Unusual County Park-School District Partnership Provides Neighborhood Parks in Washington State by Kay Tiller, Executive Regional Editor An unusual working agreement between the Vancouver, Washington School District and the Clark County Parks Department has meant more and nicer urban parks for many residents of the southern Washington city. Jayson Lee Middle School and Gaiser Parks were built on excess school property, property that was to be used for the "usual" school activities such as soccer and baseball fields and track. "The joint venture with Clark County meant that these school activities were well placed, but adding a recreation component to the parks made them neighborhood parks -- parks that everyone in that area could enjoy," said Project Landscape Architect Jim Walsh of J.D. Walsh & Associates of Vancouver. He continued, "We added jogging trails around the parks. In the play areas, Columbia Cascade swings, slides, and climbing devices helped us meet the new ADA codes. We also added picnic tables and benches, designed an easily maintained landscape, and provided for open space." In designing these parks, Walsh noted that his firm worked closely with the folks in the neighborhoods to provide what they wanted in "their" parks. "One of the best things that came out of that was the feeling of ownership that the residents of the neighborhood had in the parks. If someone was seen misusing the park in any way, they were asked to leave immediately, " he said. Another park, the H.B. Fuller Park in Vancouver was named after the H.B. Fuller Company, a local company that donated 30 acres of prime industrial property to the local Soccer and Little League (baseball) clubs. "We did some pro bono work on this project, and we also brought the Clark County Park Department into it," Walsh said. At the present time, a formal lease has been signed between the Soccer and Little League clubs, H.B. Fuller and the Clark County Parks Department to develop the park, according to Walsh. "The park will be completed in phases," he continued. "Two soccer fields and a baseball field, plus a picnic shelter and a play area, featuring Columbia Cascade equipment, have been installed. We also have completed a trail around the site." "This has been a grass roots effort in Vancouver," Walsh concluded. "There are people and companies contributing money, local contractors are contributing their services, and suppliers are pitching in with the supplies needed to get this going. It is a real success story -- proof that a combined effort can really produce a fine neighborhood park." LASN H.B. Fuller Park caption: Named after the Vancouver company which donated 30 acres of prime industrial property for use as a neighborhood park, H.B. Fuller Park will ultimately site two soccer fields, a baseball field, picnic shelter, and play area (pictured). Jason Lee Middle School caption: Jayson Lee Middle School (pictured) and Gaiser Parks were built on school property intended for the "usual" school activities -- soccer, baseball, track -- but the joint venture with Clark County meant a recreation component could be added, suiting them to enjoyment by the entire neighborhood. Gaiser Neighborhood Park caption: Neighborhood residents have demonstrated a feeling of ownership in Jayson Lee Middle School and Gaiser Parks (pictured), in part because the consultants worked closely with the folks in the neighborhoods during the design phase to determine what was wanted in "their" parks.