Madrone Wall Update- October 2006-edited

[elaine]

I've had to re-edit this, as some of you are curious as to what's been happening with the Madrone Wall. Below is a more thorough write up of where we're at. We're learning that there is a process to making this place a park, and although it's been somewhat painfully slow, there is a process.

 

At the September Parks Advisory Board (PAB) meeting with Clackamas County, the MWPC was told that the head of their parks department would have hard budget numbers in regards to the Madrone Wall. Specifically, the costs it would take to put in a parking area, contract an engineer to design it, costs for a bathroom facility ( port-o-potty vs permanent), and signage.

 

That information was not prepared for that meeting, unfortunately.

 

Keep in mind that the PAB is mainly made up of 12 volunteer citizens that care about their local parks, and they have little control over the budget that the County has. Three paid staff from their Parks Department are a part of the PAB meetings.

 

The Parks Department and PAB is currently finishing up their 3rd year of a 5 year master plan. Every 5 years, their PAB creates this wish list or to do list for improvement projects in their local parks. In January of 2007, they have 2 years left in their current plan, and it is at this time that they plan to look at inserting the Madrone Wall into their plan in addition to seeing what's left on their initial "to do" list of current projects or improvments to exisiting parks. The head of the parks department assured us that he would have some budget numbers in regards to the development of the Madrone Wall. They are waiting on the results of certain ballot measures in November, and they always review their master plan with 2 years to go, anyways.

 

In the meantime, the MWPC is researching grant opportunities with local and statewide businesses and agencies that assist in developing new parks.

 

Our Preservation Committee is in a position now that it has never been in, and that is one that the County respects and wants our involvement as this site gets developed into a park. They continuously invite us to their monthly meetings, and want to meet with such businesses and agencies that help provide grant opportunities. So that maybe the Madrone Wall will not have to take away from their other projects or improvments at their existing parks.

 

We're also in a good position with the County because one of our very own Committee Members is now on their PAB. Although he is a resident of Clackamas County, he does not live near the Madrone Wall site, so he does not officially represent that region between Carver and Damascus.

 

The public had even asked the County to re-open the site to access before the improvements were made, and they said no for a variety of reasons. One was the lack of parking to support the number of users that want access to it. Keep in mind that it wasn't only climbers that spoke up in support of preserving this site. Many of you that attending the public meetings heard the potential uses by hikers, science field trips for school kids, search and rescue practice, horseback riders, and so on.

 

Another reason that it isn't open yet is due to the fact that the property is zoned as timber, and not zoned for recreation. In order for the county to consider this a park space and allow recreation on it, an application for a conditional use permit would have to be done. It's not a complicated process, but it does take time and money.

 

We should know much more information come January 2007, but we need the County to come prepared with some budget numbers before we can even apply for grants to off set their start up costs.

 

We're really doing everything we can now, but we do not feel that the County is giving us the runaround or that this new park will not happen. It's just a very slow process. It should also be mentioned that their parks are not supported by general funds that get budgeted a set amount every year. Their parks are supported by the revenues that get generated by a public golf course, picnic shelter reservations, the Carver Boat Ramp, and entrance/camping fees at Barton Park. This is one of the very few park departments that solely operates on revenues to support their parks.

 

Thanks for all of the support! We're working as hard as we can to get this site re-opened as soon as possible!

 

Chris Carey, Keith Daellenbach, Mike Ferrell, and Kellie Rice

Madrone Wall Preservation Committee

www.savemadrone.org

[wayne]

Thanks Elain, sounds like its working ,albeit at government pace