County Hosts Forum on SK Park’s Future

Do you or a group that you’re with have a vested interest in the future of South Kitsap Community Parks? South Kitsap Commissioner Jan Angel and the Kitsap County Parks & Recreation Department want to hear your ideas at a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at the county’s administration building, 614 Division St., Port Orchard.

The meeting is the first of five set to chart a course for the park, which operated for nearly 30 years as an independent entity until it was acquired by the county this spring.

Angel has said she wants an “open public process,” with all comers welcome, and no particular preference given to groups or individuals who have historically been stakeholders in the park. A tabula rasa, so to speak.

Parks district officials have indicated they will continue to allow groups like Kitsap Live Steamers and the horseshoe folks to occupy the park, but in terms of planning for the park, having a hand-picked group of decision-makers is not in the cards.

Angel, herself, has done a bit of sketching on SK Park’s blank slate. She has been meeting with Karcher Creek Sewer District for an environmental learning center that she would like to see at the park.

The county has committed funding to the park over the next six years for for improvements, including ball fields, but the county’s budget is hurting, and county parks officials are open to stewardship groups stepping forward to play a role in park upkeep and programs.

In the past, there has been a lack of harmony among parties passionately committed to the park. It will be interesting to see who shows up to sketch in their ideas and how well they’ll be able to get along.

Here’s the official announcement.

PORT ORCHARD
Public Invited to a Forum on SK Community Park
South Kitsap Commissioner Jan Angel and the Kitsap County Parks and Recreation Department invite the public to a forum on South Kitsap Community Park 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Kitsap County Administration Building, 614 Division St., Port Orchard.
The topic is ”Gathering Ideas for Our Park.” This is the first of five public meetings on the future of the park, at the corner of Jackson and Lund avenues in South Kitsap,
In April the county came to an agreement with the South Kitsap Parks & Recreation District for the transfer of ownership of the park to the county. The parks district board of commissioners had tried for decades to maintain the park as an independent entity, but eventually succumbed to a lack of ongoing funding. The transfer was finalized in July.
Angel has said that she wants to entertain ideas from the public on how the park should be used, and she has an idea of her own for an environmental learning center at the park, operated in cooperation with Karcher Creek Sewer District. Angel said she has had conversations with sewer district officials about the idea.
Chip Faver, head Parks and Recreation Department, has said the county is open to having groups take on stewardship roles at county parks, include South Kitsap Community Park.
For more information please contact Marsha Richards, office specialist, at (360) 337-5350 or mrichard@co.kitsap.wa.us.