CHAPTER 4 EXISTING PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES INVENTORY

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1 CHAPTER 4 EXISTING PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES INVENTORY Existing park and recreation sites and facilities provide the basis upon which to build a park and recreation plan for the city. This inventory of sites and facilities assesses their location, quantity, and quality, and provides the basis for comparing the existing supply against the present and projected future demand for recreation sites and facilities. The inventory also facilitates comparison with park and recreation goals and strategies, thereby enabling judgments to be made on the adequacy of the present system. CURRENT SYSTEM The current system of available recreational sites and facilities in or near the City of Westport is diverse in character. For example, an individual may participate in activities such as beachcombing, hiking, fishing, clamming, camping, tennis, picnicking, boating, surfing, bicycling, baseball, softball, and, wildlife viewing all within the Westport area. Not only are the types of recreational opportunities diverse, but so are the ownership patterns of recreational areas and facilities. In addition to the City owned parks, there are also land and/or facilities operated by the Ocosta School District, the Port of Grays Harbor, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the U.S. Coast Guard, and private recreation areas. This inventory includes the providers of public recreation opportunities. In addition, the scope of this inventory has been expanded to include recreation sites and facilities that are located outside of the City and are region-wide in nature. These region-wide facilities provide recreational services to residents of Westport and visitors. 13

2 MAP 4.1 Existing Recreational Sites in the City of Westport 14

3 TABLE 4.1 Existing Local Recreational Facilities Servicing the Residents of Westport Baseball Basketball Site Name Softball Football Soccer Tennis Indoor 1 Outdoor Play field Play Ground Picnic Table Pathway Shore Access Boat Launch Fishing Crabbing Support Facilities 2 Float 20/Promanade X X X Grand Army Memorial Park 1 Grays Harbor Lighthouse X Harms Field 2 X X Ocosta Elementary X X Ocosta High School X Port Park X X Westhaven Marina X X X Westhaven Marina Esplanade X X X X Westhaven Marina Observation Platform X X Westport Airport X Westport Bike Route X Westport Boat Launch X X 3 Westport City Park (Dorland) 1 1 X X X X X Westport Light Trail System X X X Westport Maritime Museum X Westport Public Restrooms X Facility Tally Indoor goals are not open to the public unless prior arrangements have been made. 2 Support facilities include: restrooms; benches; trash facilities, etc. 3 Represents 1 boat launch with three launch lanes. 15

4 TABLE 4.2 Existing State and Beach Access Recreational Facilities Serving the Residents of Westport Site Name Pathway Shore Access Swim Beach Picnic Table Camp Site Support Facilities 1 Grayland Beach State Park X X X X X Twin Harbor State Park X X X X X X Westhaven State Park X X X X Westport Light State Park X X X X South Beach Seashore Recreation Area, Ocean Beach Access Points Bonge X X County Line X X Grayland Beach X X X Hancok Street (unimproved) X Midway X X North Cove X X Ocean Avenue X Twin Harbors X X 1 Support facilities include: restrooms; benches; trash facilities, etc. 16

5 CITY OF WESTPORT AREA SITES Beach Access: Walking beach access is provided at Hancock Street (unimproved) and Ocean Avenue. Grand Army Memorial Park: Formerly under the Ladies Auxiliary of World War I ownership, this 8.4-acre site is currently in city ownership and offers a baseball field. It is also the home field for the Ocosta High School boy s baseball team and the local Babe Ruth baseball program. Grays Harbor Lighthouse: This historic lighthouse is managed by the South Beach Historical Society. Site amenities include, picnic tables, parking, and a viewing platform. Harms Field: This one and one-half acre site was donated to the city and is dedicated for youth activities. Facilities include two little league diamonds; bleachers; concession stand; and rest rooms. Pacific Avenue Park: This currently undeveloped site provides a waterfront park opportunity. This site is of historical significance, since originally it was the site of a passenger vehicle ferry to Ocean Shores. U.S. Coast Guard Recreational Area: This site is for active duty and retired personnel of the U.S. Armed Forces and their dependents. U.S. Coast Guard Residence Playground: This area, with playground equipment, is provided for active duty and retired personnel of the U.S. Armed Forces and their dependents. Westhaven State Park: Encompassing 79 acres, this day-use park provides picnicking, rest rooms and showers. Activities include ocean fishing, beachcombing, scuba diving, and surfing. The park also features views of scenic Half Moon Bay. Westport Airport: The airport provides an opportunity for recreational flyers and weekend visitors from further distances. The runway length is approximately 2,650 feet. Westport Bike Route: The signed route is located along paved city streets and follows the Westport Light Trail. Westport City Park (Dorland Park): This seven-acre wooded site has both flat and rolling terrain. Facilities include a covered picnic shelter, playground equipment, BMX track, tennis court, softball playfield, hiking trails, restrooms, and parking. It is also the home field for the Ocosta High School girl s softball team. Westport Light State Park: This 212-acre State Park is named for the Coast Guard lighthouse built in 1898 as a navigational aide for Point Chehalis at the south entrance to Grays Harbor. Facilities include, picnic sites, viewing platform, restroom, and 60-vehicle parking area. Westport Light Trail System: The trail, commonly referred to as the Dune Trail, extends from Ocean Avenue, through Westport Light State Park and Westhaven State Park, to the Westhaven 17

6 viewing tower (see Map 4.1 pg. 14). This trail provides an eight foot wide wheelchair accessible, paved surface for walking and biking, with viewing platforms and benches for public use and enjoyment. Westport Maritime Museum: The museum, administered by the South Beach Historical Society, offers visitors an educational experience of the historical fishing industry. On display is the Destruction Island Lighthouse Fresnel Lens. The museum is a focal point for numerous community festivals. Westport Public Restrooms: Restrooms are provided adjacent to the Marina and are ADA accessible. Port of Grays Harbor Facilities in the City of Westport Float 20/Promenade: The float provides access to the promenade and the marina for fishing and crabbing. The promenade provides a scenic waterfront walk. Port Park: This is a Port of Grays Harbor facility that provides a viewing tower offering quality views of the Pacific Ocean, Grays Harbor, and downtown Westport. Picnic tables are provided at the site, which are in need of repair after a January 06 winter storm. Westhaven Marina: This Port of Grays Harbor marina development provides restrooms; moorage for approximately 550 vessels; berths and launching for commercial, charter, and sport fishing vessels. Activities include sight seeing, fishing, and crabbing along the jetty and docks. Westhaven Marina Esplanade: The esplanade provides a walk along the marina with interpretive signage, and support facilities. Westhaven Marina Observation Platform: This platform provides a scenic overlook of the harbor and provides a picnic table, interpretive signage, and restrooms. This facility has received severe damage during a January 06 winter storm and is in dire need of repairs. Westport Boat Launch: This boat launch provides three paved launch lanes and parking for over 120 vehicles with trailers. OCOSTA SCHOOL DISTRICT Elementary School Complex: The elementary school provides basketball goals, football/soccer field, open play area, and playground equipment. High School Complex: This complex includes a football field, track, gym, basketball goals, open play area, indoor volleyball courts, and public meeting facilities. COUNTY RECREATION AREAS Grays Harbor County Fairgrounds: Located east of Elma on the Old Olympic Highway, the site encompasses 63 acres and includes a 0.3-mile track for auto racing and 0.6 mile track for 18

7 horse racing. Other facilities include a grandstand, a multi-purpose pavilion of 55,000 square feet with a seating capacity of 3,000 people. Vance Creek County Park: Located just south of Elma, this County park offers day use for picnicking, boating, swimming, fishing, and walking. Playground apparatus and grass fields provide play space for children of all ages. Covered picnic tables, barbeques, restrooms, and paved parking are some of the facility amenities. The Grays Harbor County, Straddleline Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Sports Park: This ORV Sports Park is located on 150 acres at the Grays Harbor/Thurston County line off SR 8. The park features five miles of competitive and casual trails and access to the 80,000-acre Capitol Forest Multi-use Recreation Area. A sand drag strip, a fenced motorcycle track (4-wheel drive and other off-road vehicle tracks), a grandstand and hill climbing trails are also available. Facilities include year-round camping areas, restrooms, showers, a 3,000 square foot meeting hall, concessions, picnic areas with covered shelters available, recreational game area, and a dump station. STATE RECREATION AREAS Bonge Approach: This 0.5 mile beach approach is located just south of Westport. Facilities include picnic tables, unisex sanivaults, and vehicle parking. Bottle Beach: Located approximately five miles east of Westport on S.R. 105, this undeveloped site allows access to South Bay. The site provides opportunities for bird watching. County-Line Approach: The County-Line beach access provides a restroom and a nine vehicle parking area. Elk River Natural Area Preserve: Primarily located southeast of Laidlaw Island, this 2,927 acre preserve contains rare plant and animal communities and is managed for public education and scientific uses. Grayland Beach Approach: This beach access provides a restroom and parking for ten vehicles. Grayland Beach State Park: Located in Grayland, this 411 acre state park provides 60 campsites, all with trailer hookups; ocean fishing; beachcombing; hiking; yurt rental; and rest rooms. John's River Recreational Area: Located east of Westport on S.R. 105, this 1,528 acre site provides a boat launch, fishing, hunting, walking trail, and unisex sanivault. Midway Approach: This beach access provides a unisex sanivault. North Cove Approach: This beach access also has a unisex sanivault. Newskah Creek Recreational Area: Located five miles west of Aberdeen on S.R. 105, this 165 acre area provides recreational opportunities. 19

8 South Beach Seashore Recreation Area: This area encompasses the ocean beach in Grays Harbor County from the county line extending north to the South Jetty, includes eight area ocean beach accesses. It was created in March 1967 to maintain the ocean beach for public use. Twin Harbors Approach: This 2-acre access site provides picnicking and restrooms. Twin Harbors State Park: South of Westport, this 172 acre state park provides 272 standard campsites and 49 with trailer hookups; shelters; hiking; picnicking; rest rooms/showers. Activities include ocean fishing and beachcombing. Note: The County-Line, Grayland, Midway, and North Cove Ocean Beach accesses are all in Pacific County. FEDERAL RECREATION AREAS Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge: The Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge is located at Bowerman Basin directly west of the City of Hoquiam. Administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this refuge provides approximately 1,800 acres to preserve critical shorebird resting and feeding habitat. Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary: The sanctuary, administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration extends from Koitlah Point on the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the south end of the Copalis Wildlife Refuge. The primary scope of regulations for the sanctuary includes a prohibition against oil and gas development; restrictions on discharging or depositing any material; restrictions on altering the seabed; and, a ban on flying motorized aircraft under 2,000 feet near the sanctuary's coastal boundaries and offshore wildlife refuges. Olympic National Forest: The forest, administered by the U.S. Forest Service (Department of Agriculture) is located about 50 miles northeast of Westport. The multi-use management objective of the U.S. Forest Service allows for agricultural, forestry, mineral extraction, and recreational uses. Natural areas have been protected offering an extensive variety of recreational opportunities including: boating, canoeing, fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, lodging, picnicking, sailing, swimming, and tent and trailer camping. Olympic National Park: The park, administered by the National Park Service (Department of the Interior) is located about 70 miles north of Westport. The park encompasses and preserves in a natural environment possibly the finest example of an Old Growth rain forest in the world. The park also contains the majority of the Olympic Mountain Range featuring Mount Olympus which reaches an elevation of 7,965 feet as well as 57 miles of pristine coastline. Recreational opportunities are designed to be compatible with the ecology and include: backpacking, beach access, boating, canoeing, fishing, hiking, lodging, mountain climbing, picnicking, scenic vistas, and tent and trailer camping. 20