Survey: Playground equipment top priority for park improvements

Locals have a lot of ideas for their North Dam Park, a Star survey reveals, including lights, updated playground equipment, a dog park, outdoor movies, and more. 

Last week, The Star reported on a meeting between Coulee Area Park and Recreation District commissioners in which they discussed areas for improvement at the park, and the need to look into grants to help pay for those improvements.

The Star then shared a survey online asking readers their opinions on the commissioners' ideas, and to share their own ideas for how to improve the park, with the survey receiving 97 responses total through Monday. 

Respondents were asked to rank potential improvements, including restored tennis courts, lighted ballfields and tennis courts, upgraded playground equipment, and flowers decorating the park.

Playground equipment was the highest priority for respondents, with 44 ranking it as the improvement they would most like to see, and 27 ranking it second.

"As a mother with two young children, I would really like to see a better park playground for kids," one respondent wrote in the comment section of the survey. "What we have there now is awful."

Lighted ball fields and tennis courts were another popular idea, ranked as the most desired improvement for 32 respondents, with 30 ranking it as their second-highest priority. 

Refinished tennis courts are the most desired change for 12 respondents, and six would most like to see flowers in the park. 

Asked what other improvements or features they'd like to see at the park, 74 respondents weighed in.

One idea mentioned seven times was to install a splash pad, something that was going to be in Electric City's Ice Age Park before that project was stopped. 

"Since Electric City passed on the concept, North Dam makes sense for an even better location," one person said about the splash pad idea. "They are much better than the lakes/beaches for younger kids, excellent for the 'fringe' warm months, and a great attraction for neighboring community families as well as people merely passing through and looking for a fun, quick stop."

Multiple other respondents listed water-related ideas, including indoor pools, fountains, and a pond. 

Other athletic and activity options were mentioned in many responses, with people suggesting racquetball courts, pickleball courts, converting one of the two tennis courts to a volleyball court, an all-purpose field, a paintball area, a bicycle course, an improved skate park, batting cages, and an improved basketball court. 

"I've lived here over 10 years and have never seen anyone use the tennis courts except to ride bikes or host a beer garden," one response reads. "Basketball courts would be utilized all the time!! The one little concrete slab in the grass is not a basketball court!"

"It would be nice to have a sports complex kind of like the Okanogan Sports Complex that has multiple fields," another response reads. "This would help with the youth sports and adult softball league." 

"Our community could stand for more recreational activities for adults as well as kids," another respondent said.

Walking around the park is another aspect people feel could be improved with suggestions including paving more areas, lighting more areas, adding mile markers and exercise stations, and having more signage with maps and information.

A few commenters suggested adding a dog park, as well. 

A couple of people suggested having a place to screen movies, and to have a stage for bands to play, which could be a part of community events.

Typical day-use improvements were also suggested, such as more seating and picnic areas, as well as to simply add more bathrooms or to keep the current ones open regularly.

More comments and questions regarding North Dam Park and the Coulee Area Park and Recreation District can be emailed to info@couleeparks.com or call Chairman Kevin Portch at 509-631-0139.

CAPRD meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. with meetings lately taking place on Zoom.