Ilwaco kicks off parks plan process

Public invited to Open House July 25th

The City of Ilwaco Parks and Recreation Commission will host a Parks, Trails and Natural Area Plan Open House on Thursday, July 25, 2013, at the Ilwaco Community Building, 158 First Avenue North in Ilwaco. The event will begin at 4:30 p.m., with a short talk starting at 5:00 p.m. The public is welcome to drop by anytime between 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

The open house will kick off the city’s first parks, trails and natural area planning effort.

The plan will 1) inventory the city’s current parks, trails and natural areas; 2) collect and prioritize community ideas for future parks, trails and natural areas for improvements and additions; and 3) analyze how to strategically develop some of those ideas. With the completion of the plan by March 2014, the city will be eligible for state funding for parks. The National Park Service’s Recreation and Conservation Assistance program and Columbia Land Trust are supporting the effort at no cost to the city.

Parks, trails and natural areas are instrumental in promoting a community that is healthy and economically sound. They increase community livability, facilitate new and improved recreational opportunities, and encourage exercise. They protect natural resources (clean water, air) and wildlife habitat. They also bring tourists into Ilwaco and provide a public place for activities and events. As a result, parks, trails and natural areas all contribute to economic development.

A city of 930+ people with numerous visitors, Ilwaco currently manages two parks, Black Lake and Ilwaco City Parks. Cape Disappointment State Park is just outside of the city. The Lewis & Clark Discovery Trail begins in the city and runs north through Cape Disappointment and along the beach to the north past Long Beach. Community leaders have for years discussed ways to improve the city’s parks, trails and natural areas. The Parks Plan will help compile all of the ideas and prioritize them for moving forward. The City of Ilwaco welcomes and encourages the public’s attendance at the open house.