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Parks Advisory Board
Posted on March 12, 2025Parks Advisory Board
The Parks Advisory Board (PAB) seems to be sidelined throughout the Draft PROS Plan. The PAB needs to be properly included in the development of the PROS Plan and its role presented in the Plan.
The PAB, established through Kitsap County Code (Chapter 10.12), is an important body in the operations and governance of the Parks and Recreation Department. The Parks website says that the PAB “functions as an interface between the community and the county. […]
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Trails – Mixed Use and Safety Enforcement
Posted on March 12, 2025Trails: Mixed Use and Safety Enforcement
Many of the trails/roads in Heritage Parks are multiuse mixing bicycle, horse and pedestrian traffic. Many walkers are accompanied by pets on leash. When bicyclists exceed 10 MPH, this creates a dangerous situation. In Appendix D under safety concerns, several respondents voiced their concern about excessive bike speeds on these trails. Shouldn’t the 2025 PROS Plan address ways to control excessive bicycle speeds in county parks such as signage at park entrances and additional monitoring? This is of particular concern in Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park. […]
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Parks Carrying Capacity
Posted on March 12, 2025Parks Carrying Capacity
We want people, especially Kitsap residents, to love our parks, but we don’t want them to love them to death. Too many visitors and pets simultaneously using a park can damage trails, disturb native animals, degrade the natural environment and user experience. So, some thought should be given to the carrying capacity for visitors in Kitsap County nature parks. This idea was previously presented in the draft North Kitsap Heritage Park Master Stewardship Plan. […]
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Park Classification
Posted on March 12, 2025Park Classification
An effective and well-structured classification system is essential for the proper management and maintenance of our parks, in order to cater to the diverse needs of our community. The new proposed classification system outlined in the draft PROS 2025 plan requires further study and public engagement to ensure its success. This will allow the public to fully comprehend the system and would foster a sense of ownership and stewardship. […]
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Comparison of 2025 to 2018 PROS Plan
Posted on March 12, 2025Comparison of 2025 to 2018 PROS Plan
The 2025 PROS Plan has the task to build on and make updated improvements from the previous 2018 PROS Plan. Instead the draft 2025 version is a rewritten document that doesn’t reflect back to 2018, eliminates or adds goals not presented for public discussion and doesn’t always align with the current Comprehensive Plan. As stated in the 2018 PROS Plan Preface (p.5) “The PROS Plan is intended to refresh and update”, and as stated in the Purpose section (p. 5), “is an element of the Kitsap County’s Comprehensive Plan.” The current draft PROS Plan poses concerns regarding that lack of progression and connections which are addressed specifically in other sections of this comment. […]