Council approves Vancouver Innovation Center park parcel purchase, staff to develop outreach

The Vancouver City Council unanimously approved securing a forested parcel at the Vancouver Innovation Center (the VIC) to be developed as a community park. Councilor Fox asked about the scope of neighborhood outreach for park design and the schedule; Dave Prelyk, director of parks, recreation and cultural services, said staff will begin a roughly 90-day outreach period after closing and will typically consider approximately a two-mile radius for community parks. Prelyk said staff will use multiple outreach tools—postcard mailings, Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission engagement and community events—to reach neighborhood associations and other interested parties. Councilors and speakers emphasized the parcel’s ecological and recreational value. Janie Cabiness, chair of the Vancouver Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, described the parcel as an important link in a wilderness corridor from State Route 14 through Camas and urged preservation of the tract for wildlife and future generations. Council approved the item and directed staff to return with master-plan materials and updates to the Parks and Recreation Commission; staff said the outreach and master-plan approval process will be coordinated with the commission and shared with council.