PARKS AND RECREATION

CAPITAL FACILITIES MASTER PLAN

Table of Contents

Executive Summary and Master Plan Objectives.............................................................................. 1

Parks District Mission......................................................................................................................... 2

1 Introduction and Background...................................................................................................... 3

1.1 History of the Master Plan........................................................................................................... 3

1.2 Parks District History and Facilities.............................................................................................. 3

1.2.1 Aquatics............................................................................................................................. 3

1.2.2 Sports Facilities................................................................................................................. 3

1.2.3 Recreation Facilities.......................................................................................................... 4

2 Community Profile........................................................................................................................ 5

2.1 Location, Physical Setting, and History of Hood River.................................................................. 5

2.2 Population and Demographics...................................................................................................... 5

3 Recreational Resources Inventory............................................................................................. 7

3.1 Neighborhood Parks................................................................................................................... 8

3.2 Community Parks........................................................................................................................ 9

3.3 Trails, Greenways, Linear Parks, Open Space and Wilderness................................................... 10

3.4 Public School Based Facilities.................................................................................................... 12

3.5 Special Use Parks and Facilities................................................................................................. 13

3.6 Non-Publicly Owned Facilities................................................................................................... 14

3.6.1 Sport Fields and Gymnasiums......................................................................................... 14

3.6.2 Golf.................................................................................................................................. 14

3.6.3 Swimming Pools.............................................................................................................. 14

3.6.4 Recreation/Fitness Centers.............................................................................................. 14

3.6.5 Outdoor Recreation......................................................................................................... 14

3.6.6 Other Facilities................................................................................................................ 14

4 Needs Assessment..................................................................................................................... 15

4.1 Parks and Recreations Standards............................................................................................... 15

4.1.1 LOS Analysis Results....................................................................................................... 17

4.1.2 Level of Standards - Needs Conclusions......................................................................... 22

4.2 Physical Inspection of Facilities.................................................................................................. 24

4.2.1 Parks, Open Space, and Greenways............................................................................... 24

4.2.2 Recreational Facilities..................................................................................................... 24

4.3 Needs Assessment Survey......................................................................................................... 25

4.4 Community Priorities and Opportunities..................................................................................... 26

4.4.1 Columbia River Waterfront Park.................................................................................... 27

4.4.2 Ball Field Complex.......................................................................................................... 27

4.4.3 Community Center / Teen Center................................................................................... 29

4.4.4 Loop Trail System in and around Hood River UGA....................................................... 30

4.4.5 PacificCorp Property Transfer Along Hood River.......................................................... 30

5 Parks District Development Priorities...................................................................................... 31

6 Implementation........................................................................................................................... 33

6.1 Guiding Principals...................................................................................................................... 33

6.2 Implementation Concept Plans................................................................................................... 33

6.3 Cooperation with Schools and Local Governments..................................................................... 33

6.4 Coordination with City and County Planning............................................................................... 33

6.5 Finding Incentives for Developers.............................................................................................. 34

6.6 User Groups and Volunteers...................................................................................................... 34

7 Maintenance............................................................................................................................... 34

7.1 Cooperative Maintenance Agreements....................................................................................... 34

7.2 Maintenance Management Plan.................................................................................................. 34

7.3 User Group Contributions to Maintenance................................................................................. 35

8 Funding Options.......................................................................................................................... 35

8.1 General Fund............................................................................................................................ 35

8.2 System Development Charges (SDC’s)..................................................................................... 35

8.2.1 SDC Background............................................................................................................. 36

8.2.2 SDC Collection................................................................................................................ 36

8.2.3 SDC Rate Updates........................................................................................................... 36

8.3 Partnerships.............................................................................................................................. 36

8.4 Creative cooperation with Developers and Planners................................................................... 36

8.5 Federal/State/Other Grants........................................................................................................ 37

8.6 User Fees and Rents................................................................................................................. 37

8.7 General Obligation Bonds (G.O. Bonds).................................................................................... 37

8.8 Revenue Bonds/Certificates of Participation............................................................................... 37

8.9 Special Assessments and Local Improvement Districts............................................................... 38

8.10 Local Option Levies for Capital Improvements....................................................................... 38

8.11 Local Option Levies for Operations....................................................................................... 38

8.12 Local Tax Options................................................................................................................. 38

8.13 Funding Option Feedback from Survey.................................................................................. 39

Appendix A – Public Survey and Detailed Results.......................................................................... 40

Appendix B – Facility Development Cost Estimates....................................................................... 57

Appendix C – Facility Implementation Concept Plans................................................................... 61

Implementation Concept Plan – West Side of Hood River UGA......................................................... 62

Implementation Concept Plan – South-East Hood River City and UGA.............................................. 63

Implementation Concept Plan – Columbia River Waterfront in Hood River......................................... 64

Implementation Concept Plan – Odell Area........................................................................................ 65

Implementation Concept Plan – Loop Trail System and Connections.................................................. 66

Appendix D – Facility Plan Maps and Concept Implementation Maps.......................................... 67

Facility Master Plan

Executive Summary and Master Plan Objectives

This Capital Facilities Master Plan is designed to assess and define the needs for recreational facilities that are needed throughout the Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District. The Plan:

· Thoroughly describes current recreational facilities in the Parks District and provides a range of analysis that estimate the future needs of the Parks District.

· Presents Parks District priorities so that adequate open space and public recreation facilities in the City and County will be provided. The summary of needed facilities and defined priorities are presented in Section 5 of this document. Priorities are expected to change as time and community needs and opinions evolve and the Plan will be updated as required to reflect current priorities.

· Aims to facilitate a broad range of innovative “Best in Class” recreational facilities that are uniquely tailored to the interests of our community by presenting materials that can be used by a wide range of local government and citizen groups to plan and implement future facilities.

· Provides guidance materials for community members who spearhead efforts for development of new facilities.

· Provide data, priority inputs, and conceptual implementation plans that can be used by the Parks District, the City and County planning in their ongoing planning decisions. Implementation Concept Plans are presented in Appendix C of this Document.

Parks District Mission

The Mission of the Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District is to provide recreational opportunities to the citizens of the Parks District, with focus on the youth of our community. Facilities and programs will be developed and maintained to provide safe and economical recreational environments for all users.

1 Introduction and Background

1.1 History of the Master Plan

In February 1995, the Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District (Parks District) entered an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Hood River (City) to jointly develop a parks and recreation capital facilities master plan (Plan) to address facility needs in the City and the Urban Growth Area (UGA). The Plan focused on the parks and recreational needs of residents within the Hood River UGA, and also addressed those visitor-related needs that impact residents. The plan did not address either tourism-oriented facility needs or parks and recreation needs outside the Hood River UGA. The Parks and Recreation Capital Facilities Master Plan was completed November 1998 with a planning time horizon for the twenty-year period 1998-2017. In 2004, the Parks District updated the Master Plan, expanding the scope of the plan to include the entire Park District with areas from the City and the County, and focusing on the ten-year period encompassing 2005 to 2014.

1.2 Parks District History and Facilities

In 1988, voters approved creation of the Parks District, which includes most of Hood River County except Cascade Locks. During its brief seventeen-year history, the Parks District’s role has expanded from operating the Hood River swimming pool to meeting a variety of community parks and recreational needs.

1.2.1 Aquatics

The City of Hood River built an outdoor swimming pool complex in 1948 in the northwest corner of Jackson Park. Between 1948 and 1994, the pool served as a popular summer sports and recreation location, and as a site for Hood River County School District physical education classes during the school year. In 1993, the Parks District reengineered and upgraded the original pool facility to make three, more versatile pools. In 1995, the bathhouse was also updated and the facility was enclosed to provide year-round aquatics for area residents and visitors. In 2002, the landscaping was updated to provide a safe and aesthetic front entrance.

1.2.2 Sports Facilities

In 1991, a citizen advisory group for the Parks District identified new sports facilities (i.e., ball / soccer fields) as a high priority need for the Hood River Valley. The Parks District worked in cooperation with the Hood River County School District, Hood River County, the City of Hood River, and a variety of community organizations to develop a plan to expand sports facilities. In November 1997, voters approved funding that upgraded ball and soccer fields at seven school facilities, and added new fields for youth and adult soccer, baseball, and softball. Because of the vast amount of volunteer efforts, the Parks District was also able to use remaining bond funds to upgrade additional recreational facilities including school tennis courts and the Parks District’s skate park.

1.2.3 Recreation Facilities

In addition to providing aquatics and sports facilities, the Parks District has also become involved in the development and operation of several other recreational facilities. In 1996, through a collaborative effort with the City of Hood River, the Hood River Rotary, other civic organizations as well as individuals, the Parks District opened the first phase of a “skate park” in the City’s Jaymar Park. The community truly supports this project with most of the initial equipment being built and installed by local volunteers; no tax dollars were used for any of the park’s construction elements. Further, since 1996, local supporters and the Parks District have added several improvements including a 3,000 square-foot ‘street course,’ and, a 1,700 square-foot concrete bowl completed in June 2003. In addition, the Skate Park has a new development plan which will be implemented in four phases.

Additionally, in the summer of 2003 the Parks District celebrated the grand opening of Culbertson Park, which is a Neighborhood Park located just south of Pacific Avenue between 5^th and 6^th Streets in the Heights. With open spaces, play structures, swing sets, a half-court basketball court, and a picnic area, the park meets the needs of a newly developed neighborhood in that area. The Parks District’s next neighborhood park will meet the needs of the Hazelview development which is located at 1711 Freedom Loop. The three-lot parcel designated for the park is 160 ft. by 110 ft. and will include a youth soccer field, open play areas and landscaping.

Another recreational area is the in-process Indian Creek Trail, which is 3.3 miles long, stretching from East 3^rd St to Hood River Valley High School. Two of three sections are already complete. The Parks District is still working on procuring permission from adjacent land owners in the last (middle) section of this trail.

The Parks District has continued to work cooperatively with the City of Hood River to improve and make more accessible park elements in Wilson and Jackson Parks in the City, and plans to continue working with other local government agencies to improve facilities at existing parks.

2 Community Profile

2.1 Location, Physical Setting, and History of Hood River

The Parks District includes most of Hood River County, which is located on the eastern slope of the Cascade Mountains, extending north from Mt. Hood to the Columbia River. This area of immense natural beauty lies in the heart of Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, about 20 miles west of The Dalles, and 60 miles east of Portland. The Historic Columbia River Highway (U.S. 30) also extends through Hood River.

Hood River was founded in 1854 by Nathaniel and Mary Coe. In 1882, railroad service opened the local economy to new markets and prompted growth of timber and agricultural industries. Agriculture and timber are still important to Hood River, but the economy has diversified, and the area has become a tourism and retail trade center.

Tourism has become increasingly important for the Hood River economy, especially due to its world class outdoor sports venues for windsurfing, kite boarding, skiing and mountain-biking, among other sports. The increasing number of visitors to Hood River impacts parks and recreational facilities, which serve both tourists and residents.

2.2 Population and Demographics

The population of Hood River County in 2000 was 20,411, according to the 2000 Census and the Hood River County Transportation System Plan (June 16, 2003). The Parks District has 19,283 residents (Cascade Locks chose not to participate in this Parks District which removes 1,128 residents of Cascade Locks from the total residents served by the Parks District). Hood River County’s population grew by 20% between 1990 and 2000 with the population in Parkdale, Odell, and the remainder of unincorporated areas of the County growing by 17.6% during this period.

Based on currently planned building densities and zoning, the population within the Parks District will increase by an additional 25% between 2004 and 2014.

In the 2003-2004 school year, a total of 3,854 students were enrolled in the Hood River County public school system. 1,649 students were enrolled in grades K-5, 937 students were enrolled in grades 6-9, and 1,268 students were enrolled in grades 9-12.

A review of 2000 census data for the County revealed several notable population characteristics that are important for the Parks District:

● Households with individuals under 18 living at home constituted 38.3% of the City’s households. In general, children use parks and recreational facilities more frequently and have different recreational needs than adults.

● Latinos, the City’s largest ethnic minority group, totaled approximately 25% of all residents, a 15% increase from 1990. The interests of this group should be considered in the design of recreation facilities.

Due to the number of available recreational opportunities, and the draw that these opportunities have made during population growth, the population of the Parks District is more active than the average, and demands higher levels of recreational options and facilities.

3 Recreational Resources Inventory

The recreational resources within the Parks District can be organized into functional types that serve separate recreational needs. For the purposes of this inventory, the existing resources have been separated into the following types:

· Neighborhood Parks

· Community Parks

· Trails, Greenways, Linear Parks, Open Space, and Wilderness

· Special Use Parks and Facilities

· Public School-Based Facilities

· Non-Publicly Owned Facilities

The first four maps in Appendix D present the locations of facilities within the Parks District as follows:

Figure A: City of Hood River and Lower Valley

Figure B: Odell and Central Valley

Figure C: Parkdale and Upper Valley

Figure D: Entire Parks District – showing facilities outside the areas of the first three maps.

The following symbols are used on the facility maps (and follow on needs assessment maps):

Table 1 - Facility Type Map Symbols

Symbol	Facility Type:
G	Gymnasium
RT	Running Track
S	Soccer field(s)
FB	Football field(s)
BB	Baseball field(s)
T	Tennis Court(s)
SP	Special Use facility
SB	Softball field(s)
C	Community Park
N	Neighborhood Park
GC	Golf Course
tent	Camping
hike	Trail Access
SK	Skate Park

3.1 Neighborhood Parks

A Neighborhood park is the most basic unit of the park system and serves as the recreational and social focus of the neighborhood; its focus is on informal active and passive recreation (Mertes & Hall, 1996). It must be within safe and easy walking distance of area residents and does not require the crossing of major streets or other barriers. It usually does not include restrooms or off street parking.

The Neighborhood Parks in the Parks District are presented in Table 2. School based park space and community parks also serve the needs of Neighborhood parks and are listed in the sections that follow.

Table 2 - Neighborhood Parks

*Park*	*Location*	*Ownership / Maintenance*	*Size/Length*	*Amenities*
Wilson Park	May St. and 2^nd St. HR	City of HR	1.05 acres	Play structures
Ruthton Park	I-84, West of HR	HR County	1.5 acres	Picnic tables, river view
Hazelview Park	1711 Heritage Loop	HRVPRD	.35 acres	Picnic tables, grassy area
Bowe Addition	Belmont Rd., HR	Residents	.40 acres	Play structure, grassy area
Adams View	Montello HR	Residents	.25 acres	Swings, ½ court basketball area and picnic area.
Waucoma Park	State and 12^th	City of HR	0.87 acres	Swings, picnic tables, small creek.
Mann Park	Eugene and 22^nd	City of HR	0.48 acres	Playground equipment (old)
Culbertson Park	S. Pacific and 5^th	HRVPRD	.6 acres	Play structure, one half BB court, picnic tables and benches, 2 sets of swings.
Memorial Overlook and Memorial Rose Garden	2^nd and Sherman HR	City of HR	.40 acres	Fountain, benches, gardens, view, access to downtown and 2^nd St steps.
Georgiana Smith Park	Oak and 5^th HR	HR County	.50 acres	Benches, view, access to downtown.
Jaymar Park (adjacent to Rotary Park (Skate Park))	Wasco and 20^th HR	City owns, HRVPRD maintains	9.7 acres (includes Morrison park)	Picnic tables, grassy area, trees, adjacent to Skate Park

3.2 Community Parks

Community parks serve a broader purpose than a smaller neighborhood park; their focus is primarily to meet community-based recreational needs, as well as preserving unique landscapes and open spaces (Mertes & Hall, 1996).

All community parks also act as neighborhood parks – providing facilities that meet those smaller group needs as well.

In some cases, other facilities act as community parks and are listed in the sections below. As an example, Parkdale Elementary and Westside Elementary School grounds, with multiple playing fields, playgrounds, picnic tables etc. provide the level of service of a community park.

In the Parks District, Community Parks are presented in Table 3.

Table 3 - Community Parks

*Park*	*Location*	*Ownership / Maintenance*	*Size*	*Amenities*
Jackson Park	13^th & May St. Hood River	City of HR	6.77 acres	Centrally located, heavily used community facility. nice vegetation, trees. Stage and large grass area hosts summertime music in the park programs. Playground equipment (structure, three swings), picnic tables (8), and concrete pads for community BBQ, etc. Restroom (M/F). Lighted baseball field w/bleachers, scoreboard, concessions. Four lighted tennis courts. Parking. Disability access to stage and BBQ area.
Children’s Park	9^th & Eugene St. HR	City of HR	1.24 acres	Large wooden Robert Leathers play structure with slides, and swings for children/toddlers (children's park). Benches, picnic tables, covered/lit basketball court and grass play area. ADA restroom (m/f) and parking.
Marina Park and Marina Green	Hood River Marina	Port of HR	9.5 acres	Beach, Hood River and Columbia River access, picnic tables, picnic shelters, paved walking path, Restroom, Museum, Marina/docks. Large Grass area/ playfield
Tollbridge Park	Parkdale	HR County	84 acres	RV sites, camping, picnic tables, picnic shelters, playground, Hood River access, restrooms, showers
Oak Grove Park	Co. Club Rd. & Portland Dr. HR	HR County	2.5 acres	picnic tables, BBQ pit, tennis courts, outdated play structures, swings, climbing tires, port-a-potty
Panorama Point	East Side Rd. HR	HR County	11.5 acres	picnic, parking lot, view, restrooms
Parkdale Hutson Museum	Parkdale	HR County	3.5 acres	grassy area, picnic tables and shelter, museum
Tucker Park	Hwy 281 past Dee	HR County	35.5 acres	13 campsites, playground, picnic shelters, fishing, shower house, riverside location

3.3 Trails, Greenways, Linear Parks, Open Space and Wilderness

This category includes community walking trails and paths, jogging trails, and bicycle trails. According to Park, Recreation, Open Space and Greenway Guidelines (Mertes & Hall, 1996), a park trail focuses on recreational value, transportation, and harmony with the natural environment. It is also located within a greenway (a connector of park systems), park, or natural resource area. An open space is set aside for “preservation of significant natural resources, remnant landscapes, open space, and visual aesthetics/buffering” (Mertes & Hall, 1996). The Parks District has an abundance of such areas. A number of these locations may be ideal sites for new neighborhood or community park developments.

The Trails, Greenways, Linear Parks, Open Spaces and Wilderness areas in the Parks District are presented in Table 4.

Table 4 - Trails, Greenways, Linear Parks, Open Space and Wilderness

*Open Space*	*Location*	*Ownership / Maintenance*	*Size/Length*	*Amenities*
Indian Creek Trail	Third-Hazel St. to HRVHS	HRVPRD	3.3 miles (17,424 ft.) or 23.2 acres	Single track trail, primarily along Indian Creek (middle portion of trail yet to be completed)
2^nd St. Steps Greenway	Corner of 2nd St. and State to corner of 2^nd St. and Montello	City of HR	.22 acres	Adjacent to Overlook Memorial and Memorial Rose Garden at North end. Excellent views. Areas of adjacent Oak uplands habitat.
Columbia River Water-front	HR Inn to footbridge	Port of HR	2910 ft. path Marina – 2.9 acres depending on Water level	Asphalt path, views, benches, access to Marina Green park and Marina community park; along Columbia River
Hood River, Flume Rd. to Copper Dam	Along Hood River Powerdale Park south to Copper Dam	Pacificorp	468 acres	Service road along flume. Access to Hood River. natural state park area, parking, Port-a-potties
Surveyor’s Ridge	Rd. 44 off of Hwy. 35	USFS	6 miles	Mixed usage trail system.
Mitchell Point	I-84, West of HR 3 parcels coming together at MP	State of Oregon	792 acres	Nature trails, views, parking
Historic Hwy.	Various sections between Mosier and Bonneville are accessed along Columbia river in HR county.	State of Oregon	Various lengths	· Cascade Locks to Bonneville Dam - 2.5 miles · Viento to Starvation Creek - 1 mile · Mitchell Point – short segment of Hwy · Hood River to Mosier - 5 miles
Routson Park	Hwy 35, South of Parkdale.	County of HR	168 acres	camping, drinking h2o, flush toilets, Hood River Access
Dimmick Park	Parkdale	County of HR Not maintained	21.5 acres	River area. Amenities were destroyed during 1996 flood and not restored to date.
Kingsley Park	Kingsley Road, Binns Hill Road	County of HR	320 acres	20 sites, pit toilets, boat ramp
Morrison Park	20^th and Wasco HR	City of HR Not maintained	13.54 acres	Natural state. Woods and open space. Owned by City of Hood River.
Elliot Park	8^th, South side of Indian Creek	City of HR Not maintained	2 acres	Natural state. Woods and open space. Owned by City of Hood River.
Wells Island	Columbia River, west of HR waterfront.	City of HR /USFS	53.25 acres	Nature preserve, National Forest (NSA) natural state.
Viento SP	I-84, West of HR	State of Oregon	248 acres	camp., picnic, windsurfing, fishing, restrooms
Starvation Creek SP	I-84, West of HR	State of Oregon	153 acres	Picnic, hiking, restrooms
Wyeth (USFS) Campground	I-84 to Exit 51	USFS	8 acres	13 family campsites, 6 group sites, restrooms
Cooper Spur/ Cloud Cap	30 miles South of HR	USFS	11.9 mile trail	3 campsites. Access to Mt Hood Timberline Trail, NFS cabins, Elliot Glacier, views
Nottingham Campground (USFS)	7 miles so. Mt. Hood, off Hwy 35	USFS	10 acres	20 campsites, along river
Sherwood Campground (USFS)	8 miles so. Mt. Hood, off Hwy 35	USFS	3.5 acres	picnic, camp, hike, handicap facility 14 campsites, 4 picnic sites, along river
Kinnikinnick Campground (Laurance Lake)	10 miles so. Parkdale	USFS	5 acres (104 acres)	Camp, fishing, boating, no facilities 12 campsites
Rainy Lake Campground	16 miles NW Parkdale	USFS	10 acres	Camp, fishing, no facilities
Lost Lake	14 miles SW of Dee	USFS	290 acres	Hiking, picnic area, camping, fishing, trail access, views, boating (non-motorized)
Columbia Wilderness Area	North West HR county	USFS	39,000 acres	Wilderness area
Mount Hood Wilderness	North side of Mt Hood.	USFS	24,810 acres	Wilderness area
Badger Creek Wilderness	South-East corner of HR county.	USFS	24,000 acres	Wilderness area
Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area	Columbia River corridor	Various	292,000 acres	National Scenic Area. Trails, river access, etc.

3.4 Public School Based Facilities

Public School-based recreational facilities provide a set of key recreational assets that can also fit under the definitions of both Community and Neighborhood parks. The Hood River County School District’s decision to allow improvements to be made on School District property by the Parks District significantly contributed to the Parks District’s 1997 bond-funded development that dramatically improved and expanded sports facilities that can be used by the public.

Additionally, the School District serves as the County’s primary public education, sports and recreation program provider (except for aquatics programs), offering a wide variety of courses and programs for residents of all ages, from preschool through seniors. Programs offered by the School District include arts, crafts, hobbies, music, dance, education, health, recreation, special interest activities, and a wide variety of sports. The numbers and types of programs expand or are reduced based on interest levels and the availability of funding.

All public school based facilities are owned and maintained by the Hood River County School District.

In Hood River County, the Public School-based Facilities are presented in Table 5.

Table 5 - Public School Based Recreational Facilities

*School*	*Location*	*Size*	*Amenities*
Hood River Middle School	May St. HR	5.5 acres	track and football field (1) outdoor basketball courts (1) gymnasium (2), Rock climbing wall.
May Street Elementary School	May St. & Park HR	2.5 acres	playground equipment (slides, swings, etc.) four-square courts gymnasium (1) small baseball fields (2) tennis courts (2) New tennis practice courts added in 2001, covered in 03-04 by the school. Park District Bond $ Field refurbishing completed with Bond funds in 1998.
Westside Elementary School	Fairview & Belmont HR	15.9 acres	playground equipment (slides, swings, etc.) soccer fields (3 full size) outdoor basketball court (covered) four-square courts tether ball gymnasium (2) softball fields (2)
Frankton School	HR	0.4 acre	playground equipment (slides, swings, tires, climbing apparatus, etc.) covered shelter
Wy’east School	Odell	20 acres	3 Soccer fields baseball fields football field with track 2 gymnasiums
Parkdale Elementary	Parkdale	5 acres	Playground equipment, swings Small walking track Backstop gymnasium Soccer field
Mid-Valley Elementary	Odell	7.75 acres	Playground equipment baseball field covered play area with basketball hoops
Pine Grove Elementary	Eastside Road	2.5 acres	Playground equipment-swings, slides, merry-go-round 2 tether balls Gymnasium
Hood River High School	Indian Creek Road	35 acres	Track, Football field 2 baseball fields Batting cage Practice soccer field Walking trail Gymnasium

3.5 Special Use Parks and Facilities

A special use park covers a broad range of parks and recreational facilities oriented toward single-purpose use (Mertes & Hall, 1996).

The Special Use Parks and Facilities in Hood River County are presented in Table 6.

Table 6 - Special Use Parks

*Park*	*Location*	*Ownership / Maintenance*	*Size/Length*	*Amenities*
Aquatics Center	1601 May St., HR	HRVPRD	.94 acres	25 yard Recreation pool, therapy pool, wading pool, slide, rope swing, and locker rooms.
Rotary Park “Skate Park” (adjacent to of Jaymar Park)	Cascade Ave., HR	City owned HRVPRD maintained	2.71 acres	Skate Park, asphalt trail/road, picnic tables, grass play area, woods and creek.
Event Site and adjacent windsurfing and kiting areas on Columbia River.	Waterfront at 2^nd St. HR	Port of HR	4.2 acres	Windsurfing and kiting areas with parking lot, rigging yard, beach launch. Restrooms.

3.6 Non-Publicly Owned Facilities

Non-publicly owned facilities are private parks or recreational facilities which still contribute to the park and recreation system. (Mertes & Hall, 1996).

3.6.1 Sport Fields and Gymnasiums

The baseball/softball, soccer, and other sports fields located on parks and public school properties are supplemented by facilities at three churches/church schools in Hood River, including St. Mary’s Catholic Church(3 youth baseball /softball fields), and Horizon Christian School(soccer field).

The Big Gym is a privately owned gym that provides major weightlifting equipment. The Hood River Sports Club has aerobic exercise equipment and the Hood River Elks Club has a small gym available for members. The Adventist Church and the Hood River Bible School also have gyms available for their members.

3.6.2 Golf

Indian Creek Golf Course is a privately-owned 18-hole golf course which straddles the southern urban growth boundary at the intersection of Indian Creek Road and Brookside Drive. The Hood River Golf and Country Club is an 18-hole golf course located outside the urban growth boundary on Country Club Road. Both courses are open to the public.

3.6.3 Swimming Pools

In addition to the public Hood River Valley Aquatics Center, the Hood River Sports Club and the Hood River Elks Club both maintain swimming facilities for members.

3.6.4 Recreation/Fitness Centers

The Hood River Sports Club is a full service recreation club that includes tennis courts, racquetball/handball courts, indoor basketball, a climbing wall, aerobic exercise classes, exercise equipment, a weight room, a pool and spa, sauna, and other facilities for members. The Big Gym includes weight lifting and exercise equipment, and the Hood River Elks Club has racquetball courts.

3.6.5 Outdoor Recreation

The proximity of Hood River to Mt. Hood and the Columbia River and the popularity of Hood River as a center for windsurfing and water sports has created numerous businesses which offer lessons, equipment, and related support services for skiing, snowboarding, windsurfing, road biking, mountain biking, kayaking, rafting, and other outdoor sports activities.

3.6.6 Other Facilities

The Hood River Valley includes many other privately-owned sports and recreation facilities offering bowling, billiards, karate, gymnastics, dance, and other activities. Hood River also is home to several yoga studios, which offer classes to the public for a fee.

4 Needs Assessment

To best assess facility needs for the Parks District, four methods of analysis are included in this document:

1) Parks District facilities have been compared to Level of Service (LOS) standards in order to identify locations where facilities may be needed;

2) Parks District facilities have been inspected to determine the physical condition and functionality of existing facilities;

3) An opinion survey solicited feedback from Parks District residents on facility needs; and

4) Developments that are consistently raised as community priorities community priorities and have a large level of support are reviewed and brought forward.

Each of these analyses are then used as inputs for development prioritization and none of the analyses are primary factors in the determination of needs or priority.

4.1 Parks and Recreations Standards

This analysis reviews neighborhood and community needs based on the application of specific Level of Service (LOS) standards. LOS standards are expressed both in units of facility per 1,000 persons and in service areas (distance from facilities), and have been developed for key types of parks and recreational facilities.

The LOS standards were developed using guidelines provided by the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) in it publication Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Greenway Guidelines (1996). Unlike previous NRPA publications which provided specific LOS standards for various types of facilities (i.e., a Neighborhood Parks LOS Standard of 5.0 acres per 1,000 persons), the 1996 NRPA Guidelines provide guidance for communities to develop and adopt a set of local LOS standards applicable to the community. These NRPA Guidelines emphasize that the local Levels of Service should: 1) be practicable and achievable; 2) provide for an equitable allocation of park and recreation resources throughout the community; and, 3) reflect the real time demand of citizens. In Hood River, the Parks District has followed these suggested guidelines and has developed LOS standards which are designed to meet the needs of the expected population within the Hood River UGA through 2014. Table 7 presents the NRPA LOS guidelines as modified by the HRPRD for use in the needs assessment analysis. Both Service Radius Requirements (distance from Parks District residents to facility), and Facility Requirements Based on Population (quantity of facilities to service the population of the Parks District) are presented.

Table 7 – Applicable Level of Service Requirements

		Service Radius Requirements		Facilities Requirements Based On Population
Ref #	Facility Type	NRPA Service Radius	HRPRD Service Radius Time Miles	HRPRD Ratio per Population	Total Required	Existing Public Facilities	Public Deficient	Existing Private Facilities	Total Deficient
1	Neighborhood Park	½ mi.	1 min 0.4	1,000	20	16	4	NA	4
2	Baseball Field	¼ to ½ mi.	5 min 2	5,000	4	8	0	0	0
3	Softball Field	½ mi.	5 min 2	5,000	4	2	2	0	2
4	Soccer Field	1-2 mi.	5 min 2	5,000	4	7	0	1	0
5	Basketball, outdoor	¼ to ½ mi.	5 min 2	5,000	4
6	Tennis, Outdoor	¼ to ½ mi.	5 min 2	4,000	5	9	0	0	0
7	Nature Trails Access	varies	5 min 2	2,000	10	7	3	0	3
8	Open Space Access	Not listed	5 min 2	1,000	20	17	3	0	3
9	Gymnasium (indoor basketball and volleyball)	¼ to ½ mi.	5 min 2	2,000	10	9	1	1	0
10	Community Park	Not listed	15 min 4	5,000	4	6	0	0	0
11	Activities Center	15 min.	15 min 4	20,000	1	0	1	0	1
12	Football field	15-30 min.	15 min 4	20,000	1	3	0	0	0
13	Running track	15-30 min.	15 min 4	20,000	1	3	0	0	0
14	Picnic Shelter		15 min 4	2,000	10	6	4	0	4
15	Mt Bike Trail Access	Not listed	15 min 4	5,000	4	2	2	0	2
16	Outdoor / Beach Volleyball	Not listed	15 min 4	10,000	2	0	2	0	2
17	Racquetball	15min.	30 min 20	20,000	1	0	1	4	0
18	Tennis, Indoor	¼ to ½ mi.	30 min 20	8,000	3	0	3	4	0
19	Archery Range	30 min	30 min 20	50,000	1	0	1	1	0
20	Campground	Not listed	30 min 20	5,000	4	8	0	1	0
21	Golf Course / Driving Range	30 min.	30 min 20	50,000	1	0	1	2	0
22	Indoor Soccer / Roller Hockey	Not listed	30 min 20	20,000	1	0	1	0	1
23	Swimming Pools, indoor	15min.	30 min 20	20,000	1	1	0	1	0
24	Ice Skating / Hockey Rink	Not listed	30 min 20	20,000	1	0	1	0	1

4.1.1 LOS Analysis Results

The Parks District’s first method of Needs Assessment for Hood River County involves the Local Levels of Service standards described above. By combining the Service Radius goals from the LOS Table with the facility inventory information from Section 3, it is possible to identify the need for particular types of facilities. Table 8 presents a summary of the LOS analysis results using the same facility types identified in Table 7 above. Needs conclusions are further summarized in Table 9.

Table 8 - LOS Analysis Results

Ref #	Facility Type	Needs Analysis / Notes
1	Neighborhood Park	a. Neighborhood Parks have the smallest service radius (0.4 miles) and lowest population ratio requirements because they are the simplest and most immediately accessible recreation facilities. b. In addition to the designated Neighborhood Parks listed in paragraph 3.1 above, other recreation facilities also serve the function of a Neighborhood Park. If there is well maintained open space, benches or picnic tables, and/or playground facilities, these other facility types will be counted as Neighborhood parks for this analysis. All local Elementary Schools and all Community Parks meet this definition. c. Because of the lower population ratio requirements, this analysis requires that all points within the three population areas of the Parks District (Hood River UGB, Odell and Parkdale) have at LEAST two Neighborhood Parks within the service radius distance of 0.4 miles. The best way to look at this is to use a set of maps, with radiuses drawn around all functional Neighborhood Parks (see (b) above) and identify any areas within the three population areas that are not covered by at least two parks. Three maps in Appendix D present the Neighborhood Parks service radius coverage: Figure E: Neighborhood Parks – Hood River UGB Figure F: Neighborhood Parks – Odell Population area Figure G: Neighborhood Parks – Parkdale Population area d. CONCLUSIONS: By looking at the three Neighborhood Parks service radius coverage maps, some needs are identified: 1. Hood River. The west side of the UGB, from about Rand Road to the end of the UGB is only lightly covered and has areas with no coverage. Additionally, the Adams View park is very small and does not provide the ability to service beyond its immediate residential area. At least three parks that meet Neighborhood Park Standards are required in this area. 2. Hood River. South East corner of UGB. Currently this area is only covered by Culbertson Park and coverage by at least one additional park is required. 3. Hood River. South near Indian Creek Road and Brookside. An area of development here requires second park coverage. 4. Hood River. Waterfront. If residential development is part of the waterfront development, that area will need park coverage from one to two parks. 5. Odell. Only Mid Valley Elementary currently serves this park function. At least two new parks are required to cover the residential area in Odell. 6. Parkdale. No new park facilities are required in Parkdale to meet the Neighborhood park level of service requirements (though facility upgrades may be required). 7. The population based LOS analysis in Table 7 above shows a Parks District wide deficiency of 4 Neighborhood Parks. If the Neighborhood Parks above are provided for, the population based deficiency identified in Table 7 will also be satisfied.
2	Baseball Field	With the larger 2-mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for Baseball fields. Note: The different levels of competitive youth baseball use different field geometries which were not considered in detail for this analysis. The baseball field at Jackson Park, for example, is not suitable for the younger players that use a smaller field. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Hood River. Reliance on the field space leased from St Mary’s Catholic Church to meet the needs of the smaller fields leaves this area at a high risk of not meeting the needs for these fields. Besides St Mary’s, fields are at Jackson Park and Hood River Valley High School. 2. Odell. The field at Mid Valley Elementary meets the level of service needs, but does not address different field sizes, leaving a segment of the population without an acceptable ballfield. 3. Parkdale. The field at Parkdale Elementary meets the level of service needs, but does not address different field sizes, leaving a segment of the population without an acceptable ballfield.
3	Softball Field	With the larger 2-mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for Softball fields. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Hood River. No Level of Service shortage. Two fields at Westside Elementary minimally meet needs for UGB. 2. Odell. No Level of Service shortage. Softball field at Wy’east Middle 3. Parkdale. No softball specific field provided in this area (currently sharing with baseball).
4	Soccer Field	With the larger 2-mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for Soccer fields. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Hood River. No Level of Service shortage. Fields at Westside Elementary, HR Middle, and Summit Christian used for competitive play. Other fields at May St Elementary. 2. Odell. No Level of Service shortage. Fields at WyEast used for competitive play. Other field at Mid Valley Elementary. 3. Parkdale. No Level of Service shortage. Fields at Parkdale Elementary.
5	Basketball, outdoor	With the larger 2 mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for outdoor Basketball courts. CONCLUSION: Outdoor Basketball courts at the public schools meet the level of service needs for all parts of the Parks District.
6	Tennis, Outdoor	With the larger 2-mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for outdoor Tennis courts. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Hood River. No Level of Service shortage. Courts at Jackson Park and May St Elementary. Additional court at Oak Grove is 10 minutes away. 2. Odell. There are currently no outdoor tennis courts in the Odell area. Need to provide this type of facility in this area. 3. Parkdale. No Level of Service shortage. Courts at Parkdale Elementary.
7	Nature Trails Access	With the larger 2-mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for nature trail access. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Hood River. East side of town is within service radius of Historic Highway trailhead. The rest of town is serviced by the Indian Creek trail segments. The parts of the UGB to the West are at the very edges of coverage provided by the Indian Creek Trail. 2. Odell. Currently no facility meets this need. At least one Nature trail access point is required. 3. Parkdale. Currently no facility meets this need. At least one Nature trail access point is required. 4. The population based LOS analysis in Table 7 above shows a Parks District-wide deficiency of 3 Nature trail access points. Note: At the time this Master Plan is being generated, Hood River County is studying trail assets on County land and will coordinate the development of a number of new multi-use trails. This County effort will provide access points and trails needed in Odell and Parkdale and a future review will need to address remaining deficiencies.
8	Open Space Access	With the larger 2-mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for Open Space Access. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Hood River. East side of town is within service radius of Historic Highway trailhead. The rest of town is serviced by the Indian Creek trail segments and associated open space. There are other open space areas designated within the UGB that are currently undeveloped and formal delineation and access points to these areas are not provided. The parts of the UGB to the West are at the very edge of coverage provided by designated open space areas. 2. Odell. Currently no facility meets this need. Tucker Park is closest area that meets this requirement but is beyond the service radius from the population center in Odell. At least one protected open space access area is required. 3. Parkdale. No Level of Service shortage. Tollbridge Park meets this need. 4. The population based LOS analysis in Table 7 above shows a Parks District wide deficiency of 11 Open Space access points.
9	Gymnasium (indoor Basketball and Volleyball)	With the larger 2 mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for Gymnasium access. CONCLUSION: Access to public school gymnasiums meets level of service needs.
10	Community Park	With the larger 4-mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for Community Parks. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Hood River. No Level of Service shortage. Met by Jackson and Marina Parks 2. Odell. There are currently no Community Parks in this area. Tucker Park provides some of the requires services, and Mid Valley Elementary provides some of this function. A discussion with the residents of this area is required to determine if these two facilities meet the level of service need for a Community Park. 3. Parkdale. No Level of Service shortage. Toll-bridge Park provides this service, and Parkdale Elementary has sufficient recreational resources to meet this service need.
11	Activities Center	With the larger 4 mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for Activities Centers. 1. Hood River. No Level of Service shortage. Community Education programs in the public schools, the HR Aquatic center, and the private sports clubs meet this need. 2. Odell. No Level of Service shortage. Community Education programs in the public schools meets this need. 3. Parkdale. No Level of Service shortage. Community Education programs in the public schools, the Mt Hood center, and the old Parkdale School provide facilities for these needs.
12	Football field	With the larger 4 mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for Football Fields. CONCLUSION: Football fields at the public schools meet the level of service needs for all parts of the Parks District.
13	Running track	With the larger 4 mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for Running Tracks. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Hood River. No Level of Service shortage. Tracks are at the High School and HR Middle School. 2. Odell. No Level of Service shortage. Track is at Wy’east Middle School. 3. Parkdale. No Level of Service shortage. Tracks at Parkdale Elementary
14	Picnic Shelter	With the larger 4-mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for Picnic Shelters. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Hood River. No Level of Service shortage. Covered areas are at Marina Park. 2. Odell. No Level of Service shortage. Covered areas are at Tucker Park. 3. Parkdale. No Level of Service shortage. Covered areas are at Toll-bridge Park. 4. The population based LOS analysis in Table 7 above shows a Parks District-wide deficiency of 4 Picnic Shelters to be located as appropriate in the implementation of larger Parks District parks facilities.
15	Mt Bike Trail Access	With the larger 4-mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for Mountain Bike Trail access. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Hood River. Currently no facility meets this need . Indian Creek Trail, being primarily flat and heavily used by pedestrians does not meet this requirement. At least two mountain bike access points (one West and one East) are required. 2. Odell. Currently no facility meets this need. At least one Mountain Bike trail access point is required. 3. Parkdale. Currently no facility meets this need. At least one Mountain Bike trail access point is required. Note: At the time this Master Plan is being generated, Hood River County is studying trail assets on County land and will coordinate the development of a number of new multi-use trails. This effort should provide access points needed to address shortages.
16	Outdoor / Beach Volleyball	With the larger 4 mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for Outdoor / Beach Volleyball courts. CONCLUSION: Two outdoor volleyball courts are required to meet the Level of Service needs. One in the City of Hood River and one in an appropriate development to service upper valley residents.
17	Racquetball	With the large 20-mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for Racquetball Courts. CONCLUSION: The Level of Service requirement for the Parks District is met with the three racquetball courts located at the Hood River Sports Club on Brookside Dr. in Hood River. .
18	Tennis, Indoor	With the large 20-mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for an Indoor Tennis Facility. CONCLUSION: The Level of Service requirement for the Parks District is met with the four courts located at the Hood River Sports Club on Brookside Dr. in Hood River.
19	Archery Range	With the larger 20-mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for an Archery Range. CONCLUSION: The Level of Service requirement for the Parks District is met by the private Appleknocker club archery range.
20	Campground	With the larger 20-mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for campgrounds. CONCLUSION: The Level of Service requirement for the Parks District is met by the large number (8) of campgrounds within the Parks District, provided by Hood River County and the US Forest Service.
21	Golf Course / Driving Range	With the larger 20-mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for a Golf Course. CONCLUSION: The Level of Service requirement for the Parks District is met by the two municipal privately owned Golf Courses near Hood River at Indian Creek and Hood River Golf Club.
22	Indoor Soccer / Roller Hockey	With the larger 20-mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for an indoor hockey / soccer facility. CONCLUSION: No facility is available to meet the level of service need for indoor soccer and roller hockey. One facility is required to provide level of service coverage to the Parks District.
23	Swimming Pools, indoor	With the larger 20-mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for a Swimming Pool facility. CONCLUSION: The Level of Service requirement for the Parks District is met by the Aquatic Center in Hood River, which also services other local communities and schools.
24	Ice Skating / Hockey Rink	With the larger 20-mile service radius, a map presentation is not required to analyze level of service requirements for an Ice Skating / Hockey Rink facility. CONCLUSION: No facility is available to meet the level of service need for Ice Skating / Hockey Rink. One facility is required to provide level of service coverage to the Parks District.

4.1.2 Level of Standards - Needs Conclusions

Individual needs (current shortages) for the three population centers of the Parks District, as identified in Table 8 above, are summarized in Table 9.

Table 9 – Level of Service Summary for Population Centers

Population Center	Summary of Level of Service Analysis Conclusions
Parkdale	Baseball Fields: The field at Parkdale Elementary meets the level of service needs, but does not address different field sizes, probably leaving a segment of the population without an acceptable ballfield. Softball Fields: No softball specific field provided in this area (currently sharing with baseball). Nature Trail Access: Currently no formally designated facility meets this need. At least one Nature trail access point is required. Mountain Bike Trail Access: Currently no formally designated facility meets this need. At least one Mountain Bike trail access point is required.
Odell	Neighborhood Parks: Only Mid Valley Elementary currently serves this park function. At least two new parks are required to cover the residential area in Odell. Baseball Fields: The field at Mid Valley Elementary meets the level of service needs for little league, but does not address different field sizes, probably leaving a segment of the population without an acceptable ballfield. Outdoor Tennis Court: There are currently no outdoor tennis courts in the Odell area. Need to provide this type of facility in this area. Nature Trail Access: Currently no formally designated facility meets this need. At least one Nature trail access point is required. Open Space Access: Currently no formally designated facility meets this need. Tucker Park is closest area that meets this requirement but is beyond the service radius from the population center in Odell. At least one protected open space access area is required. Community Park: There are currently no Community Parks in this area. Tucker Park provides some of the required services, and Mid Valley Elementary provides some of this function. A discussion with the residents of this area is required to determine if these two facilities meet the level of service need for a Community Park. Mountain Bike Trail Access: Currently no formally designated facility meets this need. At least one Mountain Bike trail access point is required. Outdoor / Beach Volleyball: No facility currently meets the need for outdoor / beach volleyball courts in the upper valley.
Hood River UGB	Neighborhood Parks: · The west side of the UGB, from about Rand Road to the end of the UGB is only lightly covered and has areas with no coverage. Additionally, the Adams View park is very small and does not provide the ability to service beyond its immediate residential area. At least three parks that meet Neighborhood Park Standards are required in this area. · South East corner of UGB. Currently this area is only covered by Culbertson Park and coverage by at least one additional park is required. · South near Indian Creek Road and Brookside. An area of development here requires second park coverage. · Waterfront. If residential development is part of the waterfront development, that area will need park coverage from one to two parks. Baseball Fields: Reliance on the youth field space leased from St Mary’s Catholic Church to meet the needs of the smaller fields leaves this area at a high risk of not meeting the needs for these fields. In addition to fields at St Mary’s, there are fields at Jackson Park and HR High School. Softball Fields: Two fields at Westside Elementary minimally meet needs for UGB. Open Space Access: No Level of Service shortage, but designated open space within the UGB is currently undeveloped and formal delineation and access points to these areas are not provided. The parts of the UGB to the West are at the very edge of coverage provided by designated open space areas. Mountain Bike Trail Access: Currently no formally designated facility meets this need . Indian Creek Trail, being primarily flat and heavily used by pedestrians does not meet this requirement. At least two designated mountain bike access points (one West and one East) are required. Outdoor / Beach Volleyball: No facility currently meets the need for outdoor / beach volleyball courts in the UGB.

In addition to the facility requirements outlined in Table 9, the population based LOS needs of Table 7 identify a number of additional Parks District deficiencies. Different from service radius needs, these shortages should be considered when planning facilities within the Parks District.

1. Nature Trail access points. In addition to the location specific needs above, at least one additional trail access point should be provided. This can be done though design (or formal designation) of trail systems through the Parks District.

2. Open Space access points. In addition to the location specific needs above, at least two additional open space access points should be provided. This can be done though design (or formal designation) of protected open space through the Parks District.

3. There is a Parks District-wide need for four more Picnic Shelters to be included in future large park developments.

4. There is a need for one Indoor Roller-Hockey / Soccer facility.

5. There is a need for one Ice-Skating / Hockey facility.

4.2 Physical Inspection of Facilities

The second method of assessing the Parks District’s needs involves physically inspecting current facilities to determine the physical condition and functionality of existing facilities. In May of 2004, the Parks District physically examined its existing facilities and found that many of the City’s existing facilities are in need of upgrade, repair or replacement.

4.2.1 Parks, Open Space, and Greenways

Hood River’s developed parks are average size and are generally in good condition, but most could be improved by adding new equipment, etc. The Parks District improved the City’s Wilson Park and Jackson Park in 2001 and 2002 respectively, adding new play structures. Protected open space exists within the City and throughout the Parks District, but these spaces are not well identified and designated access points to the open spaces are generally not provided. While Greenways are more abundant, they offer limited recreational opportunities because they lack accessibility and improved pathways or pathways are not in sufficient condition to accommodate hiking and bicycling. Furthermore, because of outdated facility designs, people with disabilities cannot fully access most playgrounds and recreation facilities.

4.2.2 Recreational Facilities

With the exception of the Hood River Valley Aquatics Center, the City’s other major recreational facilities are located at public schools and are generally in good condition. Baseball/softball and soccer fields have been upgraded and added at several school facilities as a part of the voter approved November 1997 bond measure. Level of use at ball fields (primarily multi-use soccer, lacrosse, football) in Hood River and Odell is high, resulting in over-use damage at some times of the year and resultant field restrictions to allow turf re‑generation.

The Aquatics Center is generally in excellent condition. Noted deficiencies are primarily outside the building.

4.3 Needs Assessment Survey

In early 2003, the Parks District formed a citizen committee to survey the public with the goal of providing another perspective for the needs assessment to be presented in this Master Plan document. The Survey Committee was comprised of Parks District Board members, representatives from the City of Hood River, Hood River County, The Port of Hood River, and citizens at large. The Survey Committee designed a survey, and planned how to best survey Parks District residents.

In April 2003, a public opinion survey was distributed through the local newspaper, through presentations to interested groups, at open public events, and were made available at the Aquatic Center. In an effort to include all Parks District residents, special care was given to distribute the survey across all age groups. More than three hundred thirty (330) surveys were returned with comments. Scientific methods to ensure a statistically valid data set without data biases were NOT employed in the completion of this survey and results should be reviewed as guidance only.

A copy of the survey and summary of responses are included as Appendix A.

The survey was divided into different sections to provide targeted information for the Parks District. Key information provided by the survey results are as follows:

· Top five facility categories visited (total reported visits):

1. Columbia River Waterfront Sites ………… 9,963 visits.

2. School Playgrounds/ Sports Fields ………… 7, 183 visits.

3. City / County Parks ………………….. ……. 6,282 visits..

4. Aquatic Center………………...…………… . 3,856 visits.

5. Indian Creek Trail…………...………...……. 3,265 visits.

· Top five most needed facilities/activities (in order of tallies)

1. Biking / Hiking Trails / Wildlife access (78)

2. Rec Center / Community Center / Indoor Sports (61)

3. Water Access (Whitewater and Columbia) (44)

4. Ball Fields / Sports complex (41)

5. Community Parks (dog parks, new parks, updated equipment) (38)

· Top three facilities needed for special use (Ranking out of 7 choices given):

1. Large Riverfront Park

2. Large Indoor Recreation Center

3. Sports Complex

· Natural open spaces ranked number one as the most needed type of Park in the Hood River Valley out of four choices of park development types.

· The number one ranked area that the Parks District should spend most of its effort on is maintaining parks, open spaces and trails. Number two is expanding and renovation existing parks, open spaces and trails.

· Given a scale of 1-5 (1 being poor and 5 being excellent,) residents rated existing facilities and parks in five different maintenance categories:

· ~ condition of plant, grass, and trees 52% rated 4 or higher;

· ~ keeping parks free of trash 43% rated 4 or higher;

· ~ maintenance of play equipment play areas 44% rated 4 or higher;

· ~ removal of graffiti 47% rated 4 or higher;

· ~ cleanliness of restrooms 66% rated 4 or higher.

4.4 Community Priorities and Opportunities

Within an active community there are often recreational facilities where the interest is maintained at a high level by the residents of the community. In this Parks District, at the time of this document update, there are four such items:

A Waterfront park development on the Columbia River in Hood River.
A ball-field complex that meets community field needs.
A Community Center / Teen Center.
Completion of a loop trail system in and around the Hood River UGA
PacificCorp property transfer process along the Hood River.

4.4.1 Columbia River Waterfront Park

The natural state property along the City of Hood River Columbia River waterfront is owned by the Port of Hood River. Discussions have been ongoing for many years with the goal of finding a mutually agreeable zoning definition for future use.

In April 2005, the City of Hood River and Port of Hood River were working on a Intergovernmental Agreement to transfer a large parcel on the Columbia River to the City for use as a Park. As part of the IGA, a committee will be formed to design and study funding of park development and maintenance.

4.4.2 Ball Field Complex

The ball field complex has been a priority for not only this Board of Directors of the Parks District but as well for other boards. A preliminary plan was developed in 1996 that included a 30-acre development, and an un-achieved goal prior to the bond vote in 1998 was to develop a ball field complex.

The benefits and reasons for pursuing a ball field complex include:

· Field use continues to grow and use at existing fields is typically heavy.

· A larger complex will provide the features and benefits of a Community Park – being a healthy gathering point for a broad section of the Parks District population.

· Allowing a number of simultaneous games would allow for hosting of area tournaments (State and Region) that would provide significant economic benefit to local businesses.

· Reliance on the field space leased from St Mary’s Catholic Church to meet the needs of the smaller fields leaves this area at high risk of not meeting the needs for these fields.

· Existing fields often do not address the different field sizes needed for the different levels of youth sports. The baseball field at Jackson Park, for example, is not suitable for the younger players that use a smaller field.

· Level of use in at ball fields (primarily multi-use soccer, lacrosse, football) in Hood River and Odell is high, resulting in over-use damage at some times of the year and resultant field restrictions to allow turf re‑generation.

Design elements of a larger facility would address a wide spectrum of uses and include meeting the needs of the community in the following areas:

Soccer Baseball Softball

Ultimate (flying disc) Playgrounds Restroom

Concessions Storage building Parking

Jogging/fitness Picnic Area

This facility could provide potential synergy / co-location with a Community / Teen Center and/or Indoors Sports buildings (soccer, roller-hockey, basketball, etc.); and could be located in conjunction with future Hood River School District Schools.

Development Costs

Rough Estimates for a small complex that includes a three-field youth/adult complex with simple restroom/concession/equipment building and adequate parking will run from $1 to 1.5 million for development-this does not include land cost or costs for a large building for indoor activities. This includes good basic drainage, good irrigation.

Maintenance Costs

These cost can very considerable depending on the degree of maintenance, if equipment is amortized into the costs, depending on the surface-synthetic turf versus grass, volunteers etc…A rough cost estimate is anywhere from $3000-$8000 an acre.

4.4.3 Community Center / Teen Center

Historically Hood River County has worked toward providing its youth with a place to go during after school hours to recreate, socialize, perform and learn. A variety of sites and activities has been developed over the last few decades depending on funding sources, overseeing agencies or groups, and prevailing philosophy.

Teen or youth centers in the last 20 years have been located at a variety of churches typically for congregation youth and their friends. In addition, other agencies, groups and businesses have worked toward the development of a sustainable youth center including:

The National Guard Armory in the 1980s with a focus on teen dances developed by Hood River Valley High School’s OSSOM Club under the guidance of Bob Level.
At the Hood River Swimming Pool, with the lobby having pin ball games for youth as well as swimming and dance activities under the direction of Bob Level.
Through Hood River Middle School and Wy’east Middle School funded through the Three Valley’s collaborative board, working through a Rockefeller Foundation grant.
At two local restaurants, Kampai and Brian’s Poor House in Hood River that donated their facilities on specific evenings each week.
At Mt. Hood Towne Hall in 1998-1999 through the Commission on Children and Families, Parks and Recreation and Mt. Hood Towne Hall
At Cascade Locks City Hall 1999-2005 through Cascade Locks Interested in Kids.
At Hood River Expo Center in 1998-1999 through the Commission on Children and Families, Parks and Recreation and the Port Commission.
At private businesses on the heights with focus on video games.
Club Rio at the Tucker Road Site 2001-02. Private, Mr. Castro.
At all school sites in after-school programming through Project PM in 2000-2004.
At all school sites through Community Education in school Lights On project 1980 through present.
Faith Connection project to unite churches in working with youth at a youth center in Hood River County- Maija Yasui 2003-2008. Purchase of facility by Hood River Alliance Church at 11^th and June Street. Work towards development of youth center.

Other agencies or groups involved have included Hood River County, Commission on Children and Families, Parks and Recreation, Hood River Lion’s Clubs, Community Education, Hood River County School District, City of Hood River, City of Cascade Locks, several developers, The Next Door, Inc., and the Port of Hood River.

It remains a community priority to provide for a Teen Center / Community Center to continue and expand this history of assistance. A permanent facility to provide these services should be a community-wide goal.

4.4.4 Loop Trail System in and around Hood River UGA

In the early 1990s, city planning worked on plans for a trail network that would link the City of Hood River to a network of trails. This work was initiated to meet Oregon State Planning Goals 5 and 8

and stated objectives to complete a Columbia Trails network along the Columbia River corridor.

Continuing on from the existing and in-work Indian Creek trail, the loop trail system would provide an extensive set of trails that would connect downtown to the Historic Highway trail, the Post Canyon trails, and along the Hood River to Powerdale Dam.

4.4.5 PacificCorp Property Transfer Along Hood River

In 2012, 468 acres along the Hood River, stretching from Powerdale Park south to the Copper Dam, will be handed over from its current owner, PacificCorp, to an entity who will manage the land in a manner consistent with the goals of the conservation easement placed on the property.

The property currently has an established trail alongside the Hood River and natural state parks at each end. This section of the Hood River is popular with anglers and kayakers.

The Parks District is a member of the committee charged with identifying the new property owner and ensuring that the goals of the conservation easement are being met.

Those goals are:

Goal 1: Protect the existing fish and wildlife habitat while allowing for habitat restoration and enhancement;

Goal 2: Retain existing recreational uses and allow improvements commensurate with those uses, provided such uses and improvements are consistent with Goal 1;

Goal 3: Allow for expanded recreational and educational opportunities, provided those are consistent with Goal 1;

Goal 4: Acknowledge and preserve the right of CTWS tribal members to exercise their Treaty secured off-reservation fishing rights on the Subject Lands by utilizing the Subject Lands to access usual and accustomed fishing sites.

In addition to the 468 acres, PacificCorp has agreed to put $154,500 into a fund to help offset annual operational and maintenance costs associated with meeting the above goals.

5 Parks District Development Priorities

Priorities for each recommended development have been set by the Parks District board and reviewed with the City of Hood River and Hood River County. Priorities are expected to change as time progresses and community needs and opinions evolve. Three levels of Priority are assigned:

Priority 1: A primary development goal – actively pursued by the Parks District.

Priority 2: Opportunities to develop should be acted on as they present themselves.

Priority 3: Acknowledged as a facility need, but not actively pursued.

Identified Facility Need	Priority Level
Complete Skate Park development plan. Expand capacity and safety.	1
Columbia River Waterfront Park development. Parks District participation with Port, City and other entities to develop facility.	1
Complete Indian Creek Trail system in Hood River UGA	1
Develop needed Neighborhood Parks to address identified shortages: · The west side of the Hood River UGA. At least three parks that meet Neighborhood Park Standards are required in this area. · At least two new parks are required to cover the residential area in Odell. · South East corner of UGB. Currently Culbertson Park only covers this area and coverage by at least one additional park is required. · Waterfront. If residential development is part of the waterfront development, that area will need park coverage from one to two parks. · HR South near Indian Creek Road and Brookside. An area of development here requires second park coverage. · Other parks that meet unanticipated population growth areas or levels to ensure that small park spaces are immediately available to residents of urban growth centers.	1
Ball Field Complex. Addresses growth in demand, wear and tear on existing facilities, level of play supported by existing facilities and risk of losing baseball fields not on public land.	1
Expand system of trails to connect existing parks, trails or open space areas. Implementation concept plans (appendix C) for the HR waterfront, West Hood river parks development and loop trails development all address these needs. Examples are: Connect west end of Indian Creek Trail to Columbia waterfront; Connect waterfront to Historic Highway; connect east end of Indian Creek trail to a Hood River / Powerdale dam trail, complete segment two of Indian Creek Trail for public use. This development effort is a very long term goal and the expectation is that it will be implemented in small steps.	2
Complete Aquatic Center landscaping / upgrade plan. Expand access, capacity and aquatic recreation options.	2
Upgrade existing Neighborhood Parks and at other park or school facilities that provide Neighborhood Park service. Expand capacity and access. Replace outdated and dangerous equipment.	2
Community Park for Odell area. May be provided through development of new parks or upgrades to existing parks or school properties.	2
Expanded water access on the Hood River for white water kayaking, fishing, hiking, etc.	2
Outdoor / Beach Volleyball in Hood River UGB. Assumes use of existing park, School, or other public land for site of tennis courts.	2
Indoor Soccer / Roller Hockey Facility.	2
Tennis court to provide service to Odell area.	3
Disc Golf Course on existing park or natural state public open space.	3
Trailhead facilities for existing nature trails that are not formally designated. Need identified in Parkdale, Odell and West Hood River.	3
Signage, parking and formal access to Open Space that is not currently designated. Need identified in Parkdale, Odell and West Hood River.	3
Picnic Shelters. The population-based LOS analysis in Table 7 above shows a Parks District-wide deficiency of four Picnic Shelters to be included as part of a facility development plan.	3
Trailhead facilities and access to Mountain Bike trails that are not formally designated. Need identified in Parkdale, Odell and West Hood River.	3
Participation in planning and preparation for transfer of Pacific Power property along Hood River, scheduled for 2012.	3
Ensuring windsurfing sites are adequate. Windsurfing organizations are expected to pay major share of costs.	3
Participate in partnership of development and operation Ice Hockey / Skating Rink	3
Participate in development and operation of Community Center / Teen Center	3

6 Implementation

6.1 Guiding Principals

In planning and implementing parks facilities, we need to always keep in mind that the Hood River Valley is a special place, and we should strive to develop a network of facilities that will be a source of pride for generations to come. Taking this big-picture view of how the community uses developed parks facilities and implements these facilities will tie together the various neighborhoods, communities and environments that make up the Hood River Valley. Key to this goal is education of and participation by a wide spectrum of the local community in the planning and implementation of future parks facilities. Similarly, as existing funding providing only a fraction of the estimated costs for needed facilities, it is critical that we work together with local entities to implement our goals.

6.2 Implementation Concept Plans

The Parks District will develop and facilitate use of recreation facility Implementation Concept Plans to bridge the identification of a facility need (in this document) and the goal of having an integrated network of facilities that will be a source of pride for Hood River. These plans can be used by the Parks District, City and County Planning to coordinate goals and lead to acquisition of properties and easements that meet the goals of the big picture. An Implementation Concept Plan will be generated for each geographical area of the Parks District where needs are identified and priorities defined. The plans will be updated as development increases and the plans for each area are matured. Appendix C in this document contains the Facility Implementation Plans.

6.3 Cooperation with Schools and Local Governments

The Parks District will strive to expand on both development and maintenance partnerships with the County, City, School District and Port to provide for existing and expanded recreation facilities at the best cost and public good. Implementation of appropriate intergovernmental agreements will formalize both the development goals and long term operation of facilities. These cooperative agreements will also strengthen the community’s ability to win grant funding for recreational facility development through priorities coordination and planning.

6.4 Coordination with City and County Planning

Close coordination with County and City planning departments is key to implementing creative development plans that meet the goals of the Master Plan and Implementation Concept Plans. Planning offices are usually the first interface with proposed developments and it is at that early time that the integration of recreation facility plans can best be included. Planning experts have the knowledge and tools to be key in the process of fitting the different uses into a property development plan. With early notification of planned developments, the Parks District can best work with the planning departments to achieve the integrated network of recreation facilities.

6.5 Finding Incentives for Developers

The Parks District will work with developers and property owners to identify the benefits for all parties in the implementation of recreation facilities. By having a win-win agreement with property owners, the Parks District will be able to provide the goal of an integrated network of greenways and facilities, at the lowest cost to the residents of the community. Benefits to property owners may include:

Release / Description of Change	Release Date	Approved
Complete update of 1998 Master Plan. Extension of scope to include entire Parks District. All pages Changed.	April 8, 2005