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Parks Plan Drafts Improvements, New Parks for City

Staff from Cameron McCarthy, at left, present recommendations for the Parks Master Plan to the Park and Tree Committee on May 15. Photos by Sarah Brown

As the City of Sweet Home works through the development of an updated Parks System Master Plan, the vision for how city parks could look in the next 20 years begins to emerge.

Elizabeth Auvil and Colin McArthur, of Cameron McCarthy Landscape Architecture & Planning, presented updates and draft recommendations for the Sweet Home Park System Master Plan to the Park and Tree Committee on May 15.

The current parks master plan was developed in 2014. Community and Economic Development Director Blair Larsen explained the 2014 plan had some “shortcomings” in that it was missing crucial standards such as what certain parks should have, and also the city wanted more public support and input on park improvements.

This new, grant-funded plan will include those standards, such as how close a park should be to residents, as well as a plan for future park acquisitions that will mostly support city growth on the eastern side.

Children play at Ashwood Park, where restrooms and lighting are labeled as “high priority” in the draft of the new parks master plan.

The move to update the parks master plan began in May 2023, at which time the firm researched current park conditions in the city and began six months of community outreach to determine what residents wanted for park opportunities in the coming years.

McCarthy staff and the committee then developed goals and recommendations for the master plan. Currently in the process, the firm and committee are reviewing a draft of the master plan that was created based on goals and needs in the city, and will move forward to finalize the plan and recommend adoption by City Council.

A needs assessment based on community feedback determined the following goals: develop and improve facilities, increase the level of service and connectivity, improve physical accessibility within the parks, expand resources for improvements and maintenance, and expand park services.

“We have identified recommended projects for the majority of parks in the system,” Auvil said. “Most of the parks have at least one high-level recommendation.”

Hidden behind a boulder wall off Highway 20 sits Fountain Hill and Clover Park.

The high level (priority) recommendations are as follows: Ashbrook – install restrooms, lighting and security cameras; Clover Memorial – implement a closure at 1st Street and Santiam Highway, install a traffic calming design, and improve visibility of Fountain Hill; Hobart Natural Area – develop a natural area management plan; Northside – install a river access trail and fishing/viewing platform; Sankey – construct an amphitheater; Strawberry – improve parking, install loop trail.

Some discussion was had among the committee regarding the street closure and “traffic calming design” at Clover Park. Auvil explained that traffic calming designs come in different forms, including ideas such as planters or barriers, or visually appealing elements that jut into the roadway.

“Essentially it limits car traffic or helps the driver’s perception of a street to help them drive slower,” she said.

The Traffic Safety Committee and an ongoing ODOT Transportation System Plan are currently focusing on what to do about concerns at the 1st Avenue/Highway 20 intersection, Larsen said.

“Right now 1st Avenue is essentially used as a shortcut between Highway 20 and Highway 228,” he said. “It’s a street that’s not designed for that level of traffic, but it’s heavily used for that kind of traffic, so the question is ‘What do you do about it?’”

Larsen emphasized nothing has been decided yet, but he believes some sort of change will likely “shake out,” including perhaps either making it a one-way street or allowing only right turns onto and off of 1st Avenue. Whatever change occurs, he believes it could benefit Clover Park with more parking or decrease the level of traffic in that neighborhood.

“I just know that there’s been a number of complaints over the years from the neighborhood, and it is an issue where you have a lot of traffic there that’s not really appropriate for that type of street,” he said.

Trees and a well-manicured grassy area provide a potential location for a new neighborhood park next to City Hall.

There will be an advisory committee meeting regarding the Transportation System Plan at 4 p.m. on Monday, June 3, followed by an “open house” discussion regarding the plan that same day at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

The landscaping firm also provided medium and low priority recommendations for each park, with a planned completion by 2045. Throughout the city parks, they included focuses on parking, paving, playgrounds, trails, landscaping and drainage, security cameras, a splash pad and pump track, more restrooms and lighting.

Committee member Nancy Patton said she believes there has already been discussion about removing the splash pad plan due to liability issues and other concerns. During discussion surrounding this question, Larsen briefly mentioned an idea to renovate the parking lot across from the library to create head-in parking, a better design for Farmers’ Market, and perhaps even a splash pad. He also mentioned the city has put out a Request for Interest regarding a private partnership for development at Quarry Park.

Moving on, the McCarthy firm also recommended three new parks located at City Hall, 42nd and Osage, and the quarry property. The firm recommended relocating the Dahlenburg covered bridge at Sankey Park to the City Hall park, as well as installing a dog park and pedestrian path at the City Hall park.

The 230 acres at Quarry Park is an area of particular interest for a variety of public developments.

McCarthy also recommended the city conduct a feasibility study for an outdoor event center (presumably at Quarry Park) and develop a Trail System Plan to help reach the goal for improved connectivity between parks. They would also like to see the city try to possess six acres of park for every 1,000 residents by 2043, suggesting the city develop three to four new parks in the next 20 years.

“It’s awesome to see this quality of plan being put together,” committee member Bob Dalton said.

McArthur said the firm will develop cost estimates for all of the projects and provide strategies to help the city acquire more park land and fund the projects, which might include financial resources through grants, partnerships and private support.

“We hope this plan does provide leverage for the city to go out and get more funding for projects,” McArthur said.

Committee member Lena Tucker noted having the master plan helps guide the city in decision-making when it comes to the budget. Larsen added that it should be a constantly-referred-to document, keeping in mind it was developed based on input from the community.

“This is certainly aspirational,” Larsen said. “Philosophically I’m very much in favor of aspirational plans, but you need to make sure there’s components within them that are feasible so you can pace yourself as you seek to get there.”

Natural habitat grows wild in the Hobart Nature Reserve at the south end of 35th Avenue.

City Council and the committee will hold a work session on May 28 to review the draft master plan. While the public will not have opportunity to speak at the work session, they are welcome to attend and submit their input outside of the meeting. According to Larsen, after the work session a final draft will be developed and made available to the public. Public comment will then be solicited at the City Council meeting wherein the plan is anticipated to be formally adopted. Currently the draft plan can be found online at https://bit.ly/3yqBxxK.

“This is a goal of where we want to end up, and certainly there’s a number of things that definitely can be accomplished during that period,” Larsen said.

In other business at the Park and Tree meeting, the committee:

  • Reviewed plans for Cut the Gut at Sankey Park;
  • Heard a report about volunteers pulling ivy from Sankey Park;
  • Reported they believed the Arbor Day / Kids to Park event was a success, noting they’d like to continue it in the coming years at different parks;
  • Heard from Larsen about the meeting held for the 42nd/Osage park.
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