Category Overview
Local Parks grants help protect these symbols of vibrant communities, providing places for families to gather and play and promoting a healthy and active lifestyle in an era when people spend increasing amounts of their time inside. The WWRP is the largest source of local parks funding in Washington, helping communities fund the acquisition, development, and renovation of vital recreation areas and green spaces.
Project Highlights
In its 2000 Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan, Kitsap County documented significant deficiencies in virtually all elements of park and open space facilities in the County. That plan also identified the County’s primary role in meeting those deficiencies as providing large, regional “Heritage Parks” throughout the County. Heritage parks are sites large enough (300 acres, minimum) to remain largely undeveloped, while providing for passive active recreational needs and preserving environmentally sensitive areas. Since that plan was adopted, the County has acquired heritage park sites in South and Central Kitsap, but has no such facilities in North Kitsap (NK). The County conducted a thorough search for possible sites in NK, and an analysis of the top five sites. There was press coverage and public involvement in the selection process. The site chosen, by a wide margin, as best suited as a Heritage park is the subject of this application. It is 426.11 acres in size, with the potential for future expansion to double that size — large enough to accommodate a wide range of active uses and trails, while protecting sensitive areas. It is conveniently located to the major population centers of NK: Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island, Kingston and Indianola. A large part of the site has soils and topography ideally suited for fields, for which there is a significant, documented need. The site contains environmentally sensitive headwater springs of Miller Creek — a salmon stream on which the Suquamish Tribe has a fish hatchery.