2/6/23 Update

On Wednesday, February 8, 2023, staff will present park plan ‘Option D’ to the Parks & Recreation Commission as the preferred Reed Park master plan. The goal for the park planning process was to develop a master plan focused on improving park safety by expanding non-motorized access opportunities to and within the park, while still maintaining existing park elements that make Reed Park unique to our community. The proposed plan (Option D) achieves this goal.

Reed Park is a unique property performing a unique role within our park system. Serving as the only true vista point in our community, preserving access to the views as a pedestrian, or from a vehicle, was critical and we believe this plan strikes an appropriate balance between those opportunities. Another important element in the design process was improving pedestrian access to and throughout the park – much of the park’s historical use has come in the form of pedestrian use. From something as simple as providing a crosswalk at the park exit, to adding a separated paved trail throughout the entire length of the park, the new design provides the separation from vehicular traffic that the community desired.

A successful planning process relies on getting quality input from the community. Our outreach efforts included working with a Reed Park stakeholders’ group, which consisted of park neighbors, both immediate and in the greater Craig’s Hill neighborhood, park users, the American Legion, staff from the Kittitas Valley Event Center, Kittitas County Field and Stream, and staff from Ellensburg High School. The planning process also included two in-person and two virtual community open houses to hear what the community had to say. And lastly, 263 responses were submitted to an on-line survey where we asked the community questions: What do you like most about Reed Park? Is there any reason you choose not to use Reed Park (safety, lack of amenities, lack of interest)? Why or how do you use Reed Park? By and large what we heard from the public was a strong desire to maintain access to the views, both for pedestrians and those who wish to sit in their cars, increased park safety, areas to gather or sit, and maintaining the quiet passive nature of the park.

Of the four plans that the community had the opportunity to provide feedback on, the plan that was the most popular amongst the community and aligned most closely with the goals of the planning process was Option D. This plan will result in a park that looks different from the current park design, while at the same time still providing a similar unique experience our community has enjoyed for the last 90 years.

One of the roles of the Parks & Recreation Commission is to make recommendations to the City Council on matters related to park development and design. At their February 8 meeting, the Commission will decide whether to recommend the proposed park plan to City Council for final adoption at their March 13, 2023 Council meeting. The Commission and Council meetings are open to the public and will have an opportunity for the public to provide feedback on the preferred plan.