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Home My WebLink About2025 JCPRAB Park Tour Report by Bob HoyleJefferson County Parks and Recreation Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Parks Tour April 23, 2025 The Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board toured ∙ Cape George Trailhead Park ∙ Courthouse Park ∙ Jefferson County Recreation Center ∙ Memorial Field ∙ North Beach Park Cape George Trailhead Park Topics Board Vision Park Use and Maintenance Capital Improvement Planning Trails Partnership w/Peninsula Trails Coalition Cape George Trailhead Park Assessment Survey Two Good Things Two Things to Improve Top 3 Priorities Operation Ideas • Well-maintained and welcoming • Great access to Larry Scott Trail • Robust single-track trail system • Beautiful landscaping • Nice parking • Partnership with Peninsula Trails Coalition • Signage ◦ More obvious signage on Cape George Road ◦ Trail signs/names • Trash cans needed • E-bike charging station (solar?) • Room for hiker/biker campsites • Signage - Entrance and trails • Trash cans • E-Bike charging station • Hiker/Biker campsites • mountain bike skills area • Trash cans • Signs • Adopt Master Plan • Create hiker/biker campsite(s) • Use justserve.org* to manage volunteer opportunities and to communicate these to public Additional Comments The board was impressed with the easy parking and partnership with the Peninsula Trails Coalition which has led to its cleanliness. They were concerned about the trash and the lack of signage. Board members suggested that signs should be placed on Cape George Road and labeling the trails. In the future it was hoped to add a hiker/biker campground and a plan for fire safety. Courthouse Park Topics Board Vision Capital Improvement Planning Park Maintenance Park Goals Neighborhood Courthouse Park Assessment Survey Two Good Things Two Things to Improve Top 3 Priorities Operation Ideas • It’s Beautiful! Location, view, access, historic significance • Well kept, well used • New basketball court/great rec amenities • Picnic tables under trees • Rain garden on Washington Street corner • Beautiful lawn green space/sports space in town • More benches for intergenera- tional support, especially around the courts. • Water bottle filling station, or re -activate water fountain • backboard wall for pickleball for solo use while waiting • A table in the sun • Benches • Fix water fountain/build new bottle filler • 2030 resurface and new fence around pickleball. Add 3rd court. Add pickleball back- board • lighting on courts • Tournaments • Identify leads who could take on (start-to-finish) projects like re- pairing or installing new water fountain/bottle filling station. Additional Comments The beauty, maintenance and broad use of the park was obvious to the board. Their sug- gestions centered around comfort for all users. • More benches to sit on outside the courts, maybe with poetry and reminders about men- tal health benefits of parks or memorial plaques - find volunteer organization to build or find them • Spread picnic tables out in different areas of park • Install/maintain working drinking water source Jefferson County Recreation Center Topics Partnership with Port Townsend Community Center Success of Youth Programs Capital Improvement Planning Jefferson County Recreation Center Assessment Survey Two Good Things Two Things to Improve Top 3 Priorities Operation Ideas • The staff, Chris Macklin, As- sistant Recreation Manager, and Samantha Miller, Lead Recreation Supervisor • Awesome programs • highly utilized and intergen- erational • a whole lot cleaner than in past • playground • Access to all • New/improved bulletin board out- side. Keep updated and current • usability of kitchen (i.e., supplies and appliances) • Create a community project to “remodel” downstairs, new paint, new (donated?) furniture, new games and books • gymnasium floor • Better display for awards/trophies/ pictures • More hours (full time) for Sam • Building upgrades (via Facilities Man- agement) ◦ Earthquake/building renova- tions ◦ Roof repair ◦ infrastructure for gym • Renovation/remodel • Replace the overhead lights down- stairs with in-ceiling can lights, less harsh and more welcoming. • More staff/make Sam full-time • Fund-raise the patrons /raise fees for programs • Partner with Owl360 on engagement programming. Let them use the space and give input on programming and opportunities for youth. Additional Comments The board was amazed by the programs and outreach of staff here; reaching all ages and interests, while coordinating an extensive sports program that keeps every field in the county full with practices and games. The building, however, needs repairs and renova- tions throughout. The board suggested upgrades to the gym, kitchen, downstairs and landscaping. These are all expensive improvements that will take youth and community engagement to complete. Memorial Field Assessment Survey Two Good Things Two Things to Improve Top 3 Priorities Operation Ideas • Grass playing field is in great shape • New lights! • Variety of uses/highly utilized • Love the bamboo gate • Great resource • New fences soon! • Locker room/restroom remodel • Concession stand upgrades • War Memorial needs public access and flowers • refurbish and paint maintenance shed • Take big stumps off hill side • Bathroom and locker room upgrades • New goal posts and score board • Concession stand upgrades • Highlight the Vietnam memorial es- pecially during the Traveling Wall dates this fall - move Vietnam memo- rial or refurbish where it is • Regrade entry way for buses coming in and not bottoming out • Unlock stairway access during events • Consider art work on new fence • Rent out for more cultural and music events • More open community use, managed via partnerships Additional Comments Improvements in the lighting, grass turf, and increased open times were praised along with Lamont, Park Maintenance Tech, who gave us a personalized tour. The Board’s concerns were centered on making it accessible to more people. These needs include bathroom up- grades, updates for the concession stand and scoreboard, better bus access and some paint. One specific request is to make the Vietnam Memorial more visible to all. Instead of hidden behind a goal post, it could be moved outside with other war memorials. Assessment Survey Two Good Things Two Things to Improve Top 3 Priorities Operation Ideas • Open and free • wild and beautiful • Access to beaches • a whole lot cleaner than in past • Picnic shelter • Cross-jurisdictional access to Chinese Gardens and Fort Worden • Driftwood on the boat ramp hinders beach accessibility for disabled • High tide (“don’t get caught”) sign should be replaced – consider add- ing a weblink or QR code to tide charts online. • Better parking • Put fence around Sani-can • Paint the shelter and clean the roof • Careful rebuilding after sewer pipe installation • Create permanent bathrooms that are maintained. • New picnic shelter • Add a play structure with benches • better/more parking • Water? • Negotiate agreement with City to take over construction of facilities and maintenance of park • Agreement with Fort Worden and the city of Port Townsend • Consider a revised agreement for op- erations, possible consideration of City taking over the property owner- ship – or lease to City for mainte- nance in perpetuity. Additional Comments This park is wild and beautiful and complicated. The issues here are due to usage as an access to Fort Worden, Chinese Gardens and Glass Beach. With many people visiting, the parking lot is inadequate, the Sani-Cans are busy (and ugly) and the picnic shelter needs rebuilding. Consider an agreement with City of Port Townsend to take over construction of facilities and maintenance of park after the wastewater treatment project is finished.