Centralia Parks and Recreation Master Plan - City of Centralia, WA

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Hudson’s Bay Company increased operations steadily, bringing additional immigrants to the area. Lewis County was made part of the Oregon Territory by the federal government in 1845. Rivers and trails in Lewis County played an important role in the daily lives of Native Americans and early settlers alike. Land and water routes formed extensive trading systems linking the Chehalis Indians, their sub-tribes and other peoples throughout the region. The tribes were expert fishermen and relied on the rivers for salmon, the mainstay of their diet. Salmon and dried salmon was their primary export. Their water trails with relatively easy portages from the Cowlitz River system to the Chehalis River system were used well into the 19th Century – by the early settlers as well as Native Americans. The Upper Cowlitz people depended less on water transportation. They had horses and would travel by land to trade even with the Yakimas at a substantial distance for roots, herbs and berries. Centralia Founded As settlers moved into the area, Centralia became a halfway stopover point for stagecoaches operating between the Columbia River and Puget Sound. The city was founded by George Washington, the first free black man in the Washington Territory. He arrived from Missouri in 1851 with a friend, J.G. Cochran. Washington settled on the site of present-day Centralia, building a log cabin for an early dwelling. For approximately 12 years, Washington and Cochrane operated a ferry boat across the Chehalis River and an inn for travelers at the approximate site of the Skookumchuck River joining. The inn was well known among early visitors to the region and today the site is known as Cochrane’s Landing. The city was platted and called Centerville in 1875 by Washington to serve as a transportation center, taking advantage of its location on the major north-south shipping routes and the new Northern Pacific Railroad line. The names he gave to streets are still used today, although the city itself was renamed Centralia in 1883 to avoid confusion with the city of Centerville in Klickitat County. Platting in the 1800s parceled all available land into lots and street right-of-ways but did not dedicate space for public parks and George Washington, founder of Centralia, seen late in life resting on his porch steps with his dog. Courtesy of the Lewis County Historical Museum, Chehalis, WA City of Centralia Parks and Recreation Plan - 10 -
other uses. However, Washington and his wife Mary Jane Coonness in 1881 donated much of their property for schools and churches and were very generous with their holdings in developing the area. George Washington Park, one of his earliest donations, now contains the Centralia Timberland Library. The Washington’s also gave land to their Baptist congregation for a church and cemetery, and even pitched in to help build the church. The first speaker stand/gazebo in Washington Park is decorated for a visit by President Harding in a photo taken July 5, 1923. Courtesy of the Lewis County Historical Museum, Chehalis, WA From George Washington Park to the blockhouse built on the property of Joseph Borst and now located at Riverside Park, the city of Centralia has a rich legacy of community giving. Centralia’s outdoor wall murals tell some of the story of early transportation, industry and pioneers. In another example of community giving, Allen Borst in 1923 presented to the city the blockhouse built on the original property of his father, Joseph Borst, to serve as a memorial to the early pioneers of the community. The blockhouse was built originally on Joseph Borst’s 320-acre property holding near the junction of the Chehalis and Skookumchuck Rivers. It was moved to Riverside Park in 1915 and to its present location in 1922. A Colorful Legacy By 1920 Centralia was known as the “Hub City.” Its rail depot was the largest outside of Portland and hosted 44 passenger trains daily. Fourteen hotels dotted Tower Avenue. Five theaters, 24 taverns and 12 downtown restaurants entertained and served local residents, conventioneers and loggers on holiday. The demands of a flourishing economy forged Washington’s first community college, Centralia College, in 1924. By mid-century the rise of the automobile reduced rail passenger flow substantially, and Interstate 5 siphoned the currents of people and commerce away from downtown Centralia. The history of the era has been preserved by those who live here. Many historic homes and buildings along with the well known murals can be seen in a short walking tour of the area. A revitalized turn-of-the-century shopping district adds to the charm of downtown Centralia. 1E. Growth of Parks & Recreation Centralia’s first park and recreation plan was developed in 1963 by Fritsch & Kozlovzki of Lake Oswego, Oregon, and was summarily updated in 1982 and 1987 by department staff. A council-manager form of government was adopted in 1986. Centralia is a full-service city with its own electric, sewer, water - 11 - City of Centralia Parks and Recreation Plan
Page 1 and 2: Centralia Parks and Recreation Mast
Page 3 and 4: Centralia Parks, Recreation and Ope
Page 5 and 6: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Centralia is bles
Page 7: ♦ Aggressively pursue grant progr
Page 10 and 11: Centralia’s proximity to Intersta
Page 14 and 15: utilities, landfill, park administr
Page 16 and 17: change, so do preferences regarding
Page 18 and 19: there may be significant need for a
Page 20 and 21: 2B. Goals and Objectives With the a
Page 22 and 23: Policy P-1.10 Provide for public ac
Page 24 and 25: Goal P-4 Policy P-4.1 Policy P-4.2
Page 26 and 27: Elementary schools in the Centralia
Page 28 and 29: open space corridor or right-of-way
Page 30 and 31: Previous Classification Standard Pr
Page 32 and 33: Inventory Methodology Inventory dat
Page 34 and 35: Amenities Paved parking Restrooms R
Page 36 and 37: George Washington Park Acreage 2.00
Page 38 and 39: Cedar Street Park Acreage 0.61 Park
Page 40 and 41: Logan Park Acreage 1.10 Park Type N
Page 42 and 43: Brick Wagner Park Acreage 0.38 Park
Page 44 and 45: Gold Street Mill Pond Acreage 0.81
Page 46 and 47: Seminary Hill Natural Area Acreage
Page 48 and 49: Central Depot Railroad Acreage 0.33
Page 51 and 52: PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT “The whole goa
Page 53 and 54: “We need more neighborhood parks.
Page 55 and 56: NEEDS ASSESSMENT Most Frequent Part
Page 57 and 58: for this facility type, the city wi
Page 59 and 60: deficit will grow to 9.4 miles by 2
Page 61 and 62: The table below summarizes the acre
Page 63 and 64:
TRAIL GUIDELINES Benefits of Trails
Page 65 and 66:
♦ Acquire and develop a 7-mile re
Page 67 and 68:
support trails and paths within a p
Page 69 and 70:
CAPITAL FACILITIES PLAN & IMPLEMENT
Page 71 and 72:
NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS | Capital Projec
Page 73 and 74:
Implementation Strategies A number
Page 75:
Grants: Several state and federal g
Page 78 and 79:
City of Centralia Parks and Recreat
Page 80 and 81:
Park Site Classification Acreage Pa
Page 83 and 84:
APPENDIX C: COMMUNITY FEEDBACK - 81
Page 88 and 89:
Centralia Parks Plan Update Public
Page 90 and 91:
Centralia Parks, Recreation & Open
Page 92 and 93:
Centralia Parks, Recreation & Open
Page 94 and 95:
OPEN-ENDED RESPONSES: Centralia Par
Page 97 and 98:
APPENDIX D: FINANCING & INCENTIVES
Page 99 and 100:
wetlands and associated uplands. Th
Page 101 and 102:
also emphasizes protecting and enha
Page 103 and 104:
Boards of County Commissioners may
Page 105 and 106:
dramatically in size based on the f
Page 107:
APPENDIX E: PRESS & MEDIA EXHIBITS
Page 110 and 111:
An in-house attempt at updating the
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Centralia Parks and Recreation Master Plan - City of Centralia, WA

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