He said the only direction the council gave was how to move forward with the skate park.
“For Abrams Park and the waterfront park, the purpose of the study session was to introduce the topics and … talk through the public engagement plan for both of those projects,” Stuart said in an interview Wednesday.
Abrams Park
Before developing a park plan, the city plans to survey residents about their interests and needs. The public engagement process will begin with an open house, scheduled from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 10 in the Columbia Assembly Room at 510 Pioneer St.
The city is also conducting a community survey to solicit feedback. The survey will be open from today to Feb. 2 and available on the city’s website at https://ridgefieldroundtable.org.
Located at the end of Division Street near Union Ridge Elementary School, Abrams Park is one of the city’s older parks. The 40-acre parcel features play structures, horseshoe pits, baseball, softball and soccer fields, as well as a disc golf course, walking trails and more.
The city will be looking at existing amenities, what updates or improvements are needed and what additional needs there will be as the city continues to grow, all while preserving the historical and natural integrity of the park.
Key stakeholders in the park design include neighborhoods, Ridgefield Little League, Pacific Soccer Club and the school district, among others. Crownhart said all stakeholders should and will have a voice in creating the master plan.
A draft master plan is expected to be presented to the city council this summer.
Waterfront park
Perhaps the most anticipated development for Ridgefield residents is the planned park on the Port of Ridgefield’s waterfront property.
The city will partner with the port to develop the park.
“We’re equal partners in the master plan itself. We’re each paying 50 percent of the bill,” Stuart said. “It’s definitely a partnership on this.”
While the park is included in the port’s waterfront master plan, that plan also includes commercial, retail and residential development.
The next step, Stuart said, will be to develop a plan for public outreach. He said he expects that plan to be a little different than it would be for other facilities.
“The conversation was to have that be a broader inquiry because we do get users of the waterfront that come from beyond our city limits,” Stuart said.
Among the ideas discussed for the waterfront are expanded access for nonmotorized vessels, such as kayaks and canoes, expanding the city’s trail system to the waterfront, and more walking and bike paths.
“There wasn’t public access there for almost 100 years, other than the boat launch,” Stuart said. “It’s a key moment, a key spot for the community to weigh in.”
The port’s plans for the waterfront property have already hit a speed bump. Last year, the port applied for a short plat to subdivide some of its larger parcels. That decision has been appealed to the Shorelines Hearings Board and is pending resolution.
Skate park
In 2022, the council approved funding for a feasibility study for a permanent skate park that would replace the existing facility at Simmons Street and North Third Avenue. The feasibility study is complete and was presented to the council during the study session.
After reviewing the study, the council directed staff to move forward with design for a skate park on the western edge of Overlook Park.
Stuart said the skate park is a popular spot, especially among the city’s younger residents.
“The council has been really supportive of figuring out the features of the skate park. They have engaged with users, local businesses and residents to figure out how and where the city can create a better alternative in Ridgefield,” Stuart said.
Staff will now begin working on a conceptual design for the skate park to be presented to the council at a later date.
For more information about the city’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan, go to https://ridgefieldwa.us/211/Parks-Trails-Recreation-Services.
