Touch a truck, then plan a park

A Saturday, June 24, open house will offer the chance to have your say on plans for a new Lincoln City Community Park.

The open house coincides with the free Touch-A-Truck event in the Community Center parking lot. A free hot dog lunch, crafts and truck activities are on hand for all ages, courtesy of many local organizations including the City’s police, parks and public works departments, North Lincoln Fire & Rescue, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, North Lincoln Sanitary, Lincoln County Art Bus, Driftwood Public Library, Cub Scouts Pack 47, Lincoln County Girl Scouts and First Student Bus Company.

Come for the fun, and stay to give your input on the new park conceptual plans for the first new Lincoln City Community Park in more than 20 years. The 6.71-acre park site is located in the Taft District, between SE 50th and 51st Street at the former site of the Taft Elementary School.

Parks and Recreation Coordinator Sara Yaeggy will be on-site to offer translation services for the Latino community.

“Utilizing the feedback we received at our first open house, our online surveys and our parks master plan, we now have two conceptual park plans for the public to view and give input on,” Director Jeanne Sprague said. “These plans vary in both developed and natural park aspects. Please come join us in this conversation as we move forward on final park design.”

Feedback will be used to develop the final park design that will be shared with the public at the next open house event on August 29.

The park will offer new amenities to residents and visitors including sports facilities, a covered event area, playground, picnic areas and other gathering spaces.

“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,” State Representative David Gomberg 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 2024.

“Pending funding, we will build park amenities as we’re able,” she said. “We appreciate all the public support and input, as we continue to accomplish our park phases to build this new park for Lincoln City!”

The Open House and Touch-a-Truck begins at noon at the Lincoln City Community Center, 2150 NE Oar Place. For more information, go to lincolncity.org.