Parks board seeks citizen input

An invitation has been issued by the City Parks Advisory Board to all residents of Sisters to come to the next meeting of the board on Wednesday, December 3 at 4 p.m. at city hall. The board wants to hear what local residents see as the purpose of Creekside Campground and what, if anything, they think should be done with the campground.

At their October 29 meeting, the Parks Advisory Board, made up of citizen volunteers and chaired by Liam Hughes, SPRD executive director, asked city staff to prepare a draft proposal for improvements to the campground, including wider roads, more full-hook-up spaces, new restrooms, and noise abatement along Highway 20.

On November 5, the board reconvened to review the draft plan. In attendance at that meeting were a number of neighbors who live adjacent to the campground and have multiple issues regarding what happens in their neighborhood because of the campground. Concerns were voiced about safety, noise, pollution of Whychus Creek, traffic congestion, air pollution from campfire smoke, illegally parked campers and motorhomes, and unsightly laundry hanging in campsites.

J. J. Yakovella, who lives on Locust Street two blocks south of the campground, questioned the benefit of the campground to the town:

"My tax money is being used to maintain and improve the campground and I don't see a benefit for the whole town. If you're going to do anything inside the park, you have to do something for the residents who live near it. It's becoming intolerable."

Coyote Springs resident Alan Hull mentioned that big rigs wandering through his neighborhood get trapped because of the trees that were purposely left in the area, necessitating their having to try to turn around and back up.

Another resident commented that it seemed as if the city wants to take a nice community campground and make it into something that isn't safe and wasn't planned for getting bigger.

"A lot can be lost if you make it 'usable.' It should be for tents and small RVs. It's not a KOA," she said.

Hughes summarized the various issues raised:

"Do you adapt the campground to the people who want to use it or keep it the way it is and exclude those who don't fit it?"

After visitor comments, Pauline Hardie, community development director, gave a visual presentation on suggested changes to the campground based on data collected this past summer, followed by more input from board members and visitors.

Nancy Connolly, newly elected member of city council and resident of the neighborhood across from the campground, raised a key question.

"What is the primary purpose of the park?" she asked. "Is it to create a revenue stream for the city? Is it to promote tourism in Sisters? Is it mainly for the enjoyment of the local residents?"

That question helped to focus the discussion and it was agreed that determining the purpose of the park needed to be established before any other issues could be addressed. At the December 3 meeting, there will be ample opportunity for people to voice their thoughts and concerns about the purpose of the campground and any possible improvements. If you are unable to attend the meeting, send a letter or email to Hughes or Hardie at city hall making your thoughts known.

Questions the board seeks input on include: What do you think the purpose of the park should be? Should the campground remain as is, with no improvements or changes? Does Sisters need or want to be able to offer hook-up sites for larger motorhomes? Should the campground be upgraded and/or enlarged? What do you want to see happen?

Members of the board, in addition to Hughes, who will be out seeking public input, are Phyllis Lewis, Dixie Eckford, Jackie Wright, Peggy Houge, David Magaret, Sisters High School student Rory Petterson, and non-voting member Wendy Holzman, city council representative.