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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. 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 staffed by the Public Works Superintendent, Jeff Anderson, and three 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. He can be reached by calling (503) 366-0454, or faxing to (503) 366-2870. His e-mail address is janderson@columbia-city.org, and his 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, a park bench and a picnic table.
The Parks Committee is working on implementing a landscape plan and
making other improvements to the park.
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. The Parks Committee plans to connect a nature trail along McBride
Creek to the north end of the bike path.
The first phase of the McBride Creek trail extension is scheduled for
completion in September 2005.
Jim
Bundy Memorial Park (2.86 acres): This park is currently being developed. It 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. The park contains developed walking
trails, and a picnic shelter, tables and park benches have been purchased and
are scheduled for installation during the summer of 2005.
Datis
Park (0.14 acres): This recently developed 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 (0.88 acres): This recently developed 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. A covered picnic table will be
addded to the park during the summer of 2005.
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, and picnic tables
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.
Department Objectives for 2005-06:
To pursue the acquisition of easements and/or land
along the length of McBride Creek, including Trestle Beach area, for the
development of a linear park and beachfront park in accordance with City
Council Goal No. 3 and the City's Park Master Plan. Target date: Ongoing.
To complete the development of Phase I of the
McBride Creek trail system, consisting of a paved trail extension along the top
of the bank and natural surface hiking trails down the bank to the creek
area. Target date: September 2005.
To pursue alternative funding through grants for
the acquisition of additional park property. Target date: Ongoing.
To continue implementation of the site plan and
landscaping plan for Jim Bundy Memorial Park with the assistance of
volunteers. Target date: August 2005.
To begin to implement the Harvard Park Landscaping
Plan with the use of volunteer time and donated materials. Target date: Ongoing.
To continue to develop Datis Park with the
assistance of volunteers and donated materials, and seek grant funding for the
development of a fishing dock. Target
date: June 2008.
To complete the development of Carolyn King
Memorial Park. Target date: September
2005.
To keep all City park lawns groomed and green,
trees and shrubs properly trimmed and maintained, and remove refuse daily. Target date: Ongoing.
To develop, through specialized training, a greater
knowledge of parks and maintenance for all department employees. Target date: Ongoing.
To communicate to the City Council through a
monthly activities report and to the public through the City's newsletter. Target date: Ongoing.
Prior Year Accomplishments:
The fifth annual "Down By the Riverside" cleanup
day was coordinated, and public waterside areas were cleaned by a group of
volunteers and City staff. A focus was
also put on developing Carolyn King Memorial Park, a new viewpoint park
providing spectacular views of the Columbia River, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt.
Adams. The park was landscaped, and a
covered picnic table was purchased for installation in the park. A dedication ceremony was held in Jim Bundy
Memorial Park. A parking lot area was
cleared, graded and paved. A covered
picnic area was purchased, along with picnic tables and park benches. Volunteers continued to work regularly to
clear the park of blackberry bushes and other unwanted vegetation and woody
debris. Trees were trimmed and removed
as needed in Jim Bundy Memorial and Datis Parks. A picnic table was added to Harvard Park. The first section of land along McBride
Creek was acquired for trail system development in accordance with City Council
Goal No. 3 and the City’s Park Master Plan. Park System Development Charges
were updated to account for inflation.