Tell City officials you want Battle Creek Park to be left natural

As you can read below, the City of Salem is working on a master plan for Battle Creek Park, which now is undeveloped. Lora Meisner clued me in to what's going on with the 50+ acres.

I've shared part of an email where she urges people to express their preference for Option 1: Habitat, since this fits best with the original purpose of this property after the City bought it -- flood control/stormwater retention.

As Meisner says, it doesn't make sense to build large impervious features like a skate park and 60 car parking lot, given that this will lead to more runoff, thereby working against the primary goal of giving the water coming from four creeks that feed into Battle Creek Park a safe place to go, rather than flooding homes and businesses.

I urge you to email Patricia Farrell, the Parks and Natural Resources Planning Manager, and tell her that you support "Option 1 Habitat" for Battle Creek Park. [email protected]

 Light blue is flood retention area. Dark blue is riparian zones. 

From an email Lora Meisner sent me:

The former Battle Creek Golf Course that has an elementary school on part of the property is now in the midst of a Master Plan process under the city parks department. This 50+ acres has become a grassland and tree-filled area for birds, wildlife etc. -- quiet and nature-filled. But most importantly the property is needed for flood control and storm water management.

This property was purchased by the city with funds for storm water management and a very small portion with park/rec funds. The Battle Creek storm water basin is comprised of 12 square miles and several creeks that converge and feed into Battle Creek on the Battle Creek Park property. 

Most residents in downtown Salem as well as Turner who experience flooding are totally unaware of the importance and significance of this property. The potential design of this property could also affect flooding and groundwater in Marion County.

Jory Creek feeds into Battle Creek above Creekside, then Powell, Waln, and Scotch creeks converge on the property into Battle Creek which runs under I-5, makes a right turn into Turner and then a left turn into Mill Creek which runs into downtown Salem. This is what floods Turner and downtown. 

It’s important that everyone understands that the least amount of Battle Creek park development — less recreational, less impervious surfaces — will best preserve it as a storm water detention area. The flood water, as in 2012, sheets across this property and slowly penetrates into the ground and into the streams.

For the park planning process, “Option 1: Habitat” leaves the property in the most unadulterated state.  

To repeat, I urge you to email Patricia Farrell, the Parks and Natural Resources Planning Manager, and tell her that you support "Option 1 Habitat" for Battle Creek Park. [email protected]

Here's a description of the three options that I copied from a City of Salem web page about the Battle Creek Park planning process. Another page shows photos, maps, and other information about the options that was presented at an open house. 

I've indicated in green the features of each option that seem especially environmentally friendly. Features in red seem especially environmentally unfriendly, given that a prime purpose of the park property is to be a wetlands and stormwater retention area.

Sure, a skate park and disc golf course, along with playgrounds and a picnic shelter, would be appealing to some people. But leaving the park as natural as possible seems to be the best way for it to meet the needs of most people. 

I like to toss a frisbee (or disc) around. Throughout my life I've done this on grass or sand, no disc golf course required. Ditto for playing outside of school when I was young. Having grown up in a rural area, there weren't any nearby playgrounds. So -- shock! -- us kids figured out how to play on our own in nature.

I realize times have changed. Still, I much prefer Option 1: Habitat because the focus is on open areas and trails, not a skate park, disc golf course, and playgrounds.

So please email Patricia Farrell, the Parks and Natural Resources Planning Manager, and tell her that you support "Option 1 Habitat" for Battle Creek Park. [email protected]

Here's the three options.

Option 1: Habitat

The focus is on the natural and habitat elements of the park and flood retention, with a focus on passive recreation opportunities such as paved and soft trails.  Features include:

• • Constructed flood retention basins
  • Enhanced wetlands for wildlife habitat
  • Small overlook for viewing constructed flood retention basin
  • Paved trails: approximately 7,377 lineal feet or about 1.4 miles
  • Soft surface trails: approximately 1,378 lineal feet or about 0.25 miles
  • Play/fitness stations
  • A small parking lot to accommodate 15 vehicles off Waln Drive SE
  • Small restroom - two stalls
  • Small outdoor classroom (earth form) near Battle Creek Elementary School
  • No picnic shelter
  • No skate park
  • No disc golf
  • No playground

Option 2: Recreation

The focus is on recreation uses that are compatible with flood retention. Features include:

• • Constructed flood retention basins
  • Large overlook for viewing constructed basins
  • A year-round 18-hole disc golf course in the upland portion of the park
  • Paved trails: approximately 6,500 lineal feet or about 1.23 miles
  • Soft surface trails: approximately 2,866 lineal feet or about 0.53 miles
  • Fitness stations
  • Large parking lot to accommodate 60 vehicles off Waln Drive SE
  • Large restroom – six stalls
  • Interpretative trail near Battle Creek Elementary School
  • Small outdoor classroom (shelter) near Battle Creek Elementary School
  • Neighborhood playground near Doral Street SE
  • Picnic shelter near Waln Drive SE
  • Community playground near Waln Drive SE
  • 15,000 sq. ft. skate park near Waln Drive SE

Option 3: Blended

The focus is on balancing recreation and natural elements while also providing flood retention. Features include:

• • Constructed flood retention basins
  • Medium-sized overlook for viewing constructed basins
  • Paved trails: approximately 6,433 lineal feet or about 1.22 miles
  • Soft surface trails: approximately 2,295 lineal feet or about 0.43 miles
  • Play/fitness stations
  • Medium-sized parking lot to accommodate 30 vehicles off Waln Drive SE
  • Medium-sized restroom – four stalls
  • Small outdoor classroom area near Battle Creek Elementary School
  • Interpretative trail near Battle Creek Elementary School
  • Picnic shelter near Waln Drive SE
  • Community playground near Waln Drive SE
  • 5,000 sq. ft. skate park near Waln Drive SE
  • 3-hole disc golf course in upland, plus seasonal 6-hole disk golf in a constructed flood retention basin
  • Sculpted earth mounds

Comments

[Heather]

Done. Thank you for this and for your continued attention to issues that affect Salem residents.