Crown Park Improvements Project

PROJECT OVERVIEW:

The 2018 Crown Park Master Plan (Master Plan) serves as a vision of the park for the next generation of users and is used as a framework to guide future funding decisions. Over a 13-month design process, Crown Park Public Advisory Committee, Technical Advisory Committee, Parks and Recreation Commission (Commission) and the general public were engaged to provide feedback and direction. On Oct. 24, 2018, the Commission reviewed and recommended the final Master Plan report to City Council for approval. On Nov. 5, 2018, Council adopted the 2018 Crown Park Master Plan (Master Plan).

Crown Park has a magnificent grove of mature trees consisting of approximately 75 year-old Douglas Firs, Western Red Cedars, Redwoods, Gian Sequoias, Zelkovas, Blue Spruces and a variety of Maples. The Master Plan was designed with an eye toward protecting the trees and highlighting our tree assets.

Key park features will include:

• Inclusive playgroundFrom 2017 Master Plan public engagement process
• Interactive water feature
• Permanent restrooms
• Outdoor amphitheater
• Sports court
• Flexible open lawn
• New ADA accessible pathways
• Access improvements to Scout Hall
• New site furnishings
• Upgraded irrigation system
• Stormwater management gardens and updated plantings

On Feb. 22, 2022, Council approved a 30% design contract. Since then, the project completed outreach and design elements. For more information on the outreach, please see survey results to the right and the public meetings under Key Dates. As outlined in the timeline overview above, the project is in final design with bidding process anticipated in early 2024.

GRANTS UPDATE:

It’s official, the City of Camas has been awarded several grant for this project:

• Recreation & Conservation Office – RCO awarded $500,000 for construction of Crown Park improvements. Last summer (July 2022), the City of Camas applied for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program - Local Parks grant, and the wait to hear back for RCO was well worth it.
• Parks Foundation of Clark County – The Foundation awarded $2,500 for Crown Park improvement. We are grateful for this local relationship and support of the Camas community from the Foundation.

PARK HISTORY:

Crown Park, originally donated to Camas in 1934 by Crown Willamette Paper Company, has been a primary gathering spot for the community for decades. Considered by many as the "Crown Jewel" of our entire parks system, the park hosts many of the City's events, such as the annual Camas Egg Scramble, summer concerts and movies, and the CamTown Youth Festival. But at the core, this is a family gathering spot for birthdays, reunions, picnics and play.

Located at 120 NE 17th Ave., Crown park is a 7.3 acre developed park that currently comprises of mature fir trees, a picnic shelter, two play areas with equipment, open field, a handball court, horseshoe pit, two tennis courts and Scout Hall.

The history of the park also included an outdoor municipal swimming pool, which was completed in 1954, and donated to the City by the Camas Lions Club. After 63 years of use, Clark County Public Health department deemed the pool to be in poor condition and noncompliant with state public health rules. With the closure of the pool, the Crown Park Master Plan process included options for a new aquatics option at Crown. The process concluded with a recommendation to Council in the Master Plan to replace the pool with an interactive water feature. In November 2018, City Council adopted the Crown Park Master Plan. In 2019, the City Council approved the bid to remove the pool. The pool demolition also included the removal of the adjacent basketball court, which was from the mid-1970's.