Jump into the planning process
Build it and they will come.
But first, Lincoln City Parks and Recreation needs to hear from you in a series of open houses for a new community park, beginning with the launch event at the Lincoln City Community Center on Friday, April 28.
The open houses will help with the development, planning and design of Lincoln City’s first new community park in more than 20 years. The 6.71-acre site is located in the Taft District, between SE 50th and 51st Street at the former Taft Elementary School site.
The open house is immediately following the Lincoln City Arbor Day celebration at the community center. Free snacks, crafts and activities will be on hand for all ages, courtesy of grant funding from Oregon Community Trees. There will also be the planting of a dogwood tree in the dog park, and the winner of the ‘Name this Tree’ contest will be announced.
“We are excited to move forward with park design by asking our community what they’d like to see,” Director Jeanne Sprague said. “This new park is a result of true community action and advocacy. The voices in our community have asked to have this park built, we’re listening and want to hear more. The construction of this community park in Lincoln City is needed, public sports fields, sports courts, playgrounds, gathering areas — all are needed.”
The April 28 event will be the first of three open houses, with two more following in June and August. The department will also be offering online surveys as another avenue for the public to give input.
At the first gathering, the design-build team will be sharing background information on the project and the public will be able to offer feedback on the types of amenities that people would like to have in the park. This community feedback will be used to develop concept designs that will be shared with the public for input in future open houses.
In 2022, the parks department received $1 million in state funding for development of the new park. State Representative David Gomberg, who represents District 10 in the Oregon Legislature, worked collaboratively with district staff and the parks department staff and advisory board to champion funding for the new park.
“I’m convinced the new Community Park in Lincoln City will become a staple of this community, providing much-needed recreational space, opportunities for our kids and new business opportunities for the Central Coast,” he said. “This is a visionary use of the space and we’ll see the results for decades to come.”
Sprague is hoping that phased construction can start in late 2023 or 2024.
“Pending funding, we will build park amenities as we’re able,” she said. “We may need to start with construction of restrooms, playgrounds, or covered shelters and build on from there.”
The Friday, April 28, Arbor Day celebration begins at 4:30 pm and the open house begins at 5 pm at the Lincoln City Community Center located at 2150 NE Oar Place. For updates on the new community park development in Lincoln City, go tolincolncity.org.