Crown Park remodel makes progress

Construction is still in full swing at Camas’ historic Crown Park, but city leaders say the end of the extensive, $6.3 million park remodeling project is finally in sight. “We hope to have all of the improvements on the east side done by the end of May and, hopefully, can open the playground and sport court in July,” interim Camas Parks and Recreation Director Bryan Rachal told the Camas Parks Commission on April 23. Rachal said the city expects the park’s new splash pad will be installed and ready for testing in December, but won’t open to the public until the spring of 2026. The interim parks director presented an updated timeline to the commission members last week but warned the dates “are subject to change due to different factors that could occur.” Once completed, the 7.3-acre, 91-year-old park at 120 N.E. 17th Ave. will boast several new amenities, including an interactive splash pad near the site of the former public swimming pool city leaders decommissioned and removed in early 2019; a sport court, permanent restrooms, an all-abilities inclusive playground; and an open lawn space for community gatherings. The remodel also includes irrigation system upgrades, a stormwater management garden, improved access to Scout Hall and more accessible pathways that meet the requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. The Crown Park construction work kicked off in June 2024 and was expected to last a little more than one year. The city saved money by purchasing two restrooms, one for Crown Park and another for the newly remodeled South Lacamas Creek Trail entrance off Northeast Third Avenue. But delivery delays have caused city staff and construction teams to rethink the opening of the Crown Park splash pad, which needs the restroom structure to house its mechanical elements. Rachal said last week that the Crown Park restroom should be delivered by August. The updated construction timeline shows the extent of the remodel work construction crews will tackle over the next three months, including finishing work on the sport court, pouring concrete paths, installing benches and picnic tables, preparing the splash pad site, and moving a memorial donated by Georgia-Pacific to honor World War II veterans who worked at the Camas paper mill to the park’s southwest entrance. Camas officials approved the Crown Park master plan in 2018 but delayed park improvements during the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, about 1,300 community members weighed in on the park’s inclusive playground — with the vast majority (68 percent) calling for a natural theme — and the interactive splash pad. More than 1,000 community members also responded to a 2022 sport court survey, with 51 percent of respondents calling for a shared, multisport court. In 2024, city leaders nixed plans to include pickleball markings on the sport court after several Crown Park neighbors complained about the noise coming from the existing pickleball-tennis courts on the northwest corner of the park. Rachal told commission members last week that the ADA-compliant sidewalks and crosswalk ramps surrounding the park are finished and that city leaders hope the July opening of the playground and sport court will remain within reach. “I would really like to push for that,” parks commission President Ellen Burton said. “We made that commitment to the community, and I’d really like to honor that.” Kelly Moyer: 360-735-4674; kelly.moyer@columbian.com

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