Curtin Creek Community Park

Clark County is currently planning the future Curtin Creek Community Park. The park is envisioned to have all the typical amenities of a community park, including parking, walking trails, picnic shelters, restrooms, playground equipment and field areas. The park will provide a gathering place for the community with a range of active and passive recreational opportunities.

The site offers a unique opportunity to provide recreational amenities to support the growing population and connect the community with the natural surroundings, including views of forests, farmlands, and Mt. Hood. The adjacent Gaddis Wetlands Natural Area provides a great opportunity for low impact recreation such as hiking, viewing wildlife, and environmental education.

Project Update:

Due to budget constraints, the project development will occur in stages. The first phase of development will include parking, restrooms, inclusive and nature play areas, a picnic shelter, walking trails, viewpoints and a multipurpose synthetic turf field. Pickleball and basketball courts may also be included in this first phase. Phase two of the project will include a second multi-purpose field and picnic shelter and additional parking. An open house to present this phased approach with residents was held March 6, 2024 at Prairie High School. Open house information is posted below.

Current project schedule:

Land use/engineering/building plan development and approval: fall 2023 – fall 2024
Bid opening, award: early winter 2025
Anticipated start of construction: spring 2025
Substantial completion: winter 2025
Planned park opening: spring 2026

Project background:

In 1999, Clark County and the City of Vancouver jointly purchased a 38.67-acre area at 12603 NE 72nd Ave. The purpose was to establish a Vancouver fire station on around five acres and a county park on the remaining 33 acres. Of those 33 acres, 16.18 acres will be used for park development and the remaining 16.82 acres will remain in its natural state.

In 2005, voters approved the Metropolitan Parks District Levy for dedicated funding to construct 35 new parks. A number of sports fields and new trails were also included in the tax levy.