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City of Columbia City 1840 Second Street, PO Box 189, Columbia City, OR 97018 (503) 397-4010 |
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Parks
Department
The Parks Maintenance Department is
responsible for the daily operation and maintenance of five City parks
consisting of more than eleven acres, two parks owned by the Daughters of the
American Revolution (DAR) consisting of 3/4 of an acre, and on adopt-a-highway
area consisting of approximately 1/3 acre. The Department also oversees
park development projects.
The Park Maintenance Department is funded
primarily by state revenue sharing and miscellaneous revenue.
The Parks Department is currently staffed
by the Public Works Superintendent, Micah Rogers, and two Utility
Workers. The Public Works Superintendent is responsible for overseeing
the day-to-day operations and the development of the City parks, and for
supervising the park maintenance staff. Micah can be e-mailed at
mrogers@columbia-city.org. The
department can be reached by calling (503) 366-0454, or faxing to (503) 366-2870,
and their mailing address is PO Box 189, Columbia City, OR 97018. The
City Shop is located at 1755 Second Place.
The City has an active Parks Committee, and they
meet as needed. Parks Committee Meeting
Minutes are available on-line.
Park
Descriptions:
Harvard
Park (0.39 acres): This developed neighborhood park is located
on Sixth Street between Calvin and Penn Streets. It currently has playground equipment, an open green area for
field games, park benches, picnic tables, drinking fountain and a
restroom.
Columbia
City Bike Path (5.39 acres): This popular bike path is used by walkers,
bicyclists, joggers, and skaters. It
extends along the west side of Highway 30, and it is easily accessible from a
trail system that leads to the City of St. Helens.
McBride Meadows Trail System (2.09 acres): This trail
system extends from the paved City Bike Path at the north end of the City in a
westerly direction along the top of the bank along McBride Creek. It is accessible from Mattie Street in two
locations - at Tahoma Street and Park Drive.
Jim
Bundy Memorial Park (2.86 acres): This park is located at the corner of
"E" Street and Highway 30, adjacent to the Columbia City Bike
Path. This centrally located park is
heavily wooded and easily accessible to travelers. It features a beautiful display of trillium from April through
June. The park has a picnic shelter, picnic tables, park benches, walking
trails, and restroom.
Datis
Park (0.14 acres): This waterfront park is located on The
Strand and provides a scenic view of the river activity. The Parks Committee plans to add a fishing
dock.
Carolyn
King Park (0.06 acres): This viewpoint park provides spectacular
views of the Columbia River, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Adams. The park is located
at the corner of Ninth and "K" Streets, and has a covered picnic table.
Columbia
City Elementary School (1.92 acres): This area is accessible to
the public during non-school hours, and includes playground equipment,
volleyball area, soccer and softball field, basketball court, picnic tables,
and benches with views of the Columbia River. The park is accessible from
Second, First and "F" Streets.
Pixie
Park (0.31 acres): This waterfront park is privately owned and
maintained by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). This park is located at the corner of The
Strand and "I" Street. This
is a popular park for picnics and it provides breathtaking views of Columbia
River, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood, and river traffic and activities. It has a well maintained grassy area for
lounging and picnics, picnic tables, and access to the river.
Ruth
Rose Richardson Memorial Park (0.46 acres): This
private park is also owned and maintained by the DAR, and is located on
"I" Street between First Street and The Strand. This well maintained
park is beautifully landscaped and provides a grassy area for picnics, and
benches with spectacular views of the Columbia River, Mt. Adams, and river
traffic and activities.
City Entrance Sign Park (0.33 acres): This area
is owned by ODOT and maintained by the City under the Adopt-a-Highway program. The area is currently under
development. It serves as the future
site of the City's new "Welcome to Columbia City" entrance sign.
PRIOR YEAR ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
In partnership with the Oregon Department of
Transportation (ODOT) a focus was put on completing the development of the
adopt-a-highway area consisting of approximately 1/3 acre. ODOT performed grading, spraying, planting
and landscaping activities, and installed an irrigation system. The Columbia County Corrections Crew cleaned
up an old glass dumping area that was discovered on the site. The City removed trees and brush, performed
grading activities, and provided a new water service to the site. In addition, the City had a "Welcome
to Columbia City" entrance sign designed and constructed by a local artist
for the site. In Jim Bundy Memorial
Park, a paved trail system was developed to connect the parking lot, picnic
structure, restroom facilities, and walking path. A local volunteer group assisted with a cleanup event in the
park, working to clear the park of weeds, blackberry bushes, ivy and other
unwanted vegetation and woody debris.
An annual "Down By the Riverside" cleanup day was conducted
and two public waterside areas, Datis and Pixie Parks, were spruced up by a group
of volunteers and City staff. The
Department continued to assume the routine maintenance responsibilities for the
two parks owned by the Daughters of the American Revolution - Ruth Rose
Richardson and Pixie Parks.
DEPARTMENT OBJECTIVES FOR 2010-11:
To develop detailed master plans for each of the
City's parks. Target date: December 2010.
To pursue the acquisition of easements and/or land
along the length of McBride Creek, including the Trestle Beach area, for the
development of a linear park and beachfront park in accordance with City
Council Goal No. 3F and the City's Park Master Plan. Target date: Ongoing.
To pursue alternative funding through grants for
the acquisition of additional park property. Target date: Ongoing.
To place an emphasis or park maintenance
activities. Target date: Ongoing.
To recruit volunteers to assist with park
maintenance activities. Target
date: Ongoing.