Thurston County Comprehensive Parks Plan Update 2001

Mission

It is the mission of the Thurston County Parks and Recreation Department to 1) be the steward of regional parks, open space, and natural preserves, trails and waterways for use and enjoyment for recreational and leisure activities and 2) to provide recreational resources, programs and services throughout the county and promote the preservation and interpretation of historical, cultural, and natural resources.

The Parks Plan

The Thurston County Comprehensive Parks, Recreation, Trails and Preserves Plan is the policy plan adopted by the Board of Thurston County Commissioners for the purpose of defining present and future recreation needs for Thurston County residents.  It sets in motion the action plan for achieving the short and long-term goals of Thurston County in meeting the defined recreation and park needs of its citizens, establishes priorities for parkland acquisition and development, facility management, coordination with other public and private entities, and the provision of recreation services.

Public Participation

Every five years the Comprehensive Parks Plan is updated to insure that it still reflects the needs and interests of Thurston County citizens.  Public Surveys are one tool used in the update process to insure the public's role in setting current and future community requirements for parks and recreation services and opportunities. The Parks and Recreation Department appreciates your willingness to participate in this important process.  The survey should take about 15 minutes.  Your input is valuable.  Please submit your survey to the Parks Department by October 1, 2001. Thank you.

Recreational Opportunities

The Thurston County Parks system currently includes 25 sites accounting for a total of 2,773 acres.  The county focuses on providing parks, trails, and preserves that contain special features intended to be used by all residents of the county, inside and outside of city limits.  Therefore, the county does not provide small neighborhood or community parks of the kind typically found inside cities.  The current park system includes: There are 9 active park sites (454 acres) currently undeveloped 4 of the 13 active park sites are currently partially or fully developed (Burfoot, Kenneydell, Frye Cove, and the ORV Sports Park). 1,157 acres in preserve and historic sites Glacial Heritage Preserve accounts for 1,020 of these acres. 825 acres of regional trails (42.5 miles) 3 regional trails: Chehalis Western (15.5 miles), Yelm-Tenino (14.5 miles), and Gate-Belmore (12.5 miles). 28 miles of the system will be developed by Spring of 2002: 14 miles of the Chehalis Western from Lacey to Yelm-Tenino Trail. 14 miles of the Yelm-Tenino connecting Yelm, Rainier, and Tenino.

Survey Questions

**PLEASE NOTICE:  Questions #1, #6,#10,#12, and  #13 must be completed for your results to be recorded.

**1. Please provide your residence ZIP code:        2.  Number of people in your immediate household? (Check one)      1-2     3-5   More than 5        3.  Number of people in your immediate household between the following ages?      0-10  11-18  19-30  31-45  Over 45       4. When you plan to visit a regional park, what is the maximum preferred travel time required to reach your destination?     Less than 30 minutes   Less than 1 hour   Less than 2 hours   Doesn't matter       5.  Listed below are the developed County parks/trails.  Please indicate how often in the past year you have visited each of the facilities.   Burfoot Park Frye Cove Park Kenneydell Park Chehalis Western Trail Yelm-Tenino Trail Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Park   **6. The Parks and Recreation Department's mission to date has been to acquire and develop parks and recreation facilities generally located outside the urban areas and  to provide for the regional park and recreation needs of the county as a whole.  Do you agree with this mission?      Yes  No       7. In referring to the opening paragraph, do you believe that the County has acquired enough park property to meet the needs of Thurston County citizens now and in the future?      Yes  No            8. What factors do you believe to be most important in defining the need for land acquisition? (Please list in in order by priority 1-8, with 8 being highest priority and 1 being lowest priority.)   Fund Availability Public Demand Revenue Potential Land Availability Population Growth Location Environmental Factors Regional Natural Significance Other:         9. Funding sources for parks and recreation facility acquisition and development are limited.  Listed below are some sources available.  Please prioritize these options as you believe the County should utilize them with 5 as a high priority, 3 as a medium priority, and 1 as a low priority.   County General Fund Conservation Futures Tax Grants Donations Bond Issue Impact Fees Park Entrance Fees Concession Contracts Construct Theme/Revenue Parks Park Use Fees Other:   **10. Given the fact that Thurston County has limited financial resources, please prioritize the following list of park and recreation facilities, as you believe the County should prioritize their development. (Please prioritize your choices as follows: 5 is high; 3 is medium; and 1 is low.) Each Box must contain a number for form to be submitted.   Multi-Purpose Trails Bicycle Facilities Athletic Fields Public Golf Courses Picnic Facilities Group Picnic Facilities Camping Facilities Freshwater Fishing Facilities Freshwater Swimming ADA Accessible Parks Marine Boat Launches Marine Boating Facilities Theme Park Facilities Equestrian Facilities Children's Playgrounds Family Recreation Center Swimming Pool (Indoor) Roller Skating Rink Conference/Meeting Facilities Residential Camp Facilities Ice Skating Rink Court Facilities (Tennis, Basketball) Off-Road Vehicle Facilities Interpretive Centers Other:        11. Limited resources require county officials to make choices about the parks and recreation facilities the County provides.  Please prioritize the following list as you believe the County should prioritize its acquisitions.  (Please prioritize your choices as follows: 5 is high; 3 is medium; and 1 is low.)   Regional Multi-Use Parks Regional Open Space/Preserves Special Use parks Regional Natural Significance Trails Water Access Parks Historic Areas Sports Parks Wetlands Other: **12. Would you support a general bond measure to pay for park acquisition and development, trail development, acquire natural areas and construct other recreation facilities?   Would support it. Would support it depending on the amount. Would support it depending on the facilities proposed. Would not support it.   **13. If you would favor a general bond measure, how much would you be willing to support?   Up to $50 annually Up to $150 annually Up to $100 annually Up to $200 annually      14. Are there specific properties or natural features in Thurston County that you feel should be acquired and preserved by the County for park and recreation purposes? Yes  No      If yes, please name them:      15. The following programs and services are offered or sponsored by the Thurston County Parks and Recreation Department or co-sponsored with other community organizations/municipalities throughout the year.  (Please rank each program/service in terms of importance to your household with a 5 for high importance, a 3 for medium importance, or a 1 for low importance.)   Youth Sports Programs Adult Sports Programs Youth Programs/Classes Adult Enrichment Programs Day Camps School Break Programs Teen Programs Trips/Tours for Children Special Events/Festivals (i.e., Lakefair Kids Day, Swede Day Festival, Tenino Halloween Festival, Hershey's Track & Field  Special Recreation Programs (Recreation opportunities for persons with disabilities)  Quarterly Programs (i.e., gymnastics, arts & crafts, aerobics, educational, etc.)      16. Please list below any recreation programs or services you would like to see which are currently not available through the Department:           17. Additional comments/suggestions:

THURSTON COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT 2617-A 12th COURT SW OLYMPIA, WA  98502 Phone (360) 786-5595   Fax (360) 754-2956  TDD (360) 754-2933