• Parks Carrying Capacity

    Posted on March 12, 2025

    Parks 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. […]

  • Park Classification

    Posted on March 12, 2025

    Park 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. […]

  • Comparison of 2025 to 2018 PROS Plan

    Posted on March 12, 2025

    Comparison 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. […]

  • PROS Plan 2025 – Overview of KEC Comments

    Posted on March 12, 2025

    The 2025 draft PROS (Parks, Recreation, and Open Space) Plan is now available for public review. The public comment period ends in a few days—Sunday, March 16, 2025. You need to use the PROS Plan Public Comment link to submit your comments.

    This is the first and only time that the Parks Department has scheduled for you to review this policy document. (It is unusual that there is only one opportunity for public review of a draft of such an important policy document.) The document includes major changes […]

  • The Role of Park Stewardship Program in Heritage Parks

    Posted on March 12, 2025

    Stewardship Roles

    The park Stewardship Program has operated for decades as community-based groups of concerned citizens organized to maintain and enhance the county’s heritage parks, often acting independently addressing approved park projects. This system worked well with little expense or staff time from Parks and was recognized in the 2018 PROS Plan. Park users frequently express appreciation of steward’s efforts. Over the last four years, this system has been gutted […]