The Parks and Lands Division has begun a master planning process to develop its Mt. Vista neighborhood park property. Development of this property was selected in lieu of development of the Salmon Creek Community Club Neighborhood Park property, as described in the background section below. Updates about the Mt. Vista property master planning process and how to participate will be posted to this webpage as the project progresses.

Park Type

Neighborhood parks are intended to serve residential areas and provide access to basic recreation opportunities for nearby residents, enhance neighborhood identity, and preserve neighborhood open space. Neighborhood parks often include amenities such as playgrounds, turf areas, pathways and trails, picnic tables, sports courts, and benches. They are designed primarily for residents living within about a half mile of the property.

Planning and Community Outreach

Planning, design, and construction of the park will take several years to complete. Neighbors will be invited to participate and provide feedback throughout the process. This will include community surveys, open house events and a public comment period. The community will also be invited to suggest a new name for the park.

Preliminary Schedule

• Park master plan development: 2024-2025
• Design development: 2026-2027
• Construction: 2028 

Background
The Greater Clark Parks District was created in February 2005 when voters in the unincorporated urban area of the county passed a levy creating the parks district. The levy committed to providing funding for construction of over 35 new parks. Since 2005, Public Works has developed 32 of the 35 levy-funded parks. One of the last parks left to construct was Salmon Creek Community Club Neighborhood Park, located just east of I-205 and northwest of Washington State University Vancouver. A master plan for the park was created, with community input, in 2011.

When Parks and Lands recently prepared to move forward with development of the park, significant constraints were identified during site surveys including significant presence of wetlands, safety concerns with the park’s entrance, and community access issues. These constraints limited the possibilities of the property’s development. County staff identified a property approximately a quarter mile east that didn’t have the same constraints and would serve a greater number of nearby residences. That property, currently referred to as the Mt. Vista neighborhood park property, will be developed into a neighborhood park to help meet the levy’s promise to voters. In the future, the Salmon Creek Community Club Neighborhood Park property will serve as a designated natural area and may connect to the Whipple Creek Hollow Natural Area to its northeast.

CONTACT
Evelyn Ives, P.E.
Capital Project Manager
564.397.5885
evelyn.ives@clark.wa.gov