Elmer City to survey for park planning

Elmer City residents should look in their utility bills for a link to a survey that is the first step in the town's planning efforts toward coming up with a plan to improve its park or outdoor recreation offerings, and apply for funds to make them real.

In addition to the online link, paper copies will be available at the town hall.

"It is important that the Town receive a high return rate in order to accurately assess community desires," a press release on the subject states. "It is fine for multiple members of a household to complete the survey and it is not limited to residents of Elmer City."

The town was awarded the largest planning grant in Okanogan County last February from the state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) to hire consultants to do the planning for its own "Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan." It has retained the services of Highland Associates, of Okanogan, and Gray & Osborn Engineers, of Yakima, to lead and assist in the planning effort.

The RCO recreation access planning grant was for $68,350.

The money will pay for developing a "Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan," which will enable the town to seek further grants for projects identified in the plan.

Those could include a goal identified in the town's letter of interest to RCO a year ago that mentioned a desire for "construction ready design documents for the basketball court and park facilities."

An idea for a small RV park that could bring revenue to the town has been mentioned at town council meetings, and a screenshot of a Google Earth map submitted with the grant application is labeled "Elmer City RV & Park map." It shows the city park across the street from the town hall, the lot just uphill from town hall, and a triangular park where Easter egg hunts are held all outlined in blue.

A project update filed with RCO after an initial consultation with the Colville Tribes states that a cultural resources survey will be required for areas not previously surveyed.

The town's plan will include background and demographic data; definition of planning and service areas; an inventory of its existing park, recreation and open space facilities and opportunities within the community and service areas; a demand-and-needs analysis; goals, policies, and objectives; an action plan; and a capital improvements plan, the press release states.

"As the planning effort progresses the Town will hold two public workshops to provide the public opportunities to learn about the planning effort, help determine goals, policies and objectives and prioritize projects," it states.

Anyone who would like to be notified of upcoming workshops, receive a copy of the draft plan or otherwise be kept informed on the planning effort, should email Kelly Ross, Clerk/Treasurer at elmercityclerk@live.com, atten: Park Plan email list.