NorthCoastOregon.com

Local News

RARE AmeriCorp worker gets final project approved and fond farewell

compiled by Carrie Bartoldus

On July 22nd the Warrenton City Council unanimously voted to approve the Adopt a Park or Trail Program presented by Warrenton’s Trails Coordinator Sarah Shewell, a member of AmeriCorps’ Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE). After first reviewing the plan on July 14th, The Parks Advisory Board unanimously adopted the proposal and recommended the program to the City Commission. The Adopt a Park or Trail program is an organized way for the city to screen individuals or groups who want to assist the city by adopting a section of trail or a specific park. Since the persons applying to adopt a park are volunteers they are not required to do more then they choose to do, however, the city will assist in providing available parks or trail sections for the volunteer (s) to maintain at their convenience. Adopting a Park or Trail provides indirect ownership by an individual volunteer and therefore the volunteering provides many benefits to the city and to the individual. The program has been successful in many cities. Clatsop County and the City of Lebanon programs were examples used in putting this program together. The program would be administered by the Public Works Department with a job description being included in the RARE position to be filled with Shewell’s departure when her term expires at the end of August.

Also at the July 22nd meeting the City Council presented Shewell with a plaque of appreciation for all the work she had done the in the past year including the Adopt a Park proposal, assisted in finishing the inventory and mapping of the Warrenton Trail Network for the Trails Master Plan, as well as a highly successful tree planting project at Corruther’s park and numerous completed grant applications.

Warrenton’s Trails Master Plan will enable the existing trail system to be officially recognized as the City of Warrenton’s trail network and to expand this network to other parts of the City. The Plan also recommends improvements that will upgrade the existing system where needed, fill in the missing gaps, and connect to significant environmental features, schools, public facilities, local neighborhoods, historical sites and business districts in Warrenton and throughout the region.

The goal of the Warrenton Trails Master Plan is to create a comprehensive network of trails that links destinations, natural features, historic landmarks, community facilities, other transportation facilities, neighborhoods, businesses, regional trails, adjacent communities, and state and federal parks. This trail system will provide connections for residents to travel to work, to shop, and to recreate. It will also double as an additional tsunami evacuation route.

The Master Plan states that the trails increase the quality of life which can make an area more attractive for business relocations and in-migration. According to the National Association of Homebuilders, the most desired amenity of prospective buyers is trails. Trails connecting to parks generate economic benefits. Annual visitation to Fort Stevens State Park overall is about 1.4 million, including about 150,000 to the fort site; 350,000 to the campgrounds; and 900,000 to other day use areas in the park.

The Plan further explains that the Warrenton Trail System extends beyond the borders of Warrenton expands the opportunities for enjoyment of the entire North Coast region. The Warrenton Waterfront Trail connects to the Fort Stevens Trail Network at the Forest Stevens Park’s east gate located near Seafarers Park, and proceeds through the parks trail network which connects to “Burma Road” at its south end.

It goes on to detail how the road terminates at DeLaura Beach Lane, where the trail then utilizes the shoulder on DeLaura Beach Lane and turns east at the intersection with Ridge Road utilizing the shoulder. A proposed 1.2 mile section of trail will connect Ridge Road to the Fort to Sea Trail following the dune and riparian area adjacent to E. Neacoxie Ck. and the north east border of the Camp Rilea Military Installation.

A 1.5 mile section of the trail, from Ridge Road to DeLaura Beach Lane, utilizes the shoulders that are proposed for paving improvements by Clatsop County. This trail segment connects the N.E. Camp Rilea Trail and the shoulder trail segment along DeLaura Beach Lane.

Deatials include the Fort to Sea section of the trail, which will follow the route of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park’s Fort to Sea trail. Cyclists will go north to Perkins Road following it to the gated entrance to Old Stage Coach Road, and then proceeding on this spur of the Fort to Sea trail until it rejoins the main trail just before the vista point. Pedestrians will proceed directly along the Fort to Sea Trail to Fort Clatsop.

The Master Plan gives a history of how it came about stating that in 2002, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department completed a Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) 2003-2007 for Oregon. The outdoor recreation habits of 4,400 Oregonians and 800 residents from California, Washington and Idaho were surveyed in this study. The plan constitutes Oregon’s basic five-year strategy for outdoor recreation. It provides the state with up-to-date regional information and planning tool serving as the basis by which all Oregon recreation providers (state, federal, local and private) are able to: catalog and rank their recreation needs, obtain funding through partnerships and grants, and clarify their respective roles. The completion of the SCORP report allowed the state to maintain its eligibility to participate in the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). (The state has received approximately $235 million from the fund during the last 40 years.)

According to the Plan, to allocate LWCF monies in an objective manner, a set of Open Project Selection Process criteria were developed during the 2003- 2007 Oregon SCORP planning process. The Oregon Parks & Recreation Department uses these criteria to evaluate statewide LWCF grant proposals. Regional recreational trends and issues reported by recreational providers in SCORP have implications for Warrenton. For example: Recreational providers consistently report that the recreational infrastructure in Oregon is aging and needs rehabilitation. Recommendation was made to focus rehabilitation priorities on sites and facilities that satisfy current recreational need and ensure long-term performance.

SCORP states that people are taking shorter trips closer to home due to less disposable leisure time. The increase in gas prices since SCORP was adopted has also reinforced the desire to limit travel by visiting nearby destinations. Recreational trails are important to Oregonians. The growing number of diverse land and water trail users requires planning to provide additional trail facilities including inter-connected opportunities where appropriate.

SCORP has set the top three Region 1 priorities for Land and Water Conservation Fund LWCF funds
Funding for additional camping facilities
Funding for new and rehabilitated river access facilities.
Funding for additional recreation trails (non-motorized).
Projects that address these regional and statewide issues will be given
additional priority points in LWCF funding requests.

According to the RARE biography listing, Sarah Shewell was born and raised in the coastal community of North Bend, OR. She studied resource management and applied ecology at Oregon State University, and graduated summa cum laude with a bachelors degree in environmental science. After college, Sarah furthered her education and training in the environmental field by working for the Student Conservation Association and the New Mexico Public Interest Research Group. Most recently Sarah has been living and working in Juneau, AK, as a Naturalist. Through the RARE program, she has returned to Oregon to explore new environmental career opportunities and make a difference in a rural coastal community. After her year with RARE, Sarah plans to focus on graduate work in watershed management, environmental planning, and sustainable development.

Warrenton’s RARE participant will serve as the City’s Trails Coordinator. Specific activities of the RARE participant will include applying for grants, working toward sponsorships, developing design standards, identifying historic and natural features along the trail, developing signage, public facilities, and sighting the area for trail development. There are multiple opportunities to work with regional entities and the public to encourage support and enhance connections to create a larger system of trails. Added to this job description will be the duties of the Park/Trail volunteer coordinator.

From the Warrenton’s Parks & Trails Partnership Agreement form
The Volunteer individual/group will:
Attend an organizational meeting with the CITY to develop the Addendum A including the Scope of Work.
Organize and coordinate volunteers to complete tasks that augment the routine maintenance activities completed by parks staff as outlined in Addendum A.
Identify two volunteers from the GROUP who will be responsible for organizing GROUP activities and special projects at the identified park.
Provide and keep an updated list of volunteers to be provided to the CITY for volunteer tracking and liability coverage. No volunteer may work in the park until they are duly registered. An adult who is over the age of 18 must accompany all persons between the ages of 1 1 and 18. One adult must be present for every five youth. A parent must accompany anyone under the age of eleven.
Record and report volunteer hours on the Volunteer Tracking Form, at the end of the month in which activities occur. The CITY will provide the volunteer tracking form that will be used to track the number of volunteers and a monthly total of each volunteer’s hours worked in the month or after each event.
Volunteers will provide their own tools or check-out basic tools from the CITY. All tools must have prior approval by the CITY before use or check-out. This can usually be accomplished by a phone call to the Maintenance Supervisor or Manager describing the equipment to be used or borrowed.
Conduct volunteer work in the park or on the trail during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to dusk.
Take care not to interfere with park and/or trail users.
Inform the CITY of any unsafe conditions immediately.
Inform the CITY of any illegal activity immediately.
Require at least one GROUP volunteer coordinator attend semi-annual inspections of the park with CITY maintenance staff.
Abide by all applicable regulations, laws and ordinances of the CITY, the State of Oregon, Oregon OSHA, and any Federal Agency in fulfillment of its obligations under this agreement.
The GROUP hereby releases the CITY, its agents, and employees from any liability from damages or injuries resulting from its participation in the Parks and Trails Volunteer program. The Group furthermore agrees to indemnify and hold the City harmless for any injuries or damages resulting from or related to its participation in the Parks and Trails Volunteer program.

B. The CITY hereby agrees to:
Perform turf maintenance as per schedule.
Repair/replace property damaged due to vandalism.
Provide training for volunteer coordinators that include acceptable methods used to perform the specified tasks.
Provide a Parks Volunteer Information Packet that includes the required volunteer forms.
Conduct joint semi-annual park andlor trail inspections.
Assist volunteer coordinators in the development of grant applications.
Within budgetary restraints provide support for special projects.
Provide a sign in recognition of the Adopt A Trail andlor Park Group.
Supply the GROUP with a sharps container.
Assist the GROUPS with graffiti removal.

No Comments Yet