Hockinson Meadows Community Park
Park planning & background information
The long-term master plan for Hockinson Meadows Community Park was developed in 2004-05 with extensive public input. It was approved by the Board of Clark County Commissioners in December 2005. It includes the following park features:
- 16 Little League fields
- Eight soccer fields
- Playground area
- Picnic areas and picnic shelters
- Extreme sports area (skateboarding/BMX bicycling)
- Multi-use trails
- Basketball and tennis courts
- Off-leash dog park area
- Restrooms
- Parking lots
- Interpretive areas and vistas
- Caretaker facility
- Stormwater treatment facilities
- Wetland mitigation and enhancement
The master plan represents the overall park program, and is not meant to be a construction blueprint. Construction of the master plan elements will be done in phases as funding becomes available.
Phase 1 Development Plan (2008-09)
The park elements that were built as part of Phase 1 include:
- Eight sports fields
- Playground area with equipment
- Walking, jogging and biking path
- Picnic areas including one covered picnic shelter
- Enclosed portable restroom facilities
- Parking lots
- Preserved and enhanced wildlife habitat areas
- Stormwater treatment facilities
- Wetland mitigation and enhancement
- Ditch crossing
- Landscaping
- Benches, garbage cans and signage
- Entrance from NE 172nd Avenue just north of NE 109th Street
In addition, NE 172nd Avenue was widened around the park entrance to provide for a left turn lane and wider shoulders.
Public Outreach and Involvement
Developing the master plan for Hockinson Meadows Community Park was a complex process. The public involvement effort was extensive due to the size of the park and the large number of stakeholders involved in the project. Between December 2004 and September 2005, Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation hosted four public meetings and multiple one-on-one stakeholder meetings. In addition, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission hosted a public hearing in July 2005, and the Board of Clark County Commissioners hosted another public hearing in September 2005 before approving the master plan as part of their consent agenda in December 2005.
In 2007, the county invited neighbors to provide input on the types of play experiences they thought were most important to include in the new playground at this park. Prior to construction starting, a letter explaining what to expect was mailed out to neighbors.
July 2008 construction start letter (322 kb PDF)
October 2007 Play Experiences Public Comment Process:
September 2007 Fact Sheet (76 kb PDF)
July 28, 2005 Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission Public Hearing:
July 14, 2005 Public Meeting:
March 2005 Public Meeting:
December 2004 Public Meeting:
February 2005 Public Meeting:
Environmental Benefits
More than half of this park property consists of wetland or wetland buffer areas.
In order to minimize impacts to wetlands, park improvements have been restricted to the non-wetland upland areas of the property. Any impacts to wetlands will require mitigation through creation of new or enhancement of existing wetlands. The regulatory criteria that will be applied to this project are based on the following sequence:
- Avoid impacts to wetlands (utilize dry uplands before disturbing wetlands)
- Minimize impacts to wetlands (limit impacts based on quantity and quality criteria)
- Mitigate for impacts (restore existing or create new wetlands on site for any impact)
In addition, the phased development projects will enhance the existing habitat by restoring deforested areas; modifying drainage ditches to facilitate wildlife crossings; and increasing landscaping and buffer plantings throughout the site. Natural interpretive and educational elements may also be included in the park development including signs, sculptures, maps, viewing blinds, overlooks and boardwalks.
Project Funding
Funding to design and construct Phase 1 of this project came from park impact fees, which are paid whenever homes are built; real estate excise taxes, which are paid whenever a property is sold; and a state grant.
Maintenance of the park after it’s built is paid for with property taxes collected in the unincorporated urban area of the county through the Greater Clark Parks District, which was approved by voters in 2005.
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