Reed Park Master Plan Adopted

At their March 18, 2024 City Council Meeting, the Ellensburg City Council unanimously passed 'Reed Park Master Plan Option A (February 2024)' 7-0. The plan addresses pedestrian safety concerns brought forward by the community by creating a separated pathway throughout the park, maintains the total number of parking stalls at the park and American Legion, preserves the overlook viewpoint, and provides much needed park infrastructure improvements. City staff would like to thank the community for all the feedback that has been provided regarding the plan over the last two years. Throughout the master planning process, we have been reminded time and again how important this park is to the history of our community, and we believe the plan adopted by Council will continue to honor that history and create many more memories for generations to come.

Please click on the link to view the March 18, 2024 park presentation City Council Meeting March 18th, 2024 (youtube.com) which starts at the 58-minute mark.

For more than a year, the City has been working on a park master planning process for Reed Park to address longstanding community concerns about pedestrian safety, park behavior, and driving behaviors of those entering, exiting, and using the park. Addressing these concerns with a new park design was requested in September 2020 by community members who live near the park and deal with these challenges every day. Revised Reed Park Option A (February 2024) is scheduled to be reviewed and considered for action at the City Council meeting on Monday, March 18, 2024, https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_azY6SvXLSp-VEd8naPnFpw.

Reed Park Master Plan Design Goal: to improve 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 the community.

Hillside Geotech Report (March 2023): Unrelated to the park planning process, the City had a planning-level Geotech report for Craig’s Hill completed in early 2023 as we embarked on a discussion with Kittitas County about resolving the incorrect parcel ownership and responsibility for the hillside slope and the appropriate any mitigation actions to be taken. This level of geotechnical evaluation is often completed to evaluate risk and explore mitigation. Any future projects that would be completed on the hill would require additional work and engineering. The report suggests that the slope has maintained its general configuration for some time (p.2).

Geotechnical Report for Pump Station Improvements (June 2023): The Geotech report that was completed for the Craig’s Hill Pressure Zone pumphouse project is a project-specific report that is required for any construction within a designated critical area (per City Code). If there were risks from this project work, the report would outline actions to address (mitigate) those risks through design or construction practices as part of the project work. It’s an example of the level of detail required before any project is done on Craig’s Hill. The report did not identify any geotechnical risks that needed to be addressed.

Phasing Plan: The City does not have a dedicated funding source for park improvements which necessitates implementing a four phased approach for park construction. Under this scenario the park will be built in three phases, depending on funding priorities.

Letter of Support from American Legion Post 8: On February 13, 2024 the Board of Director from the American Legion Post 8 submitted a letter supporting the revised park plan, expressing appreciation that their concerns about parking were heard and reflected in the park plan.

Revised Reed Park Option A (February 2024): This plan will be presented to Council for consideration at their March 18, 2024 meeting. This plan is a culmination of over two years of planning and community input. While not every concern voiced by the public can be addressed or reflected in the park plan, this option addresses many of the issues the community voiced throughout the planning process while still addressing park safety, pedestrian access, all while maintaining the unique elements which make Reed Park a very special for our community.

Changes from previous version of the plan include:

• No net loss of parking – Current parking configuration allows for 68-70 stalls, depending on the length of the parallel stall. The American Legion counted a total of 70 spaces in the Park and along Craig Avenue (using 19’ per parallel parking stall) and the City used 22’ per stall, yielding 68 parking spaces. The Revised Option A (February 2024) includes 69 parking stalls, yielding no net loss of parking stalls.
  
  

• Reduces the walkway from 10’ to 8’ throughout lower section of the park
• Includes a recommendation for four phases of construction which minimizes larger disturbances to the Legion and surrounding residences, provides the city the opportunity to identify additional park development funding sources
• Shifts the restroom building approximately 125’ east of where it was located in previous plans addressing safety concerns voiced by American Legion staff and customers

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the City considering changes to Reed Park at Craig's Hill?

In September 2020, a group of Reed Park neighbors approached the City Council and requested the City develop a new master plan for Reed Park to address the challenges the park causes for them. Some of the challenges brought forward include pedestrian safety, park behavior, the number of cars driving to and from the park, and the driving behaviors of those going to and from the park, along with how some people were using the park and causing nuisances and unsafe conditions.

These are not new issues. For over a decade, the City has received many complaints about unwelcome and unsafe activities in and around Reed Park. In 2018, over 60 residents and stakeholders attended a public meeting held at the American Legion, to discuss concerns about the behavior that takes place at Reed Park.

Is the City trying to take over the American Legion property?

No, the City is not trying to take over the American Legion property.

Is the City removing all of the Upper Parking on Craig’s Hill?

No. All proposed Reed Park design options allow for some legal parking along the bluff above the American Legion.

What features will the new Reed Park master plan include?

The Reed Park Master Plan concepts include an accessible ADA compliant walking path, picnic tables, benches, telescopes, and a bathroom.

What will happen to Rodeo parking?

City staff has worked with members of the Field Stream Club, the organization who oversees the overnight parking Labor Day weekend, to ensure that the park design options does not negatively impact overnight camping during fair and rodeo. ‘Free Loader’ hill will remain open for business.

How will the project be funded?

Park development will in all likelihood be phased using a combination of funding which could include; REET 2, Park Impact Fees, proceeds from the sale of Whitfield Triangle and sales tax reserves.

Reed Park Options

Elements Included in Park Options (revised Option A, Option D, and New Options E & F):

• ADA Public Restroom – when public parks are updated, people expect public restrooms as a standard amenity. All park designs have included a restroom, centrally located for park visitors who walk, roll, or drive to the park.
• ADA Walking Path – to improve pedestrian safety, all park designs provide a separate walking/multi-use pathway through the park. Some traffic calming solutions are proposed (narrowing of street at crosswalks, etc). Sidewalk extension from Alder Street connecting to the central walking path through the park.
• Trees – in order to reconfigure the park, several trees will need to be removed and replaced in new locations throughout the park. Many of the trees in the park are near end-of-life and will need to be replaced soon. Each plan provides for more trees to be planted than would be removed during construction.
• Fire Lanes – all park designs include adequate radius for trucks and fire apparatus on northbound and southbound Craig Avenue, and preserves the 20’ required fire lane for the American Legion assembly hall. The road same width is not required for residential facilities.
• Overlook Parking – This is where design options vary most. Each option includes some overlook parking, with varying design. Revised Option A is closest to the current park design, with separation between parking stalls. Option D provides for an extended green space for recreational use.
• Overlook Views – each plan configuration varies.
• Benches and spaces for leisure - each plan contains more benches, picnic tables, and telescopes to enhance park visitor experiences.
• Future bus pull-outs – these features are considered.
• Residential Access – Craig Avenue is a public street and access to existing residential properties has been provided in each design. Option D includes a “hammerhead” for fire apparatus, which is required where a driveway is more than 150 ft from the closest turn-around.
• Street Width – Street width for northbound and southbound Craig Avenue is compliant with fire codes and public works standards.

Reed Park Master Plan Process

The goal of the planning process is to develop a park 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.

Through the park master planning process, our elected officials are provided with the necessary information to make decisions about park design that reflects the community's wishes and desires. The first stage in park development is the design phase. This is where the community, stakeholders, and other interested parties can share their vision of the park. From this a master plan is developed. The second stage, and often the most challenging, is identifying the where the funding for the park development will come from. The final and most and exciting part is the construction of the park. This is where all of the public participation, planning, and partnerships come together.

Milestone #1: Community survey

Milestone #2: Public meeting to present the schematic master plans

Milestone #3: Create draft master plan

Milestone #4: Public meeting to refine the preferred master plan.

Milestone #5: City Council review & adoption (adopted March 18, 2024)

History of Reed Park and the decision to develop a Master Plan

Sitting atop historic Craig's Hill, Reed Park has served as a city park facility since 1933, providing our community with views of the city of Ellensburg, as well as much of the Kittitas Valley. Reed Park has historically been used for a variety of purposes, some of which are very unique. Reed Park is a place to see weather events unfolding in real time. The spot to take out of town guests to show them our beautiful city and surrounding area. A place for our local teens to talk and hang out. A cheap seat to an event taking place inside the rodeo arena. However, over the course of the last 10 years there has been a significant increase in the number of cars driving to the park throughout the day, to the point where it impacts not only the immediate neighbors of the park but those living along or near Maple Street, Alder Street, and Poplar Street.

At the September 8, 2020 City Council meeting, the Council heard from Reed Park neighbors requesting that the City develop a new master plan for Reed Park. Park neighbors shared their story of what it’s like living near the park, or along one of the streets accessing or leaving the park.

The message from the neighbors was consistent and clear: They have concerns with pedestrian safety, the number of cars driving to and from the park, the driving behaviors of those driving to or from Reed Park, and general park behavior. They stated that the community as whole is reluctant to use the park because of the behaviors and attitudes exhibited by those currently using park, the majority of which are thought to be high school and college age.

At the October 14, 2020 Parks & Recreation Commission meeting, a motion was passed recommending that the City Council move forward with making physical changes to the park. A second motion was passed recommending that the City use park impact fees to hire a landscape architect to handle the public participation process in developing a master plan that focuses on pedestrian safety, traffic circulation, and viewpoint access.

The Commission recognizes that the popularity and history of Reed Park necessitates the need for a comprehensive public outreach and participation process.

This page will be updated periodically. Subscribe to the City of Ellensburg's monthly e-newsletter for updates about Parks & Recreation and other City projects. For questions about Reed Park, contact Parks & Recreation Director Brad Case.