Better Heritage Park Planning Process  

All Heritage Parks and natural areas should undergo a formal Heritage Park environmental assessment process.

Supporting Information

A Heritage Park Planning Process sequence, established in the 2018 PROS Plan Appendix (starting at p. 133) is:

1. 1. Assess and map physical and environmental resources. (Legal encumbrances, buildings, roads, trails, utilities, and historic maps; topography, wetlands, streams, buffers, wildlife usage, listed species, and ecological conditions)
   2. Plan land use (using Parks’ Landscape Classification system, as employed at Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park and North Kitsap Heritage Park).
   3. Identify restoration, safety, and development actions, such as types of recreation.

See 2018 PROS Plan Appendix p. 134 for “Developing Landscape Stewardship and Public Use Guiding Principles” and an example for Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park.

Why this is important to Kitsap County

Making appropriate conservation, stewardship, and maintenance plans will provide opportunities for healthy, sustainable, low-impact recreation and wildlife habitat for future generations. A thorough process to assess Heritage Parks will prevent expensive future legal challenges.

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