Review the Parks Advisory Committee’s
designs and share your thoughts
on proposed updates.
Monday, March 7, 5:30-7 p.m.
Chester Bridge Memorial Community
Center, 555 Main St., Aumsville.
Light refreshments will be served.
A second open house, co-hosted by
the city council and planning commission,
will be held to review the proposed final
plans for Aumsville Parks
Tuesday, March 29, 5:30 – 7 p.m.
at the community center.
For information, call the city office at
503-749-2030.
By Mary Owen
A series of community meetings are underway to provide input into updates for Aumsville city parks.
“The Aumsville Parks Master Plan was first prepared and approved by the city of Aumsville in 1996,” said Dave Kinney, the community development consultant who is partnering with Brian Bainnson of Quatrefoil, Inc. in Portland to oversee the project.
“The plan provided a guide for parks development that has occurred in the community over the past 20 years and provided the basis for the city’s adoption of its Park Systems Development Charge that is collected on new development. This update will develop and overall parks plan for the city for the period 2016 to 2035,” Kinney said.
Kinney said the city is just starting the process. A Parks Advisory Committee has been appointed, and City Administrator Maryann Hills is providing staff leadership on the project.
“The committee will meet every two weeks for the next three months to complete a parks needs assessment, identify potential projects, develop a design concept for each city park, and identify priority projects,” Kinney said.
Committee members met in January and February to evaluate each park facility, identify constraints and opportunities, and provide ideas for Bainnson to develop conceptual ideas for each park site.
At the first meeting Jan. 13, committee members were asked what they hope comes from the project.
Member Barbara Silmak said she wants to see more green in the city, while Councilor Nico Casarez, who is also Aumsville’s Parks Commissioner, indicated he wants to maximize uses in the current parks as well as explore future options.
Aumsville Public Works Director Steve Oslie suggested citizens become guardians of the parks to assist public works department in keeping watch. He also recommended low-maintenance plants and asphalt paths.
Among other suggestions, it was visitors Gordon and Karla Willmschen who advocated putting in a BMX-type bicycle park in town. Jim Wallace added his support for rehabilitating the Porter-Boone gazebo. Corn Festival President Sonny Newsom asked the city to consider adding vendor space and moving the festival’s storage out of the flood plain, while Vice President Amy Evans attended to find out more information about the committee. Several of the visitors offered to become committee members.
“I am pleased Aumsville is known for its parks, and that Marion County commissioners support transferring the Aumsville Ponds to the city,” said Hills, who has been with the city since 1996 and was part of the first Parks Master Plan process. “We have a wonderful committee, and I look forward to hearing their thoughts.”
Future considerations for the committee include: cost estimates and financing options, landscaping designs, park standards and future improvements to each park, including buildings, play structures, courts, fields, paved/unpaved areas and parking.
Phase 3 of the project will be to provide the planning commission with a draft of the updated master plan to be reviewed and adopted by city council. The city council will review and consider a parks systems development charge update at that time. Public hearings may be held or a community-wide surveys may be used to ferret out issues on individual parks.
