Draft 2022 Camas PROS Plan
Learn about the draft Camas Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces (PROS) Plan through this online open house.
The City of Camas Parks, Recreation & Open Space Plan (PROS Plan) is an update to the 2014 Parks, Recreation & Open Space Plan that builds on the previously completed planning work and incorporates the feedback from an extensive community engagement process conducted throughout 2021. This Plan creates a vision for an thriving, inclusive, and interconnected system of parks, trails, and open space that promotes recreation, health, environmental conservation, and fiscal responsibility as integral elements of a thriving, livable Camas.
The PROS Plan serves as a blueprint for the growth, enhancement, and management of the City of Camas park and recreation system and assists in guiding decisions related to planning, acquiring, developing, and maintaining parks, open space, trails, and recreational facilities. This Plan also identifies priorities for recreation programs and special events.
The 2022 PROS Plan provides updated system inventories, demographic conditions, needs analyses, and a comprehensive capital project list. The Plan identifies parks and recreation goals and establishes a long range plan for the Camas park and recreation system, including action items and strategies for implementation over the next six to 10 years. The recommendations in this Plan are based on community input, evaluations of the existing park system, operating conditions, and fiscal considerations.
The PROS Plan is part of the City’s broader Comprehensive Plan and is consistent with the guidelines established by the Growth Management Act. The PROS Plan, updated approximately every six years, allows Camas to remain current with community interests and retain eligibility for state grants through the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), which administers various grant programs for outdoor recreation and conservation efforts.
Use this online open house to learn about the draft Camas PROS Plan, what's next, and to let us know what you think. This online open house will be available until February 4, 2022.
What we heard
Last year, the City of Camas asked community members what their priorities are for parks, recreation, and open spaces in Camas. People provided their feedback through a community survey (which received over 1,400 responses), an on-line forum in Engage Camas, community tabling events, an online open house, and interviews with focus groups and stakeholders. Below is a summary of what we heard.
Trails & Paths
- Focus on trail connectivity (connecting trail gaps)
- Enhance linkages between neighborhoods and downtown
- Develop major trail corridors, including North Shore, Mill Ditch, Lewis & Clark Regional Trails
- Improve signage and wayfinding
Parks & Open Space
- Park and open space maintenance a key priority
- Renovate existing parks and develop undeveloped sites
- Expand recreation options (i.e., splash pad, bike skills/pump track, pickleball, etc.)
- Upgrade existing sport fields through improved drainage, turf and lighting; Expand access to existing fields
Recreation & Events
- Expand after-school programs or summer camps for children
- Expand outdoor adventure summer and environmental education
- Expand youth sports programs / camps during school breaks
User Convenience & Support Amenities
- Upgrade & expand access to restrooms and parking
- Improve wayfinding, maps and communications
Top priorities and projects
This feedback helped shape the goals and priorities in the draft 2022 PROS Plan and helped us identify our top three priorities:
- Maintain what we have
- Fill gaps and improve trail connections
- Develop and improve existing parks
Key project recommendations
The recommendations in the draft PROS Plan are based on community input, evaluations of the existing park system, operating conditions, and fiscal considerations. The following project recommendations listed under each priority are not listed in any particular order.
Maintain what we have
- Prepare an open space management plan to guide the care, maintenance and stewardship of City-owned open space
- Prepare an urban forestry management plan to assess the coverage of the urban forest and define maintenance strategies
- Improve shoreline and water access
- Assess sport fields to plan for drainage improvements and field improvements, such as turf and lighting
- Upgrade and enhance the existing concrete skatepark
- Increase use capacity by assessing and converting existing courts to multi-sport courts
- Explore pilot programs to broaden the range of youth recreation program choices
- Maintain the website for easy-to-access park system maps, trail maps and an up-to-date listing of park sites and amenities
Fill gaps and improve trail connections
- Acquire easements and corridors to create comprehensive linkages for Camas’ trail system
- Develop larger trails desired by the community, such as North shores of Lacamas Lake, Mill Ditch, Lewis & Clark Regional Trail
- Acquire strategically-located sites for future parks
- Coordinate with residential developers to include public parks in new subdivisions
Develop and improve existing parks
- Install at least one spray park / splash pads
- Develop fully-accessible, all-inclusive play areas
- Improve existing parks to offer universal accessibility of park features and grounds
- Partner for the installation of community gardens
- Plan for a pump track and connecting flow track
- Prepare site master plan for Ash Creek Park
- Prepare site master plan for Green Mountain
- Prepare site master plan for upper shelf of Ostensen Canyon Park
- Coordinate with the City of Washougal on off-leash dog park planning
- Explore options and partnerships for access to additional flexible indoor recreation space to accommodate programs, classes and fitness
- Pursue options for mountain bike trails at Green Mountain
Learn more about the goals and recommended projects in the Draft 2022 Camas PROS Plan .
Implementing the plan
It can take several months or years to implement a project once it's been proposed.
Process diagram of how projects in the PROS Plan go from recommendations to being built.
Once the PROS Plan is adopted by City Council, the Parks & Recreation Commission will help identify projects recommended in the Plan that the community needs the most.
Then, funding for individual projects must be identified and approved by City Council as part of the budget process.
Once funding has been identified, we'll begin planning, design and permitting - which may take several years, especially if the project is in or near water or other sensitive areas. During the planning phase (which includes Master Planning), there will be opportunities for the public to help develop the vision and concepts for the project.
After planning takes place and permits are secured, bidding and construction can begin. This may take one or two years to complete, depending on how large the project is.
Tell us what you think
Please share your thoughts about the draft PROS Plan below. You can view the draft 2022 PROS Plan here .
Please note that this open house is closed and is not accepting new comments.
What's next
Feedback from this online open house will be shared with Parks and Recreation Staff and Camas City Council. City Council will meet on February 22nd for a workshop, with the intention to finalize and adopt the plan on March 7th.
