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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAPPENDIX A 1 Parks for JCPRAB 11.5.14APPENDIX A PARK & FACILITY DESCRIPTIONS Introduction This appendix section provides the history and describes the conditions and planned development for each of the Jefferson County Parks identified in the Comprehensive Park and Recreation Open Space Plan. Park Concept In Jefferson County the ideal park system is a collective of various park and facility types. Separately each park may serve a basic function, but together they provide a network serving the needs of the entire county. The system provides adequate opportunities for passive and active recreation. This appendix offers an opportunity to consider how each individual park, and the system as a whole, fulfill the mission of the organization: The Mission of the Jefferson County Parks and Recreation is to improve the health, welfare, and safety of the citizenry; protect the environment, and promote economic development through state of the art recreational and educational programs and facilities supported by public tax revenue, fees, grants and private donations. The Vision of Jefferson County Parks and Recreation is not to serve every purpose, but to lead towards cooperation and comprehensive community solutions. Table A.1 Park Site Index Existing Parks Park Name Alphabetical Acreage Map  Regional Park  Beausite Lake County Park & NW Kiwanis Camp 30.0 R-1  Community Park  Bob Bates Field 12.0 C-1  Na tural Open Space  Broad Spit County Park 43.8 OS-2  Community Park  Cape George Trailhead Park 43.0 C-2  Community Park  Chimacum County Park 14.0 C-3  Neighborhood Park  County Courthouse Park 2.0 NP-1  Community Park  East Beach County Park 1.0 C-4  Regional Park Gibbs Lake County Park & DNR Transfer 601.0 R-2  Community Park Hicks County Park in Shine 1.0 C-5  Regional Park H.J. Carroll County Park and trail 50.0 R-3  Natural Open Space Indian Island County Park & Trail 140.0 OS-1  Community Park Irondale Park 3.0 NP-2  Community Park Irondale Beach Park 12.5 C-6  Community Park Lake Leland County Park 9.0 C-7  Regional Park Larry Scott Trail 7.0 (8.5-mi) R-4  Community Park Oak Bay Park Lower 30.0 R-5  Community Park Oak Bay Park Upper 5.0 R-6  Community Park North Beach Park 1.0 C-8  Neighborhood Park Quilcene River & Bay Parks/East 2.0 NP-3  Community Park Quilcene County Park 8.0 C-9  Community Park Quilcene Sports Park/Smackman Field 14.0 C-10       Recreation Facilities Special Use Area     Special Use Area Jefferson County Memorial Athletic Field 5.0 SU-1  Special Use Area Jefferson County Fairgrounds 27.7 SU-2  Special Use Area Jefferson County Horse Park 80.0 SU-3  Community Center Port Townsend Community Center 1.0 SU-4  Community Center Brinnon Community Center NA SU-5  Community Center Coyle Community Center (Laurel B. Johnson Ctr) 1.0 SU-6  Community Center Gardiner Community Center 2.0 SU-7   Tri-Area Community Center 2.0 SU-8  Community Center Quilcene Community Center 4.1 SU-9   TOTAL JEFFERSON COUNTY PARKS 1,152.20    Park Sites: Location: 510 Beausite Lake Road, Chimacum Facility Goals A facility dedicated to special recreation for the entire region A County Park that the public has access to by advanced reservation only, per the lease agreement Respect the natural and open space values of the site Capital Improvements Review and improve signage to make sure it reflects the county park values Capital projects are deferred to the Kiwanis Create a forest management plan Implement forest management plan Maintenance and Operations Plan Support the partnership with the Kiwanis (lease) Visit the park with the Kiwanis once a year – hold a meeting there every year Monitor use and promote availability to the public Invite the Kiwanis to report to the JCPRAB annually per the lease agreement Participate in Kiwanis events and planning processes History of Beausite Lake Community Park: Beausite comes from the French meaning "beautiful" or "handsome" place. This truly is a very special use through a private/public partnership between Jefferson County Parks and Recreation and the Kiwanis Club. One of the first owners of the property known as Beausite Lake, which was originally called Carp Lake, was Dr. Louis Maas and his wife Mamie. On the 1925 Metsker's map the property is identified as being owned by Mamie. Dr. Maas was the brother of Adele Maas Katz wife of the infamous Israel Katz, and came to Port Townsend in 1887 at the age of 16. He attended dental school in Chicago and returned to Port Townsend and set up a dental office. When he returned he married Mamie Meyerhoffer, tutor to the Katz children. In the June 27, 1912 Port Townsend Leader is an article about Dr. Maas putting in an irrigation system at his Beausite Ranch. Dr. Maas died in 1923 and his widow, Mamie rented the farmhouse to the William & Olga Anderson family of Ballard. They lived on the farm in the 1930s and 1940s. In 1942 Mrs. Maas sold the property to Johnson & Gunstone who also owned land at Discovery Bay. The land was probably logged at that time. In 1972 their son Robert Anderson bought the property and he and his family moved from Seattle back to the farm where he had grown up. In 1989 the Anderson's sold the property and moved to Brookings. Northwest Kiwanis Camp at Beausite Lake Community Park is born. The county bought the land, probably in 1989, but definitely before 1994 when a fifty year lease was signed with Northwest Regional Kiwanis Clubs for use in August as a camp for people from six to sixty-five with a wide range of developmental and/or medical disabilities. The facility is also available for rent to non-profits, conferences, family reunions, meetings, camps, weddings, etc. during the rest of the year. The agreement with the county is any improvements made by the club will revert to the county after the fifty year lease is up. There is probably an option to renew. Before this property was leased the camps were held at Fort Worden and other facilities. A "quick remodel" on a large existing house, that serves as the camp lodge was done early on. Chuck Maiden of Quilcene provided a horse for campers to ride. The plan for the camp has a three-phase building program. Phase I Building with bathroom, shower, and laundry facilities, completed in June of 2009; Phase II four, 16-bed bunkhouses and activities pavilion with completion in 2011 and Phase III a therapeutic riding facility and administration building to be completed in 2014. By the time the facility is finished the organization will have spent over a million dollars. So what does the camp offer? Recreational activities such as arts and crafts, horseback riding, fishing, nature trail activities, talent shows, games, field trips, campfire entertainment by local musicians, all in a safe environment. The staff is a combination of paid counselors and volunteers. The camp is funded by Grants, service organizations, service fees, rental income and about 44% donations. What does it give to campers? "It lets the kids forget about their disability. They're always classified in school, but here we let them have fun and just be campers." Wendy Quesnel, head counselor at Kiwanis camp for disabled. PTL Aug. 23, 1995. Park Attractions and Key Information: Wonderful conference center is available for meetings, weddings, reunions etc. ADA Accessible. For reservation, contact the NW Kiwanis. Location: 84 Elkins Road, Port Hadlock Facility Goals Provide athletic fields for East Jefferson Little League Baseball When possible, allow casual day use of the park Support existing partnership with East Jefferson Little League (lease agreement) Capital Improvements Capital improvements are deferred to the East Jefferson Little League Restore the Parks Improvement Grant Program to help East Jefferson Little League with captial projects Maintenance and Operations Plan M & O is the responsibility of East Jefferson Little League Park Attractions and Key Information: Owned by Jefferson County. Used exclusively by East Jefferson Little League; ejlittleleague.com Location: Dabob Bay; Boat Access Only Facility Goals A world class boat-in only nature park in a stunning setting ‘Wilderness-style’ camping by motorized and non-motorized boaters A place for swimming, exploring the water, and enjoying the Hood Canal Preserve and protect the natural values of the site while promoting responsible use Capital Improvements Create and install a sign that both attracts and educates visitors to the park Maintenance and Operations Plan Make a site monitoring plan and implement it Publicize the site for day use and camping, and educate the public about using appropriate sanitation, garbage and other environmental use factors such as ‘Leave-no-Trace.’ Visit the site using overland access. Establish right to use overland access for maintenance and monitoring only Regularly talk to the neighbors to support the volunteer maintenance and monitoring they do Park Attractions and Key Information: A pristine wilderness park on Tarboo Bay. Accessible only by boat. Take only pictures, leave only footprints. / Location: 9635 State Route 19, Chimacum Buildings and Facilities Closed campground, formerly providing 26 primitive campsites Two vault toilets Picnic shelter with pedestal grill and tables Security lighting Drinking and irrigation water, frost free hydrant near picnic shelter Facility Goals A safe and clean pass through – trail area used by the local school children and the communityA beautiful forested area with mature cedar, fir, and hemlock forest The facility should be re-opened, either as a revenue generating, new and improved campground, or as a re-purposed picnic, rest area and passive use area such as a dog park. The facility should be kept safe and clean for the benefit of the community and the neighbor school Capital Improvements The capital improvement program depends on the future purpose of the park It would be a good site to build an RV Campground, a dog park, a rest stop, a visitor’s center, a recreation center, or a nature park Maintenance and Operations Plan Re-open the park in some fashion - a priority given the location near the school, in the community Restore and reopen the vault toilets Get garbage service Recruit Adopt-a-Park volunteer group Provide professional maintenance support and operation services to safeguard children and improve the park History of Chimacum County Park: Chimacum Residents are asked to turn out in full force next Wed...PTL May 21, 1942…Although the land the park is on is owned by the county, permission was given in 1924 for a park but it wasn't built until the 1940s. In May of 1942 the community was asked to volunteer to clear ground for a park across the road from the Chimacum Grange Hall. "Public spirited citizens attending should bring basket lunches and tools with which to carry on the work." Timber was cut and provided for the erection of a park kitchen and the area generally cleaned up. Some of those on the committee in charge were Hugh Nesbitt, county commissioner, Gus Erickson, grange master; Dave Bengston, Mrs. Oscar Erickson and Mrs. Forrest Horton. A Labor Day event that year had 67 men, women and children assembling, armed with various improvements and beatifying the grounds. The Bishop farm was represented by William & Stephen Bishop their wives and children, others arrived providing equipment and wood. At one time the park included the entire corner of West Valley Road and Rhody drive but in 1977 the Tri Area Community Center was built on the corner of Rhody Drive and West Valley Road. Currently, the building is available for meetings, provides senior meals, and houses the food bank. At one time Noquiklos the dragon a sculpture by Sarah Mall Johani was at the park where the Olympic Wild Salmon Festival was held but it was later moved to H.J. Carroll Park. The Wild Olympic Salmon organization also has a picnic shelter at H.J. Carroll. I remember as a child in the 1950s going to the county dump which was located behind where the park is, but I don't really remember the park, although I attended Chimacum School through 3rd grade. Park Attractions and Key Information: Easy access picnic shelter and restrooms, frequently used as a rest stop and meeting area. Great place to walk your dog. No camping at this time. Location: 1830 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend Buildings and Facilities Tennis court with fence Basketball court with 6 goals Water fountain Irrigation water Parking and streetscapes Open field with established maple trees in perimeter Facility Goals Neighborhood Use Park for tennis, basketball, dog walking, picnic etc. Important and safe gathering site for youth playing basketball and tennis Neighborhood gathering area Setting and foreground for the historic Jefferson County Courthouse Beautiful trees and open grass area with views Attractive street-scaped parking and access to County Courthouse Capital Improvements Resurface tennis court and repair fencing Prune trees working with the DNR Urban Landscaping Program Signage: historical interpretation of the courthouse and the area Maintenance and Operations Plan Maintain partnership with the Juvenile Services Division Continue working with the neighbors, who have volunteered to provide trash service and dog waste bags Provide limited professional maintenance support to increase mowing frequency and care of shrubs and trees as needed History of County Courthouse Park A grassy field before 1940, this park has become one of the most photographed parks in Jefferson County. Block 66, L.B. Hastings First Addition, the little park, tennis, basketball and grassy area on Washington Street across from the county courthouse was a vacant lot in 1940. In December of 1940, the Jefferson County Commissioners met to listen to interested citizens to voice objections to the proposed park project. Because the county was selling a great deal of its property, mostly foreclosed for nonpayment of property taxes, this block was set aside from sale by the county. The meeting was to let those opposed to it being withheld for a park to meet on the 21st of December at 10 a.m. to express any objections. The vision for the park was a tennis court, recreation equipment, also a public park and playground. Evidently there were no objections for it was announced on December 26th the commissioners were to go ahead with their park plan. They budgeted $1,000 for the park, another $2,000 to $2500 would be needed to build the tennis courts. In January of 1941 the playfield was begun. Tennis has been popular in Port Townsend for a long time, in 1899 the courts were by the Redmen's Hall on Maple Avenue [Tyler Street]. A club was organized in 1913 and another court was available at Taylor and Lincoln [Littlefield's Field] by 1919, and the Fort Worden courts were opened in 1922. A new county tennis club was formed in 1940. In April of 1941 it was announced that the Courthouse Park tennis courts would be built. In April the concrete was poured and by June they were opened to the public. The wire fence was replaced and new lines were painted in May of 1947. The Park, located at 1820 Jefferson St. is part maintained by the Juvenile Services Division of Jefferson County. It is one of the most photographed parks, popular with tennis players, basketball players, dog walkers and picnic goers. / Park Attractions and Key Information: Maple trees, grass, tennis and regulation basketball court new in 2013. Park provides open space in front of the historic Jefferson County Courthouse. Location: 330 East Beach Road, Nordland Facility Goals Critical water and beach access on Admiralty Inlet Day use park with toilets, shelter, fireplace, grill, fire ring, picnic tables, parking, and beach access Important community gathering spot Place for evening gatherings/meals with campfires in fire ring or in fireplace An historic place with restored amenities Capital Improvements Improve signage Install drinking water using tap to PUD water that has already been paid for Replace the roof on the shelter –priority – save the shelter, use metal roofing material Renovate or replace the toilets, new roof and paint Study methods for restoring the beach and protecting the park from erosion if feasible Grade and improve the parking lot ADA Access to restrooms-improve Remove Ivy from trees on South side of access road Maintenance and Operations Plan Support existing Adopt-a-Park agreement Provide some professional maintenance support to the volunteers / History of East Beach County Park, Marrowstone Island One of the earliest, and one of four built with money from the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s is a lovely little park on Marrowstone Island just a mile or so from Nordland on the east side of the Island. The money and workers were provided by the government and a picnickers' shelter of logs, a bathhouse, outhouses and several outdoor cooking grills were built along with a low bulkhead to protect the shelter from high tides and winter winds. According to Karen Russell & Jeanne Bean's book Marrowstone "When the tide was very low in the summer, the men used the hard flat beach for a baseball field. The Nordland Garden Club assumed the responsibility of cleaning up the beach grounds and planted roses and shrubs around the log shelter and bathhouse." Letters at the Jefferson County Research Center from the Nordland Community Club reveal the clubs participation. In December of 1950 a bill for $74.96 was submitted for material & labor for pouring a concrete floor in the building used for the cooking and shelter. A May 16, 1957 letter to Mr. Lyle Arey, Chairman of the Board of County Commissions submits a bill for labor extended by members with the repairs and improvements made to the buildings and other installations at East Beach Park for the year 1957 in the amount of $75. The labor included, cleaning the park, buildings cleaned, brush cut and trash barrels emptied. A request was made in 1959 for some 50 gallon open barrels that were available at Indian Island for which the club requested three or four for use at the beach and also some floats. In 1962 the club requested the county commissioners to put up a sign stating "No Overnight Camping, For Day Use Only." The small park had become a favorite place for campers in trailers and tents to set up camp, but the park was too small to accommodate them. By 1964 the county was doing maintenance and in May the club requested repairs to the fence, new outhouses and holes, tables, stove top for the community kitchen, rock stone fireplace repair, well repair, a light covering of gravel in the parking area and the grass and brush cut. In June, Lyall Arey replied that they had installed toilets, roof repairs and general cleanup. The county grader smoothed out the parking area. The club was asked to help by policing the area occasionally and alert them to what repairs were needed and to discourage damage to facilities. In the 1950s my parents and brother and sisters spent many a pleasant day at the park, swimming and picnicking. In the 60s, 70s, and 80s it was with my own children and since the mid-1990s with my two grandchildren. The park is part of the Adopt a Park program and has been adopted by the Friends of East Beach Park. They have made many improvements including rebuilding the stone fireplace and repairing the picnic shelter. You can rent the park for $25 plus .25 cents per person for four hours. Remember both sides of the park are private property. It truly is one of the treasures of Jefferson County and a good example of government and private citizens working together. Park Attractions and Key Information: Beautiful sandy beach, walking, historic picnic shelter, restrooms, fireplace to warm you. Views of Admiralty Inlet. Location: 130 Gibbs Lake Road, Chimacum Buildings and Facilities Main parking lot with trailhead kiosk Beach swimming area Fishing area with small boat launch Caretakers residence with garage, shed, generator building, dock and boathouse Challenge course 7 miles of hiking, horseback and mountain bike trails Vault toilet Derelict Boy scout buildings – mess hall, two dorm style buildings, multiple staff cabins Facility Goals A 600 acre regional attraction with 7 miles of multiple purpose trails, views, nature access, fishing, boating, challenge course, picnic sites, boat launch, swimming beach, parking and toilets A regional mountain biking, mountain bike skills area, horseback, and hiking area with an expanding network of trails An economic driver to attract tourists A nature park providing important habitat Protect the natural and open space values of the site Follow and support the existing master plan Capital Improvements Install new signage, sign on road as you enter, change dead end sign, make welcome sign visible, ownership Improve and expand parking areas Invest in the challenge course as needed Build new trails and mountain bike skills areas in the additional DNR property Remove the derelict buildings Create a forest management plan focused on the additional DNR property Implement the forest management plan for the additional DNR property Maintenance and Operations Plan Support partnership with caretakers for maintenance and supervision of park Support partnership with Quimper Trails Association for trail maintenance and construction Support partnership with WSU Cooperative Extension for the challenge course Provide limited professional maintenance to help the volunteers Retain professional support to update the master plan to include the new property History of Gibbs Lake Park From a private lake used for a summer home by a family that enjoyed the solitude to a lively place for hundreds of Boy Scouts, the history of its addition as a Jefferson County Park was bumpy. Discovering who or what Gibbs Lake was named for has proven to be difficult to say the least. A plat map of the Quimper Peninsula from 1889 gives the name E. Gibbs as owning the property. There was an Edward Gibbs who lived at Port Ludlow in 1880 and worked as a laborer at the sawmill, perhaps that is the answer. By 1925 the property was owned by Oren W. Brown. He first came to Jefferson County in 1915 and logged near Quilcene, later dividing his time between Seattle and Quilcene. He established his home at Gibbs Lake during the depression in 1932. A promoter of the area, his interests included timber and land usage. In 1950 Dr. Adrian Werner a local dentist and his wife bought the Lake property and land surrounding it. According to Port Townsend Leader Articles of the 1940s the doctor was an avid hunter and fisherman and bought the lake for fishing, ducks and eagles that visited the lake. Werner's homestead had a primitive cabin built in 1949 with a kitchen section added in 1956. In June of 1956 the Olympic Area Council was formed and worked toward establishing a Scout camp for Olympic Peninsula Scouts. Dr. Werner was approached by the council about buying Gibbs Lake, and on June 15, 1959 and agreement was reached whereby the lake and surrounding land was sold to the Boy Scouts of America. The price was $65,000 with a down payment of $10,500 and a mortgage for $54,500. It was agreed the camp would be named Camp Werner and the doctor was allowed to live on the property until his death. A fence was built to give him some privacy from the general public. Encompassing an area of 270 acres which included the 45 acre lake, it was to be a primitive Scout camp. Twelve troops participated in that first summer as the boys prepared their camp on the hillside overlooking the lake. A shallow well was dug in the meadow at the North end of the camp and a water tank installed. Generators were installed to provide electricity and run the water pump. Because of financial difficulties camp Werner was closed in 1974. A donation to pay back bills enabled the scouts to dig a new well, which was done in 1978. Electricity was installed by Puget Sound Power and Light and a septic tank and drain field added. When the big blow that sank the Hood Canal Bridge came through it knocked down trees at the camp which were cut and sold, which provided money for a mobile home that was purchased in 1981 for a caretaker’s home. In 1983 the camp was designated a surplus camp by the Chief Seattle Council, the mobile home was sold and the camp soon followed. Manke Lumber Company of Tacoma purchased the land in June of 1989 for $675,000, the money being put into trust for the support of three other camps including Camp Parson's on Hood Canal. There was a great deal of controversy over the sale and many local people involved in the Boy Scouts worked to save the camp. The good news that the Manke Lumber Company had suspended logging operations at Gibbs & Beausite Lake to negotiate trading 669 acres owned by them for an equal value of timber on state managed lands within Jefferson County was greeted with great relief. The company clear cutting never happened as Bryan Boyle, State Land Commissioner determined Gibbs Lake was a sensitive body of water and should be saved. A land swap with the DNR was arranged in 1990 and the property became a County Park. The camp is located on West Valley Road from Highway 19 (by Chimacum School) five miles from the intersection. Part of the park is the Jefferson County Extension 4-H "Challenge Programs" fostering team development and personal growth through group outdoor educational experiences. The camp serves youths 10-19 and adults who participate. In 2010 the DNR planned to log its parcels located between Beausite Lake and Gibbs Lake. Citizens intervened and a transfer to Jefferson County was arranged. The transfer of 300 additional acres from the DNR was completed in 2014. The park now includes 600 acres of natural forest area with lake, seven miles of multiple purpose single track trail, mountain bike jumps, balance logs, built structures for tricks, hiking, horseback riding, 45 acre lake, a boat launch area, fishing and a beautiful 100 year old forest. Park Attractions and Key Information: Trout catch and release fishing, miles of gorgeous single track mountain biking and hiking trails, 40-acre Lake, cliffs, restrooms, bicycle log rides and challenges, canoeing, birding, swimming beach. Location: 1090 Shine Road, Port Ludlow Facility Goals Easily accessible neighborhood park Critical boat ramp and water access to Hood Canal and beyond Crabbing, fishing and shrimping access point Scenic sea kayak launch point Day use park with toilet, picnic area, and fire ring Capital Improvements Clean, paint and roof the vault toilet and replace door Maintain and keep the boat ramp open Restore the shoreline habitat and protect the park from erosion Maintenance and Operations Plan Renew the existing Adopt-a-Park agreement Provide limited professional maintenance support to the volunteers Retain professional support to pursue the beach restoration/shoreline stabilization Repair restroom door Comprehensive signage program / Park Attractions and Key Information: Boat ramp on Hood Canal. Restroom, parking, picnic area, calm water, swimming. Location: 9884 State Route 19, Chimacum Buildings and Facilities Two full size soccer fields, plus small sided fields Softball field Playground Creek access trail and shoreline area Perimeter Path Picnic Area Kul Kah Han Native Plant Gardens Wild Olympic Salmon Shelter Rotary Pavilion Maintenance Shed with fenced storage and gate Caretakers Area Dragon Track display Park history display Restroom building with concession stand and office/storage area Labyrinth Horseshoes Elaborate landscaping 9 hole disc golf course BMX Track Unfinished ‘third field area” Bus stop County road Multiple parking areas Facility Goals Our flagship park, keep as our best maintained park Regionally – attractive active day use park to serve the entire county, and beyond Home field for Senior Softball, Rec Soccer, Club Soccer, Rec Softball, and Chimacum HS Boys Soccer Community built – community supported park, wide variety of amenities, maintain community support Fitness trails, creek access, Rotary Pavilion, Salmon Shelter, BMX track, native plant garden, softball/baseball field, soccer field, restroom, concession stand, caretakers site, ample parking, maintenance shed, basketball courts, playground, picnic areas, disc golf, and more Support the addition of the Rick Tollefson Trail Capital Improvements Improve access for ADA Build additional soccer and softball fields in the third field area Resurface Basketball Court Rebuild BMX track – work with Recyclery, other bicycle organizations New Rick Tollefson Trail planned from HJ Carroll Park to Port Hadlock – by County Roads Dept. Build traffic calming system at entry road Improve park signage Install athletic field in third field area Place additional drainage in athletic fields Repair irrigation system Maintenance and Operations Plan Most maintenance is provided by an experienced professional Back-up maintenance and supervision by caretakers and many other volunteers Support partnerships with Native Plant Gardens, Rotary, Disc Golf, and Chimacum Schools Maintain highest possible maintenance standards in order to keep this as our best kept park Improve the information found on the signboards re volunteers, officials, projects, etc. History of H.J. Carroll Park The Carroll family have been residents of Jefferson County for many years, involved in various businesses as well as county government. H.J. Carroll a real estate magnate gave the seed money for this wonderful facility. According to his Oral History the idea for the park took shape after some rather complicated land deals. Here's how he explained it: "I gave land on Dabob Bay to the Boy Scouts to be used for Scout purposes which was tax-free. I took all the land and I talked to other friends of mine into givin' it to the Elks and the Scouts in trust; I used the Elks Club as a trustee for the Boy Scouts, and I gave this land to the Boy Scouts through this trust to be used for park purposes. (I knew if I gave it to the Boy Scouts directly that Seattle [Boy Scout Council] would be over there, grabbin' it and sellin' it like they did with Camp Werner [Gibbs Lake] when they sold it to Manke Lumber. Manke logged that and then sold the land to the county for six-hundred thousand dollars.) Well, after about fifteen years or so I knew that the "wetlands" [Nature Conservancy] wanted it and I told 'em that they couldn't have it because it was a nice piece of property. I think it was twenty or thirty acres or something to that extend. It had a very nice stream runnin' through it and it had good clear tested water on it. A couple years later the State of Washington added the tax back on it. When I hired an attorney to check into it, he said, "We've got over that now. We don't have to worry about it." Then, a couple years later, they're [the taxes] on again. The Boy Scouts slipped in [not saying] two years taxes which made them owing about thirteen thousand dollars. I must not have been in a mood to pay it for the Scouts. So what I did: I talked to some friends of mine [Olive Paddock, William White] and the Elks to take the land and deed it to the county for park purposes. Then what happened, they wanted to sell it to the Washington Department of Natural Resources and I said, "No, because I gave it to you for park purposes," / [which meant that the title was clouded.] Then the question is asked, So then you went around the county looking for other areas where a park could be developed and agreed with William White and Dave Gooding that the county's forty acres that are in Port Hadlock (on land formerly owned by the county for gravel) would work. Yes, Dave Gooding had a couple of kids that played soccer and football and he was interested. [In the idea of building a multi-purpose recreational facility.] So, we made a deal [with the county] for me to remove the "For Park Purposes" restriction on the Dabob property [so it could be sold to DNR]. But that money had to be used for a park somewhere else in the county. Question: The county already had forty acres and now they have over three-hundred thousand dollars (including the interest) to use for seed money for developing this park. They agreed to place the funds from the sale of the Dabob property in a separate fund designated for the development of a single multi-purpose recreational facility? Yes, that was "seed money," and I asked Dave to protect the money. I said, "Well now, here-you have three hundred thousand that you can't touch for planning. That can be used for the development of a football field and a couple of soccer fields." That's the three-hundred thousand dollars that they're working' on now [1996]. They planned for a couple of toilets and they hired some planner in Seattle and give him twenty-four thousand dollars to draw the plans." Over the years other improvements have been made to the facility. The East Jefferson Rotary Club members built a 1,720 square-foot pavilion at the park using all volunteer labor. It is used for Weddings, parties, family reunions and class reunions. Those involved in the project included many local businesses, Hadlock Building Supply, Boise Cascade, Frederickson Electric, equipment provided by Ryan Tillman and Shannon Kane, Carl's building Supply, and Glenn Davis who built the picnic tables. A barbecue grill was built and landscaping done. The park had a county budget for 2011 of a little over $50,000. Park Attractions and Key Information: / / Location: 3456 Fort Flagler Road, Port Hadlock Facility Goals Critical, regional water access with beaches, uplands, tidelands, forests, lagoons in stunning shoreline environment for day use One overnight campsite for non-motorized boat in only camping An economic driver for the community A regional attraction for beach goers, shell fishing, sight-seeing, birding, walking on trails with views, and kayaking Protect the natural values of the site Renew lease, or seek ownership from DNR when necessary Capital Improvements Lagoon Beach: either relocate the facilities in a higher area or restore the parking lot and restroom area Restore or replace picnic shelter at Portage Beach Install a new BBQ at Portage Beach Plant new trees or prune old trees at Portage Beach Control invasive plants at all locations Put new parking lot boundary logs at Portage Beach Build a toilet at Portage Beach Maintenance and Operations Plan Support existing Adopt-a-Park agreements (2) Provide limited professional maintenance to support volunteers Support partnerships with DNR and WDFW Comprehensive signage program Prune trees Get ‘toilet team’ to care for restroom at Lagoon Beach / / Park Attractions and Key Information: Two miles of beach walking, smooth, wide multi-purpose trails with views of bay, picnic shelter, restrooms, birding, swimming, exploration, fishing, clamming at the head of beautiful Oak Bay. Location: 61 Alma Street, Port Hadlock Facility Goals A large day use park with athletic fields, playground, parking basketball courts, picnic areas, toilet and kiosk An important ‘anchor’ for the community An important athletic facility used by Chimacum Youth Football, Rec Soccer, Club Soccer, Coed Rec Softball A community safety net Capital Improvements Improve signage Resurface basketball court – priority – look into comprehensive bid to resurface all courts in our system Vacate right of way to the North where neighbors have encroached on the park – priority, manage carefully to preserve relationships Build a taller backstop and larger fence to prevent so many lost balls – priority, taller backstop and improve infield Maintenance and Operations Plan Continue professional maintenance Seek adopt-a-park group to provide volunteer maintenance Continue to hold as many games and other events as possible at this park Repair door on irrigation shed. ADA Access to play area, Open buffers for better visibility and supervision / Park Attractions and Key Information: Soccer, football, baseball, playground, basketball courts, restrooms, water, picnic areas. A family place. Location: 562 Moore Street, Port Hadlock Facility Goals Understand and follow the existing master plan for this park A National Historic site, with national, state, and regional significance. Awe inspiring beaches, uplands and access to Chimacum Creek Access for hand boat launching A regionally attractive historic beach park and economic driver Partnership with WDFW Capital Improvements Build vault toilet or restroom Install in-depth historical interpretive signage and trails Install historical kiosk and entry area Restore native vegetation to park setting Build picnic facilities Maintenance and Operations Plan Support existing Adopt-a-Park agreement Work with DNR on Urban Forestry Restoration Program to restore forest Well established and very functional volunteer group – expand capabilities Provide limited professional maintenance as needed Increase park supervision at South end of the park to discourage overnight use, unsanitary conditions, garbage, dumping and so forth from people mooring boats in the bay and using the park as a logistics area Eliminate blackberries and other invasive species – especially those blocking the view of the park Park Attractions and Key Information: Historic site of Irondale Mill, beautiful sandy beach, mouth of Chimacum Creek, views of Port Townsend Bay. Location: 165 Leland Valley Road W., Quilcene Facility Goals Day use park with boat ramp, parking, toilets, dock, and picnic area Regional destination site for fishing, swimming and lake boating Economic driver for Quilcene community Campground for visitors to stay and access the lake and other local resources such as the Quilcene area – Currently closed Continue partnership with WDFW (lease) Encourage fish stocking in the lake by WDFW Encourage better coordination between all County/State Departments to coordinate trips. Example: wood chips, parking lot work, by road department Re-purpose or re-open the campground area Capital Improvements Clean, paint, and improve the day use vault toilets Develop the campground with utilities and ammenities Create a camp-host site Install a septic system, electrical system and water system for RV hook ups Replace the signs at campground and day use park Make a place for and install a picnic table and grill at the day-use park area Move concrete blocks, add picnic tables, create a swimming hole Get equipment shed Grade parking lot Prune Trees Establish campsite parking area Install water system, Improve drainage of the parking lot Maintenance and Operations Plan Limited professional maintenance for day use only Support from volunteers when possible Park Attractions and Key Information: Boat ramp, fishing, dock, restrooms, kayaking, picnic areas and beauty of Lake Leland. No camping at this time. Location: From Discovery Road, take Cape George Road to the west 1-mile. Look for signs. Facility Goals A large 40 acre primitive space with trails for bikes, horses, and walking. Parking lot, water, restroom, and portable toilet for Larry Scott Trail, maintained by Roads Department. An exciting active use destination for local bicyclists and horse riders to test their skills A partnership with the Roads Department of the County. All of this accessible by the Larry Scott Trail with infrastructure built and maintained by the Roads Department. Capital Improvements Work with the Quimper Trails Association to build the bicycle skills park. Work with the Backcountry Horsemen Club to develop skill building horse trails for local riders. Conduct major forestry project to reduce fire risk and improve forest. Maintenance and Operations Plan Maintenance and operations of the infrastructure is Roads Dept. responsibility Contact Quimper Trails Association, JEA (Jefferson Equestrian Association) and Backcountry Horsemen to check in on their plans Restore the parks improvement grant program to support their projects Publicize and sign the single track trails so people know they are open and multi-purpose, not just horses Market as a destination to bike to and from, and as a rest stop along the way Deed Restrictions: The Larry Scott Trail was acquired and developed with matching grant funds from the Recreation and Conservation Office under the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program in the trails category. Jefferson County is under contract agreement with the State of Washington to protect and retain the trails for public access and recreational use in perpetuity. (RCO # 08-1773) Park Attractions and Key Information: The trail starts in Port Townsend and travels approximately 6miles south and west towards Four Corners. It is a part of the Olympic Discovery Trail and the Pacific Northwest Trail. Trailhead access also at Boat Haven. Visit Trailhead Park for Bicycle Single Track. The Trail was beautifully built and is available for non-motorized transportation and recreational purposes including walking, bicycling, wheeling and horseback riding. / Location: 301 Portage Way, Port Ludlow Facility Goals A world class regional shoreline day use destination site Nature that is highly accessible by people Quiet, safe and scenic family camping with lots of nearby activities Respect natural and cultural values of the site Combined with Indian Island Park, a State Wide Shoreline Destination Site Provide high value family camping destination Capital Improvements Improve signage at both parks Paint and reroof vault toilets Install septic system at Upper Campground Upgrade electric and water hook ups in Upper Campground by extending water to each site and increasing power supply Improve campsite surfaces – priority Clean and repair the picnic tables Maintenance and Operations Plan Primarily professional maintenance with support from camp host and others Winter closure of the Lower Oak Bay Spit to traffic – continue to close and reopen as long as feasible Phased removal of campsites from spit as necessitated by erosion, rising sea level, and safety Programmatic ties to Indian Island Park to provide a larger recreation area and attract more people ADA Access to play area Prune trees Remove brush in certain places Comprehensive signage program History of Oak Bay Park Another WPA project, the Oak Bay Park was started in 1939. Oak Bay Park is located east of Port Hadlock on Portage Way rd. There is an upper and lower campground. The park was built on county land on or near Joe Wah's place at Oak Bay. Joe Wah was an early Chinese immigrant who came to this country to built a new life for himself and his family. At first he worked at the Washington Mill Company and later ran the Merchant's Cafe in Port Townsend. He also had a farm at Oak Bay which had a picnic area and a beer hall. Families would come out and picnic and drink beer, dig clams, fish etc. In March of 1939 construction of a community picnic ground was started. A Port Townsend Leader article from the period stated "...started this week under the direction of Elmer Hughes, foreman, who had a crew of about 12 WPA workmen on the job. The project calls for a total expenditure of about $5,000 in federal funds and sponsors contributions..." The project was part of a county wide park program started in 1938 by the county commissioners. The beach and grounds were cleared, but local plants remained. A well was dug, gravel walks, bathrooms, a community kitchen and picnic tables were built. A pontoon bridge was built from the mainland to the spit. This too was a favorite place to go when I was a child. As an adult I remember fishing with my father from a small boat. When something started pulling my pole over I became very excited and thought I must have the biggest Salmon ever but alas it was a six foot dog fish that scared me so badly I threw the pole in the water to get rid of it. My father was not happy about that. My own children and grandchildren enjoy this park for picnics, walking dogs, and throwing rocks [there are plenty of them], and bird watching. I noticed when I was there with my granddaughter the other day there is a boat launch, but the cement slab was broken so it is probably not used anymore, we were amazed at the number of seagulls in the pools behind the spit. Today there is camping on a first come, first serve basis. Camping is limited on the lower Oak Bay park. It costs $18 for a site without electricity and $20 with. There is a campground host that lives at the park. The park is closed from November 31st to March 31st. The lower park contains an estuary with amazing bird watching from all areas. There is also the view of Oak Bay and Mount Rainier. There are lots of homes along this stretch of beach so it is not very isolated, but is a beautiful spot for a family picnic and lazy days in the sun. Park Attractions and Key Information: Sand spit with lagoon, bird watching, fishing, restrooms, kayaking, picnic areas, and views of Oak Bay. Campground Apen April 1-October 31, 2014. 6 campsites. $20 per night Maximum vehicle length: 30 ft. No alcohol. Location: 5880 Kuhn Street, Port Townsend Facility Goals One of the busiest and most important parks in Port Townsend, used by the entire County Critical salt-water access park, and community gathering spot Access to Fort Worden State Park Picnic shelter, garbage service, hand boat launch, toilet, parking, kiosk Capital Improvements Repair and restore the restrooms to service during the non-freezing months Restore the water service Fix the parking lot and the bollards Place dog waste bags dispenser Maintenance and Operations Plan Provide professional maintenance of the restroom and re-open it Improve dog enforcement and control Cut back brush Prune all trees Keep existing volunteer adopt-a-park team in place for mowing Maintain partnership with Fort Worden State Park for garbage service and supervision Provide limited professional maintenance services Park Attractions and Key Information: Best local beach park in Port Townsend, access sandy beach, For Worden, views of San Juan Islands, picnic shelter, restroom. History North Beach County Park Once the site of the Port Townsend City Garbage dump, North Beach Park is one of the county's most popular destinations for picnics, beach walking and bird watching. A residential area that faces on the Straits west of Fort Worden, the name North Beach refers to the northern shore of Kah Tai Valley across which coastal Indians used to portage their canoes to Port Townsend Bay. The early settlers referred to it as West Beach, perhaps because it was west as well as north of the early town. [City of Dreams] In the 1880s Lawrence Smith purchased 100 acres at North Beach, improved the drainage system, and added a cistern and clay pipes. Smith was a butcher not a farmer and leased the swampy area east of the park to a group of Chinese. The area became known as the Chinese Gardens. The Chinese built a tide gate that allowed water from underground sources to run off at low tide, shutting out the saltwater thus draining the area and making it useful for agriculture. During the late 1890s it was rumored it was a place for illegal Chinese to stay when they came from Canada. They would work there for a short time and would eventually become part of the Chinese community, working mostly as laborers. In 1904 Smith built a house across the street from what is now the park. The Chinese continued to run the farm, selling their produce to local people. According to James McCurdy in his book "By Juan de Fuca's Strait" in 1925 Lawrence Smith fell into a cistern, caught cold and barricaded himself inside his house, McCurdy and a neighbor found him and broke in to take him to the hospital. Smith had never married and lived a hermit’s life, but McCurdy, a banker, had transacted business for him and knew he had bonds hidden in the house. He found them plus some cash and notes, and turned them over to the bank. Smith died the next morning and his estate in the sum of $106,500 went to his heirs in Kentucky, not an insignificant sum for a man who was so uneducated he could not read and could barely write his own name. In 1938 there was money allotted to build new parks in Jefferson County and North Beach was eligible through the WPA, but the park was never built. The city garbage dump which had been there for many years had been moved to Middle Point [McCurdy Point] shortly before this. The land was originally owned by the city but by 1955 when Glen Lopeman and Byron Ruby helped to start the North Beach Community Club, the land was owned by the County. This group cleared the land, built restrooms and made the park so it was usable by the public. A surplus building from Fort Worden was obtained and used for a clubhouse. As a kid I spent many hours at North Beach walking the beach, swimming [brr!] and picnicking with my family and with my own children and grandchildren. The park is currently part of the Adopt-a-park program and has been adopted by the North Beach community and Fort Worden State Park. The community mows the park, cleans the garbage and makes repairs, and Fort Worden State Park monitors usage and removes the garbage. There is a picnic shelter with two picnic tables, two barbecue grills, three benches, toilet and water. There is also access to the beach for Kayakers. This is a popular place for beach combers to walk along the beach to Middle Point where the garbage dump was moved and search for treasure at what is now known as "Glass Beach." Location: 41 Muncie Avenue, Quilcene Facility Goals A day use park for locals, visitors and especially fisherman visiting the Big Quilcene River A picnic spot for those traveling to and from the Marina Provide safe and sanitary access to the Big Quilcene River, especially for fishermen Help support the neighborhood by providing a clean, well-kept day use area for locals An economic driver for Quilcene A partnership with fish and wildlife and the local tribes for fishing access Capital Improvements Remove brush and danger trees as needed Smooth park area surface as possible Improve parking` Create a place for a portable toilet and dumpster Place welcome and logo sign Maintenance and Operations Plan Keep and support our current volunteer – build ties to Adopt a Park Program Provide limited professional maintenance support for volunteers as needed, especially during the fishing season Place a dumpster during the fishing season Place portable toilets during the fishing season Park Attractions and Key Information: Neighborhood Park on the Big Quilcene River, Check out the river, have a picnic and do some fishing. Location: 294964 Hwy 101, Quilcene Facility Goals An attractive, viable and functional campground to attract and serve visitors to Quilcene A campground that serves as a ‘base camp’ for the many exciting attractions in Quilcene A campground that is a ‘jumping off point’ for backpacking, boating, and other trips A campground especially friendly to bicyclists traveling 101 A safe and attractive day use park for children families, and the whole community, both visitors and locals Work with the community to establish another water tap Work to re-direct community center parking away from the park Capital Improvements Revise signage - priority Repair the picnic shelter – Jim Munn may help Repair the fence around the courts Resurface the courts Replace skate board equipment Replace tennis net Install septic system for camp host and install utilities in the campground – get an estimate to start Selectively remove and prune trees to improve light and safety Tree work Maintenance and Operations Plan Maintain existing Adopt-a-Park agreement with Clayton White Provide some professional park maintenance to support the volunteers Mitigate parking impacts from community center, use signage and access restrictions at entry Install new ‘iron ranger’ camp fee receptacle to reduce need for money pick up Continue strict enforcement of no alcohol, no loitering and no drugging Hold a meeting about camp host idea with the park stakeholders Attempt to recruit and place new camp host and create new camp host site Work with community to develop another free water source somewhere else if possible Signage – new comprehensive signage program Note – thousands of cars travel 101 every day – a huge signage opportunity Replace number of posts at campsites where rotted or broken Use front end loader to level piles of gravel and dirt behind auxiliary building Close off park where cars are driving through at community center loading dock by using donated boulders from Penny Creek Remove moss from picnic building roof Finish painting exterior of vault toilet when weather gets better Build picnic table for a picnic spot near the community center that will allow people to sit close to Wi-Fi on weekends. Install a BBQ pit there? Paint remaining corner post around picnic building and bollards around park. Paint well house? Park Attractions and Key Information: Nice playground, basketball and tennis courts, picnic shelter, Skate Park, restrooms. Campground open January 1 to December 31, 2014. 12 campsites. $12 per night. Maximum vehicle length 30 feet. No alcohol. Location: Deema Smakman Road, Quilcene Facility Goals Deeman Smackman Field Provide athletic fields for Little League Baseball When possible, allow casual day use of the park Support existing partnership with South Jefferson Little League (lease agreement) Capital Improvements Setting the capital plan is deferred to the South Jefferson Little League Restore the Parks Improvement Grant Program to help SJLL with their projects Signage should indicate the roll the JCPR plays in this facility Maintenance and Operations Plan M & O is primarily the responsibility of SJLL Park Attractions and Key Information: Owned by Jefferson County. Used exclusively by South Jefferson Little League Recreation Facilities: Location: 4907 Landes Street, Port Townsend The Jefferson County Fairgrounds are owned by the County and operated by the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Association Facilit ies: / Annual Events: Throughout the year the Fair Board rents a number of Annually the Fair Board holds a number of events and The Jefferson County Fairgrounds is the perfect place to hold your next party, reunion or celebration. Many of our buildings are available for reasonable rents. Park Attractions and Key Information: The Jefferson County Fair Association provides wholesome entertainment and competition for those who live in, and around, Port Townsend, Washington — a quaint Victorian seaport located on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula. The Jefferson County Fair is held annually, during the second week of August. Throughout the year, we offer our facilities to a wide variety of organizations seeking to enrich the lives of local residents and guests. Location: 550 Washington Street, Port Townsend Buildings and Facilities 700 person grandstand with steel roof, locker rooms, showers, public restrooms, 2 smaller restrooms, storage, ticket booths, electrical room, and announcers booth. Maintenance shed Concessions stand Full size baseball backstop with dugouts and three 10 row bleachers Softball field, full size soccer and football field with goals Perimeter fence – 7.5 feet tall Facility Goals Respect the important Memorial for Veterans of WWII and Vietnam Wars Promote and further the historic nature of the site through preservation, programming and increased access by the general public A flexible multiple purpose facility that can be adapted for community events as needed Occasional parking for very large events such as the Wooden Boat Festival Home field for PT boys and girls soccer and football and Home field for Chimacum football Host Quilcene football whenever possible Key resource for Adult recreational sports such as softball and ultimate Frisbee Serve as home field for Port Townsend Braves youth football Serve as the only non – school athletic field facility in Port Townsend, and the only lighted one in the County Rented by the Jefferson Community School for P.E. Activities Function as critical recreational youth sports facility for youth soccer Capital Improvements Replace field lights Replace stadium roof and repair steel frame and concrete structure Stabilize embankment on Quincy Street and rebuild fence Rebuild other fence sections, replace back fence with a vegetation fence New scoreboard Rebuild the athletic field for flat grade and better drainage Fix ADA Access Install a sign near the entrance and inside that tells about the history, ownership and use of the park Paint, insulate and heat the maintenance shed Repair siding and paint the concession stand Repair roofs of the dugouts Maintenance and Operations Plan Safety must be addressed first Professionally maintenance Provide high level of customer service, maintenance and promote maximum use of the facility Partner closely with users for maintenance and operations History of Jefferson County Parks: Memorial Athletic Field: A Jefferson County property inside the Port Townsend City limits, Memorial Field at one time was a lagoon. When the first white settlers arrived in Port Townsend and staked their claims, the area they platted for a city had two portions, a flat, composed of beach and rather marshy ground, backed by a plateau that could be reached by scaling a bluff. The flat area where the present Memorial Field is was at that time cut in two by a lagoon. S'Klallam & Chimakum Indians numbering about five hundred were living on the beach above high tide. Their homes were built of cedar planks fastened to uprights, with native rope made from sapling roots. Woven mats were used for doors. As they moved along the Straits following the fish, this was a temporary village, traditional used each year as the Salmon returned to the streams. The city grew and its need for more downtown land just before the "boom days" became important for the development. At some point between 1880 and 1890 the bluff was removed and added as fill in the lagoon area. St. John's Episcopal Church, which had been on the bank for many years was removed to its present location on Jefferson & Tyler in 1885. By 1890 the Chinese Community, various saloons and a house of ill repute occupied the property, but in 1900 the buildings were destroyed in a serious fire. In later years a small area was used for baseball games, and was called Norby Field. In 1935 a Port Townsend Leader editorial appeared, "Natural Athletic Area Proposed"; Coincident with the development of the block north of the Eagles' Hall [Now Jefferson School] on Washington Street comes a new proposal that merits more investigation. This is the cutting away of Quincy Street grade between Washington & Jefferson streets so the present field can be extended through two blocks. It is believed by the conceivers of the idea that sufficient room can be obtained to allow any kind of sport to be played on this enlarged area and that the entire boundaries may be made into whatever bleachers, grandstand, or parking space is needed to make of the tract a natural amphitheater. Such dirt as is in the Quincy Street fill could be put over the floor of the area to raise it above the point where seepage water would interfere. Adequate drainage can easily be provided. “It is said that owners of lots in the area, including the county owned portions, would listen favorable to such a program of civic improvement. The popularity of such a place is foreordained. One has but to visit the lot the nights of softball games to see what possibilities exist for this improvement." The city planning commission considered the project in November of 1935 with the idea that it could be a WPA [Works Progress Administration] project which would be a dual purpose development, one to beautify that portion of the downtown district and the other for public entertainment such as athletic events of all kinds. The land included three blocks, Nos. 53, 54 and 92, Original Townsite, lying between Washington Street and the bluff between Quincy and Monroe Streets. The deal involved vacation of some and regarding of other parts of the streets in the area, the grade of the field was raised two feet by the regrading work, without involving serious curtailment of street service. Madison Street was vacated under the preliminary plan between Jefferson and Washington Streets. The majority of the lots in the block were held by Jefferson County on tax foreclosures. It was hoped that lots owned by private interest could be purchased for a nominal sum. In May of 1936 the Leader ran an article, "Players Urged to Help Clear Softball Field" The request was for softball players to put the field in condition for the coming season. In 1940 a request for the creation of a civic field was asked, and in 1946 the Junior Chamber of Commerce met with city council and Jefferson County Board of Commissioners to discuss plans for the new ballpark and events field. It was proposed that the field be in honor to the men and women of Jefferson County who had served in the military, the county tagged $4,750 for the project. By this time WPA funds were no longer available. In 1946 Construction of Memorial Field was started. Port Townsend Leader September 12, 1946 “Under direction of County Engineer Jack Lay, a crew was on the site Monday cleaning out old bulk heading located at various places around edges of the two block area. A county bulldozer was on the job this week removing the Madison Street fill. Earth removed from the fill is being spread over the area and will raise the floor of the field an average of about 18 inches. The fill contains about 5,000 yards of earth and Lay expected the earth moving project and bringing the area to grade level will involve about three weeks work. A crew of about seven men was on the job. While the work is going on no part of the field will be usable, the engineer said. During the past few months one block was used as the city softball field. Immediate plans for the park's development call for removing the Madison Street fill between Washington and Jefferson and bringing to grade the two-block continuous area thus created. The floor of the field will be 500 feet in length and 200 feet in width. The field will have a 12-inch crown. Installation of drains is expected to get under way after grading is completed. Storm sewers will be located along both Jefferson and Monroe streets to tidewater to carry off drainage that now flows into the field area from higher adjacent ground. The city council approved a $1,600 emergency appropriation to cover expenses of installing the drains. The actual appropriation is subject to an emergency resolution." By March of 1947 a grant was approved for the Memorial Field project. In September of 1947 Cotton corporation won the bid for bleachers at a cost of $25,443, lights were added and the first game under the lights was the Port Townsend High School vs Port Angeles, which Townsend won 7-0. There were 1500 fans who paid $865.36. The use of the field was $70, Federal and city admission tax was $172.85. Admission paid for lighting and the high school collected more than $600. Another source of income was advertisement on the fence, $50 for a portion of the fence. It must have been an exciting time for Jefferson County residents. There is a plaque at Memorial Field giving the names of World War I & II veterans that the field was meant to honor, sons, brother, uncles, cousins, friends lost in the wars. Two cannons stand at the entrance of Memorial Field the names listed alphabetically, names of men gone to war for their country, never expecting that their home town would one day honor them. A state of the art in ground automatic irrigation system, was donated and installed in 2010 by a group led by Rich Stapf Construction, and Roger Hall of Discovery Bay Landscaping. The labor for the work was donated by the firefighters of East Jefferson County Fire and Rescue. Rich Stapf Jr., Roger Hall and the Roger Hall with help from the Port Townsend School District, along with a group of volunteers maintained the field for 18 months when there was no funding for it, from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011. Today, field maintenance is paid for by funds from Jefferson County, from fees for field use, and by the City of Port Townsend, using revenue from the new .3 of one percent sales tax that past as Proposition One in November of 2010, funding began in June of 2011 and is scheduled to last as long as May of 2015. The field is used for many events besides Jefferson County sports, the Rhododendron Carnival, Kiwanis Car Show, Rakers Car Show, and other events make use of the facility. Park Attractions and Key Information: Stadium, sports events including football and soccer, community events. This historic site in downtown Port Townsend is a piece of living history. Location: 1172 Cape George Road, Port Townsend Facility Goals Licensed to the JEA (Jefferson Equestrian Association) to develop a county horse park A regionally attractive active use facility for horse events A public County park that is accessible to all when not in use for events A multiple purpose park for passive use, bicycles, and other types of non-motorized events Capital Improvements Provide administrative support to the JEA as they build the park Capital improvements are the responsibility of the JEA Provide an update on progress Maintenance and Operations Plan Understand and actively work with the existing license with the JEA Invite the JEA to present to the JCPRAB – schedule a meeting, but wait until winter of 2012/2013 Attend JEA events Support JEA events by helping with special event permits Insure the terms of the license are met by using a checklist Park Attractions and Key Information: The Jefferson County Equestrian Association Vision: The long-term vision of JEA and the Horse Park involves balancing the needs of the community and Horse Park users while addressing environmental issues and developing the local economy. It will be a local recreational destination as a public park with a regional component with equestrian facilities for education, training, competition and events. A key part of our vision entails becoming thoughtful stewards of this valuable land. Only by laying this solid foundation first can we then realize our vision for a top-quality facility with: • Top quality cross country course • Covered arena with exceptional footing • Two outdoor arenas with all-weather footing and fencing • Trails for horses, pedestrians, bicyclists • Round pen • Public parking • Perimeter fencing The Focus The Jefferson Horse Park will encompass three core aspects: • Building community • Stewardship of the land • Economic development The Community Partnership Program The Community Partnership Program is designed to be just that—a partnership between JEA and various organizations within the local community, with a special focus on youth. It’s envisioned to be a great melting pot of resources, ideas and educational opportunities for a variety of ages with adults helping kids at every turn. And of course horses are at the center of it all. The program will work with community youth groups to develop curriculum which can bring youth and qualified JEA members together to allow more of the community to experience our amazing equine friends. The foundation for the Community Partnership Program is its Educational Center. Professionals from various equine disciplines will work to establish courses to qualify volunteers to insure safety standards for any and all activities within the program. The goal is for our youth to have the experience of having fun outdoors, whether it is with a horse or another animal, a friend, a teacher, a parent, or a trained JEA volunteer. It is our opportunity to bring our community outside on a large expanse of land and together, to share our resources, for the fortunate to give back, for the distressed to find opportunity, and for a child to find a smile. Youth Groups • Pony Clubs • 4-H • After School Programs and High School Equestrian Teams • Youth at Risk (could be called Horses and Youth at risk—HAY!) • Handicapped and Disabled Partnerships and Affiliates • Jefferson County 4-H • Pony Clubs on the Olympic Peninsula: Equitese, Discovery Bay, Equimasters and? • Jumping Mouse • Big Brothers Big Sisters • Skookum • The Gathering Place. • Camp Beausite NW (Kiwanis) • Jefferson Teen Center. • Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault (DVSA) Location: 620 Tyler Street, Port Townsend Buildings and Facilities Gymnasium with stage and small climbing wall Rec Center with restrooms, games room, kitchen, pre-school, offices, storage and workout area Upstairs Seniors Center with kitchen, dining hall, meeting rooms, offices, restrooms Facility Goals A multiple purpose gym for the entire County to enjoy for a variety of programs and to rent for events A free drop in supervised games room, gym, and activity area for families, children, teens, youth, with programs A child care center operated by public/private partnership A center for structured fee based recreation programs like Day Camp, Kid Fit and Basketball The offices of the Recreation Program Staff Team The logistics center for the Recreation Program Team A low cost workout area for the rowing club and drop-in patrons Restrooms and other support for the P.T. Farmers Market Capital Improvements Renovate or replace the gym including roof, flooring, equipment and so forth Restore the games room with new paint, floors, kitchen, and equipment Maintenance and Operations Plan Continue the free open drop-in recreation program on a more focused basis Find ways to connect the kids more formally with the center such as membership cards, service projects, more events, text messages, posters, social media, special hours etcetera Continue and increase programming related to the free drop in rec program such as table tennis tourneys and dances Install video security system to monitor the ‘blind’ areas Provide restrooms and passive family activities for PT Farmers Market Support and maintain the pre-school partnership Enhance and expand facility rentals for specialized programs such as Zumba Port Townsend Recreation Center – Exterior Spaces Buildings and Facilities Playground with surfacing, curbs, grass areas, picnic tables and perimeter fence Recycling and garbage areas used by Seniors Center, Rec Center, and Farmers Market Sidewalks, parking lots, elaborate landscaping Grassy areas with picnic tables Streetscapes with parking Facility Goals One of the most heavily used neighborhood parks in the City of Port Townsend An economic driver supporting major business enterprises such as the Farmers Market and Uptown Shops and businesses A bus stop and transportation center for young and old alike Home to the Port Townsend Farmers Market – supporting farmers throughout the County Playground area, picnic tables, grass areas, bus stop, extra parking, and entrances/exits A place for families and children to play, socialize, and exercise outdoors Developed and maintained parking and landscaping for buildings Parking, garbage service, and transportation hub for the Port Townsend Farmers Market Capital Improvements Replace the fence around the playground Review and improve signage Monitor the playground surfacing, curbs, and equipment, replace as needed Maintenance and Operations Plan Continue professional maintenance of these high maintenance grounds Playground inspected and repaired by Molly Hilt –high level of service Prune all trees Increase partnership with Farmers Market History of Jefferson County Port Townsend Recreation Center The property where the Port Townsend Recreation Center is located was first owned by Captain Enoch S. Fowler who in 1867, donated lots six and eight of block one hundred thirty-six of the original town site, a central location, where a suitable school building could be erected. The land was donated to School District number one, of Jefferson County. In 1884 the remainder of the block was bought from various individuals, $1,950 was the cost for the remaining six lots. The old building was sold and removed, and an eight-room, two-story frame structure replaced it. George E. Starrett, local builder, did the work. The building was provided with a lofty bell tower and four spiral stairways. It was called Central School. The school was used as a High School until Lincoln School was built in the early 1890s. In the 1930s the Central school building was used temporarily during repairs at Lincoln. In the early 1940s it was used by the Office of Price Administration a program started during World War II and was called the War Agencies Building and housed practically all of Jefferson County’s war time activities. The building burned in September of 1943, all that was saved was the gymnasium. The old building had been remodeled several years earlier by the National Youth Administration and was valued at $7,150. The insurance settlement was $7,983 after deducting the value of the gymnasium which was $2,470. In January of 1944 it was announced that pending approval, work would begin within 60 days on a one-story structure to be used as a community recreation center. Funding for the project included $5,000 of local money, $3400 from School District #43 and $16,000 from the city of Port Townsend. The Federal Works Agency was asked to contribute $25,000. Plans called for the utilization of the main floor of the fire-swept old high school building, inspectors had determined that damage to the floor was not severe and the boiler was unharmed. The Gymnasium was miraculously saved and plans called to re-floor and re-roof the building and install showers and dressing rooms for athletic purposes. The plans called for a single large community room with several smaller rooms around two sides of it, a kitchen was included. The smaller rooms were to be used for care of children and other activities. The tentative plans called for the construction of tennis courts and a wading pool for youngsters on the grounds adjacent to the building. In November of 1944 a contract was let for the New Care Center, and William Gorsegner, a Port Angeles contractor was awarded the contract with a low bid of $31,600. Construction had to be started by November 27 in order to get the $20,000 in government funds which covered about two thirds of the cost. The facility was to provide day care for eighty children. Slightly more than $10,000 was received from the federal government for operation of the center and to provide instructors. In March of 1945 the building was dedicated as a living memorial to the veterans of World War II. Through the years changes have been made, the child care center was discontinued after World War II ended and women left the work force to become stay at home moms again. The Community Center is housed in the upper part of the building and is used for many activities including parties, dances, sports events, meetings, classes and more. The Recreation Center is the bottom floor and the Gymnasium. It is home to the offices of the Jefferson County Recreation programs, gymnastic area and outdoor playground. The center was closed due to budget constraints for a short time and reopened July 5, 2011, check their website for open/closed times. It is located at 620 Tyler Street in Port Townsend. The youth of Port Townsend have used this facility for dances, sports, and a friendly place to get together for many years. I remember in the late 1950s attending a dance there with my first boyfriend. My children played recreation sports there and took advantage of the foosball table along with their friends. Now it is my grandchildren's turn, I am glad it is still there for today's youth. Park Attractions and Key Information: Birthday rentals, summer camps afterschool programs, and the offices of the Parks and Recreation program staff. Senior Center is upstairs, Lids recreation center is downstairs. The facility also provides the opportunity to book a party. There are three picnic areas around the Recreation Center. Location: 306144 Hwy 101, Brinnon Attractions & Key Information: Senior Nutrition program, kitchen & room rentals. Meeting room space for programs and activities of informational, cultural and civic nature primarily. The Center is a hub of meaningful programs and interesting activities. Services provided by “OlyCAP who are partners that lead and engage the community to promote self-reliance on behalf of those they serve while embracing innovation and collaboration with the determination and commitment to build a healthier community” /  Location: 923 Hazel Point Road, Coyle Attractions & Key Information: Community Meals, Music Concerts, Coyle Women’s’ Club Pea-Patch Community Garden, free internet, Festive meals and Holiday events and Rental venue. It is a certified emergency site. Funded through Parks & Recreation District #1. Located on the Toardos Peninsula or “Coyle Peninsula” or occasionally referred to as the “Dabob Peninsula” as it separates Dabob Bay from the Hood Canal. /  Location: 980 Old Gardiner Road, Sequim Attractions & Key Information: Multiuse center with kitchen and meeting rooms and facility rentals. Beautiful view of the San Juan’s, Beckett Point, Diamond Point and Discovery Bay. /   Location: 306144 Hwy 101, Brinnon Attractions & Key Information: Senior Nutrition program, kitchen & room rentals. Meeting room space for programs and activities of informational, cultural and civic nature primarily. The Center is a hub of meaningful programs and interesting activities. Services provided by “OlyCAP who are partners that lead and engage the community to promote self-reliance on behalf of those they serve while embracing innovation and collaboration with the determination and commitment to build a healthier community” /  Location: 923 Hazel Point Road, Coyle Attractions & Key Information: Community Meals, Music Concerts, Coyle Women’s’ Club Pea-Patch Community Garden, free internet, Festive meals and Holiday events and Rental venue. It is a certified emergency site. Funded through Parks & Recreation District #1. Located on the Toardos Peninsula or “Coyle Peninsula” or occasionally referred to as the “Dabob Peninsula” as it separates Dabob Bay from the Hood Canal. /  Location: 980 Old Gardiner Road, Sequim Attractions & Key Information: Multiuse center with kitchen and meeting rooms and facility rentals. Beautiful view of the San Juan’s, Beckett Point, Diamond Point and Discovery Bay. /  Location: 10 West Valley Road, Chimacum Attractions & Key Information: Computer lab & classes, Senior Nutrition, kitchen and meeting room rentals, community meetings. Community services provided by Oly CAP with employment opportunities, thrift store benefits, Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and volunteer opportunities. /  Location: 294952 Hwy 101. Quilcene Attractions & Key Information: Managed through OlyCAP. Site has computer lab with internet classes, room rental space and food bank available. Meeting room space. County Park amenities with tennis courts and sport court and adjacent Quilcene Community Park with overnight camping and children’s playground. Within close proximity is the Quilcene River and Bay Parks providing boater access and the Deema Smackman sports field at the Quilcene Sports Park. Extensive renovation and beautification of the Center with hours and funds provided by lead volunteer Bob Rosen, Home Depot, and OlyCAP. Also find two “super volunteers: Bob Bergeron & Jerry Tingelstad who deserve a big “thanks.” /