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04 - 20241023 Chapter 4 - Parks _ PC1Chapter 4. Parks and Recreation 4.1 Introduction The Parks and Recreation Element of the 2024 Comprehensive Plan provides direction and guidance to improve and maintain the City's existing parks and recreation facilities while also creating new parks and recreation facilities to meet the needs of a growing population. This Element has been developed as a collaborative effort with input from members of the public, elected and appointed officials, and Planning Department staff. The Element was updated to reflect current (2024) data, facilities, and Parks Vision Parks and open space are essential components in the fabric of a vibrant city. Our safe and well -maintained parks and recreation facilities knit the community together, stabilize and enhance residential neighborhoods, and add vitality to the downtown core while encouraging and supporting increased shoreline access and recreation. population, with the planning horizon projected to 2044. To supplement this Element, the 2022 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan is adopted by reference in Appendix D. This Element serves as a guide for general parks and recreation improvements while the PROS Plan identifies specific facilities and includes more detailed plans for maintenance, improvements, and/or additions. The City's regulatory and non -regulatory decision making, including budget decisions related to parks, should be consistent with both the Parks and Recreation Element and the PROS Plan. Used in this way, comprehensive parks planning minimizes conflict in decision -making and promotes coordination among programs and regulations to best serve the whole Port Orchard community. Over the next 20 years, the City of Port Orchard plans to focus on maintaining existing parks and recreation facilities while also expanding to meet future needs. These efforts will be funded by annual budget expenditures, grants, impact fees, and other financial means available to the City. Although the emphasis is to maintain the existing park system, the number of parks and trails will need to increase to meet the demands of the new population. Based on the levels of service identified in the City's PROS Plan, over the next 20 years the City should acquire additional land for new parks, recreation facilities, and open space opportunities consistent with the PROS Plan. 4.2 Public Involvement Throughout the development of and subsequent updates to the Comprehensive Plan and PROS Plan, the public has been offered several opportunities to provide input and feedback through surveys and public meetings/workshops. Public input and feedback assist the City to build a better understanding of the community's needs and desires, which is used to inform updates to the Plans. As part of the public engagement for the development of the 2022 PROS Plan, a survey was distributed to households within the Port Orchard zip codes. Survey results indicated high levels of satisfaction in the existing park and trail levels of service. The survey results also revealed Waterfront Park and McCormick Village Park as the most frequently used. More details on public engagement efforts and input gathered is available in the PROS Plan in Appendix D. Port Orchard Comprehensive Plan DRAFT: October 2024 4.3 Parks Vision — Connections The City of Port Orchard 2024 Comprehensive Plan identifies designated Centers. The vision of the Parks Element and PROS Plan is to ensure that every center contains and/or is connected to a park by safe non - motorized routes. Trails and open spaces were identified as a top outdoor facility (with ADA accessibility) to be added to Port Orchard in the 2022 Parks Survey. Connecting local centers and parks with safe non -motorized routes, including those in public right-of-way such as bike lanes and walking shoulders, will increase access to active transportation for all residents and benefit the entire community. The Nonmotorized section of the Transportation Element provides further detail on existing and future trails. Figure 4-1. Parks and Open Space Map F � _ /�' 1 � 4 ] . iP' in S Jfz Port Orchard parks and open spaces Qty Urnils Urban Q—th Ar 4.4 Existing Conditions 1 Bethel South Property 2 Bravo Terrace Open Space 3 Central/Clayton Park 4 OeKalb Pier 5 Etta Tumer Park 6 Givens Field/Active Club 7 Lundberg Park 8 M,CO ,rk Viliage Park 9 Mitchell Park 10 Old Clifton Wetlands 11 Paul Powers Jr Park 12 Rockwell Park 13 Seattle Avenue Open Space 14 van zee Park 15 Windfall Place Tot Lot 16 say Street Pedestrian Path Port Orchard provides a range of parks, recreation, open space, and ecosystem services by protecting native wildlife habitat, restoring and preserving natural systems, enjoying majestic marine and mountain views, and ensuring new development enhances the natural environment. The existing City parks system is supplemented by South Kitsap School District and the Kitsap County Parks and Recreation Department facilities. An inventory of current parks facilities and maps showing park facility locations is included in the PROS Plan in Appendix D. Port Orchard Comprehensive Plan DRAFT: October 2024 4.5 Future Planned Parks Facilities The PROS Plan provides a long-term vision and goals and objectives for the entire parks and open space network, including trail systems, recreation facilities, historic and cultural resources, and specific City - owned properties. The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) allocates capital facility funds to maintain and acquire new parks and recreation facilities in the City and implements the goals and objectives of the PROS Plan. Additional potential sources of revenue to implement the PROS Plan goals and objectives include Port Orchard Real Estate Excise Taxes (REET) and grant applications to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO). 4.6 Challenges and Opportunities Challenges The City of Port Orchard faces a rapidly growing population. To provide adequate parks, trails, and recreation opportunities for the growing community, the City has developed new public park facilities in collaboration with McCormick Communities (St. Andrews Park and McCormick West pedestrian pathways). The City is also working toward developing a community event center with surrounding plazas, remodeling the Givens Park sports courts, building a new regional stormwater park southeast of Sherman Avenue, and expanding Ruby Creek Regional Park and McCormick Village Park. As the City's population and parks facilities grow, limited City resources, including staff time are strained. In the future, the City may wish to consider creating a Parks Department. The relative lack of safe non -motorized transportation infrastructure (i.e.; walking and bicycling paths) within the City is identified as a significant issue in the Non -Motorized section of the Transportation Element. It is also a challenge for parks and recreation planning, as one of the City's identified goals is to create non -motorized trail and path connections between local centers, parks, the waterfront, and other areas where people live and work within the community. The 2022 PROS Plan analyzed general walkability to recreation facilities based on existing City, Kitsap County, Port of Bremerton, South Kitsap School District, and Homeowner Association (HOA) facilities. The results indicate that there are significant amounts of developed areas within the City and UGA that lack effective park and recreation services, including but not limited to the following: • Port Orchard Centers — including portions of the designated centers in the Comprehensive Plan. • Undeveloped lands — in the northwest portion of the City, near Ross Point, • McCormick Woods — in the northeast portion of the development, where passive open spaces are provided, but not active uses such as playgrounds, sports courts, or other park amenities. Opportunities The City of Port Orchard benefits from its proximity to centers for recreation, open space, and sports fields outside City limits, and/or held by other agencies or groups, such as the South Kitsap School District and Kitsap County. Creating and strengthening regional partnerships will enable Port Orchard and its partners to provide higher quality facilities and more opportunities to access recreation opportunities than would be possible alone. The City of Port Orchard is already working with Kitsap County and other nearby jurisdictions to expand a regional watertrail including shoreline access with launch points, rest areas, and parking facilities. As identified in the Non -Motorized Transportation Plan, additional improvements to the City's non - motorized transportation network should be a prioritized to provide residents and visitors wider access to opportunities to enjoy a safe, interconnected system of parks and trails. The 2022 PROS Plan was approved by the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), meaning the City is Port Orchard Comprehensive Plan DRAFT: October 2024 eligible for recreation and conservation grant programs through the RCO, which could potentially fund park land acquisition to keep up with the growing population and demand for parks and recreation facilities. 4.7 Goals and Objectives The City of Port Orchard has maintained a consistent set of goals and objectives in its endeavor to provide recreation opportunities to the community. The overall goal of the Parks Element is to develop and maintain adequate and convenient parks, recreation, and open space areas and facilities for all users and better serve both the existing and future population of Port Orchard and surrounding areas. This goal can be achieved by several objectives. ective 1: Increase Dublic access to the marine shoreline. Objective 2: Preserve and enhance active and scenic open space bar:. a. Enhancing and improving existing park facilities. b. Discouraging obstructions of scenic views. Objective 3: Increase the size and number of parks and open spaces by: a. Establishing partnerships with other agencies to jointly utilize public facilities. b. Promoting through public and private investments, the acquisition of open space facilities, and proper maintenance thereof. c. Using public input to develop plans for public parks. Objective 4: Provide parks, trails, and open spaces within walking distance of residents by: a. Prioritizing historically underserved communities for open space improvements and investments. b. Promoting equitable access to recreation opportunities. c. Providing for a mixture of active and passive open spaces within residential and commercial areas. As South Kitsap County and Port Orchard continue to grow, the importance of the limited recreation resources continue to increase. Greater population pressures demand well-defined goals and priorities. In order to achieve these comprehensive goals and objectives, concise and realistic goals must be specified: Goal 1. Establish a coordinated and connected system of open space throughout the City that: • Preserves natural systems. • Protects wildlife habitat and corridors. • Provides land for both active and passive recreation accessible for all. • Increases opportunities for physical activity. Port Orchard Comprehensive Plan DRAFT: October 2024 • Preserves natural landforms and scenic areas. • Is accessible by a safe non -motorized transportation system. • Promotes equitable access to parks and recreation facilities. Policy PK-1 Preserve and enhance the natural and aesthetic qualities of shoreline areas while allowing reasonable development to meet the needs of all residents. Policy PK-2 Promote visual and public access to shorelines where it is not in conflict with preserving environmentally sensitive areas or protecting significant wildlife habitat. Policy PK-3 Distribute parks and open spaces throughout the City, but particularly focus new facilities in or nearby: • Designated centers that do not currently contain parks or open spaces. • Residential neighborhoods facing the greatest population growth where populations are currently, or projected to be, underserved by existing parks facilities. • Residential neighborhoods that have historically underserved communities. • Areas where existing facilities are deficient. • Areas where connections could be made. Policy PK-4 Work with nearby jurisdictions, state, federal, and tribal governments to identify and protect open space networks to be preserved within and around Port Orchard. Policy PK-5 Preserve environmentally sensitive areas to delineate neighborhood boundaries and create open space corridors. Goal 2. Encourage the development and maintenance of open space and recreation facilities, where possible, in the established areas of the City. Policy PK-6 Obtain and preserve open space areas and recreation facilities to meet established levels of service and to link open spaces within a connected network accessible to the existing and future population of the City. Policy PK-7 Preserve the ecological functions of the Blackjack Creek watershed, the shoreline, and adjacent areas in balance with residential, commercial, and other uses. Policy PK-8 Shape and seek the right balance for urban development through the use of open space, thereby strengthening the beauty, identity, and aesthetic qualities of the City and surrounding areas. Policy PK-9 Maintain and/or expand shoreline parks and trails linking the downtown core to the shoreline. Proposed walking and biking trails should be designed to serve all residential areas. Policy PK-10 Encourage safe parks and recreation equipment by maintaining existing facilities. Policy PK-11 Develop covered play structures whenever feasible to encourage use of parks and recreation facilities in all conditions. Policy PK-12 Work with the Port of Bremerton to identify areas within the existing Port -owned waterfront parking lots that are suitable for conversion to open space. Upon mutual agreement of the parking areas to be converted; develop a plan for the creation of waterfront open space in these areas, with a focus on connecting to existing and planned shoreline access points and pedestrian pathways. Port Orchard Comprehensive Plan DRAFT: October 2024 Goal 3. To provide open space or natural landscaping throughout the City limits. Policy PK-13 Zoning ordinances shall identify and preserve open space areas. Policy PK-14 Landscaping, such as trees and shrubbery, should be included in the commercial areas of the City. Policy PK-15 Vacant municipal land not required for municipal services should be maintained to provide a pleasing natural condition. Goal 4. Neighborhood parks and recreation facilities should be conveniently located throughout the City. Policy PK-16 The Active Club should continue to be maintained and improved. Policy PK-17 A Community Event Center should be encouraged. Policy PK-18 To ensure that the City's parks and recreation facilities are welcoming to all, new facilities shall be designed for accessibility to meet the requirements of the federal American Disabilities Act, and existing facilities should be retrofitted for increased accessibility where feasible and appropriate. Policy PK-19 Maximize the use of State and Federal grants for future improvements whenever possible. Policy PK-20 Coordinate with other governmental entities and civic organizations to provide new facilities to the public. Policy PK-21 Encourage commercial enterprises to establish facilities which are harmonious with the community vision and goals. Goal S. Encourage commercial enterprises to establish private commercial recreation facilities. Policy PK-22 Athletic fields should be supplemented with picnic and playground facilities to encourage family participation. Policy PK-23 Athletic fields should be developed in accordance with the PROS Plan. Policy PK-24 Continue to encourage and promote private sports and recreation programs. Policy PK-25 Coordinate with sports councils and committees when possible. Goal 6. The waterfront should be preserved and protected to enhance public use. Policy PK-26 Boat docks and marinas should be encouraged; however, these activities are not to be construed as the sole resource of the waterfront. Policy PK-27 Public access to the water is required for new municipal development, unless such access is shown to be incompatible due to reasons of safety, security or impact to the shoreline environment. Public access to the water should be provided for new commercial development unless such improvements are demonstrated to be Port Orchard Comprehensive Plan DRAFT: October 2024 infeasible or present hazards to life and property. Policy PK-28 Viewing decks and similar pedestrian -oriented structures are needed and should be constructed in the urban waterfront area. Policy PK-29 The Bay Street Pedestrian Path system should be maintained and expanded. Policy PK-30 Beach access should be identified and developed. This should be integrated with the Bay Street Pedestrian Path trail system and Kitsap Peninsula Water Trails system. Goal 7. Provide a variety of water and shoreline related recreation opportunities for the public. Policy PK-31 The City, in conjunction with other agencies and organizations, should work to maintain, enhance, and expand existing water and shoreline related recreation opportunities for the public. Policy PK-32 The City, in conjunction with other jurisdictions, should work to develop new and diverse water and shoreline related recreation opportunities for the public. Goal 8. Provide open space within residential and commercial developments. Policy PK-33 Continue to require buffers and open space with new development. Policy PK-34 Encourage creation of open and communal spaces with multi -family and commercial development. Goal 9. Preserve critical areas within open space. Policy PK-35 Steep slopes and sensitive areas within open space should be protected with critical area restrictions. Policy PK-36 Preserve open space that functions as a buffer between land uses. Goal 10. Promote the acquisition and maintenance of open space through public and private investment. Policy PK-37 Countywide open space acquisition should be encouraged. Policy PK-38 Maintenance of City -owned open space should take precedence over acquisition of new City parks unless the proposed park serves an identified need in the City's Parks Plan. Goal 11. Enhance and expand existing park facilities. Policy PK-39 Improvements in parks should be done continually. Policy PK-40 Prioritize expansion of existing parks in residential areas where communities currently underserved with parks and recreation facilities. Goal 1 1. Place and construct community entry monuments on arterial City entrances. Policy PK-41 Maintain and landscape existing Gateway areas. Port Orchard Comprehensive Plan DRAFT: October 2024 Policy PK-42 Install wayfinding signage according to wayfinding system plan. Goal 12. Provide dedicated oversight and encourage public participation in planning for City parks and recreation facilities. Policy PK-43 The City should establish a parks commission or similar citizen board to review major parks development plans and proposals to purchase or sell City parks property and provide recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council. Policy PK-44 The City should consider creating a Parks Department to operate and maintain City parks and recreation facilities, and to plan and budget for future acquisitions and improvements. Goal 13. Identify and enhance the city's open spaces, trails, and park amenities to protect natural resources and expand recreational opportunities for all residents, ensuring_ accessibility and sustainable use of these areas. Policv PK-45 The Citv of Port Orchard should strive to maintain the level service standards adoated in its PROS plan including ensuring every resident has access to a park within a 10- minute walk, fostering inclusivity and promoting outdoor recreation. MPort Orchard Comprehensive Plan DRAFT: October 2024