895 D Intro & Facilty Inventory INTRODUCTION ~ ~
~
Why the Yelm Parks and Recreation Pfan is .,s~
important
d` Y6 E ~ ' . 'iE
Buiiding a Sustainable Community. Park and recreation ~E~
facilities are being recognized as more important than ever to ~
the sustainability of a community. Yelm adopted sustainability
as a guiding principle for their Comprehensive Plan in 2007 6~~r~~~ ~q.~ ~w~ E~~ g~..E ~r~~
nOting: Cochrane Memorral Park
"A sustainable community thoughtfully provides for the needs of its residents with
e~ciency and stewardship for the future. Consider how today's decisions will affect the
quality of life of a sustainable community and meet the needs of current citizens without
jeopardizing the quality of life or needs of future generations. The goal is to establish
ways of living that can be sustained indefinitely."
Recognizing the value of parks and recreation facilities for the overall health and well-being of
citizens. The provision of safe, accessible recreation facilities for all ages has become more of a priority
than ever before with recognition of regular exercise to the health of individuals in the community.
Demographic changes are occurring with growth in the percentage of the population reaching their
sixties. This presents a challenge to communities who must continue to focus on the needs of youth but
in addition, must provide for the needs of community members of all ages. Consequently, planning for
anticipated needs, and providing and maintaining recreation facilities becomes a challenge as
communities continue to grow and the cost of facility development and maintenance continues to rise.
This plan is intended to:
1) Identify existing and planned recreation facilities based on the needs identified,
2) Determine priorities, and
~ 3) Establish an action plan in order to begin to work toward the future described.
The Parks and Recreation Plan covers the Yelm parks service area including the City of Yelm with its
Master Pfanned Communities and the unincorporated Yelm Urban Growth Area.
What Probfems Exist
Meeting the needs of a growing and diverse population. Today, the on-going growth and aging of the
local population continue to haue an affect on the ability of the City of Yelm to provide an appropriate level
of recreational facilities and services. Despite meeting some of the
y; goals set forth in the Capital Improvement Plan, the City still faces the
. f .
challenge of providing adequate services for its growing number of
"'4~ residents. The impacts are being felt most by organized sports groups
that will use the new Longmire Community Park facilities but must
continue to depend on existing Yelm Community Schools facilities
(putting additional stress on those facilities), private facilities (which are
Draft Yetm Parks & F7ecreation Plan - May 2008 6
limited in the City), or travel to venues outside the Yelm area (creating additional impacts on schedules
and on traffic).
Other challenges include:
- Maximizing the use of existing facilities through cooperation and coordination
- Determining the type and amount of additional parks and open space facilities that are needed now and
that will be needed over time based on population projections
- Identifying maintenance cost and determining how these will be sustained over time
- Exploring financing options, determining funding sources and establishing priorities based on the
agreed upon levels of service.
Draft Ye~m Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 7
Vision for Yelm Parks and Recreation Network
The City of Yelm park and recreation network will sustain the physical and mental wellbeing of citizens
as the area continues to grow by providing:
• Safe places for active and passive recreation for all ages
• Community gathering places for entertainment, education, art and culture
• Green spaces to share and enjoy with friends and family
• Opportunities for finding peace and serenity in shared spaces
Yelm Parks and Recreation Plan Mission
The City of Yelm will work with public and private partners as the area grows, to fund, develop, maintain
and operate a park and recreation network that will meet the needs of citizens of all ages, within the
Yelm community, and contribute to the regional park, recreation and trail network.
The Yelm Park and Recreation Network will include:
• Safe and accessible parks with play areas and picnic areas, community gathering areas and
nature walk spaces
• Trail networks that link sidewalks, and on and off street bicycle lanes and walking routes
• Outdoor and indoor sports and community recreation facilities that will provide opportunities for
learning new skills, exercise, and activities for all ages that respond to the interests of as many
citizens as possible
The existing Yelm Park and Recreation Network will be enhanced, making efficient use of existing
facilities while identifying additions that will be needed as growth occurs. The existing network will
continue to support:
• Youth and adult sport activity
• Community needs for gatherings and events
The Yelm Park and Recreation Network will expand over time in order to:
• Add opportunity for all neighborhoods to have a gathering or play space within walking distance
of homes, or linkages via sidewalks, and paths that encourage bicycling and walking,
• Meet the demands of a more diverse population, increasingly aware of the importance of
exercise and activity for the mental and physica~ wellbeing of young and old
• Continue to accommodate youth and adult sport activity needs, building new facilities in
cooperation with schools and other public and private partners
• Respond to concerns for sustainability by providing park and recreation facilities and open
spaces within the Yelm community
• Consider adding a community recreation center and swimming pool
Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 g
• Plan for a park and recreation department or district and a director and staff
• Accommodate regional and state user needs for special events
Description of the Process
This Draft Yelm Parks and Recreation Plan evolved from past parks plans completed in 1987 and 1999.
This 2008 draft has emerged from recommendations from the Yelm Parks Advisory Committee from work
completed as part of extensive review for master planned communities in Yelm, and extensive work by a
subcommittee of the parks advisory committee and the planning commission. Data used in the
preparation and review of the plan include:
• Population projections to 2030 for Yelm and its Urban Growth Area as updated in 2007
• Extensive interviews with public, private and community groups,
• Surveys completed in 1999 and again in 2008,
• Review and outreach to all Yelm citizens and public and private organizations by the Parks
Advisory Committee (including an open house), and Ad Hoc Parks and Planning Commission
Sub Committee
• Review by the Planning Commission as part of its update of the Parks/Open Space Chapter of
the Yelm Comprehensive Plan which includes open house review, extensive noti~cation and
distribution, work sessions, public hearing and recommendation for adoption to the Yelm City
Council
• Review by the Yelm City Council including work sessions, public hearing and adoption
Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 g
This page left bfank intentionally.
Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 ~ p
BACKGROUND ' '~V~~ ° t'e'
~ a~~~
Over the last 20+ years (1986-2008), the needs and
demands for varied leisure time activities have increased
significantly throughout Thurston County and, particularly, in ~k'~~'~
the City of Yelm. The 1987 Park Plan expressed the needs ~
and goals of the community. In its 1999 Parks & Recreation ' ~ ~
Plan, the City determined that the needs and demands for
, k~, , i ~ ~ ( : " ~ tl
recreation facilities far exceeded what was available in the 4~ ~„d
area at the time. The response was to develop a six-year , i`~'
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to set goals and Cochrane Memona! Park
objectives, define needs and implement an action plan for
providing a greater level of parks and recreation services.
Specific goals included:
• upgrades to existing park and recreation facilities,
• development of the Canal Road Park (now called Longmire Community Park), and
• an indoor recreation facility (with location and funding yet to be determined).
This document updates and enhances elements of the City of Yelm 1999 Parks & Recreation Plan,
identifies new goals, and incorporates new opportunities for park, recreation, open space and trails
proposals as part of the master planned community. This update includes:
• a program inventory of land, facilities, and recreation services,
• determination of level of service;
• needs assessment, including current needs and demands, and projected needs and priorities
based on citizen survey responses and level of service;
• parks and trails classifications and options
• current budgets, and maintenance requirements,
• possible funding sources
• an action plan
This information will be used by City decision makers to determine park, recreation, and open space
requirements to be devefoped over time, to update the CIP and to update the Parks/Open Space
Chapter of the Yelm Comprehensive Plan,
Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2D08 11
This page left blank intentionally.
Draft Yelm Parks & Recreatiorr Plan - May 2008 12
~ ^ ~ ~ ~ ~
FACILITIES AND PROGRAM ~ :
~n~.,~ < ~ . ,x ~ ,
INVENTORY ~ p ~
~ ~
~ ~ E ~ ~
The following identifies existing land, E~° '~'4~ '
~ ¢ 6 ~R @c . ~ ~ ~ ~4~E~~
facilities, recreation programs, level of 'x
~ ~ €
service, and current improvement ~ 8~;;
as 3.'.:.~.:~:,
activities for parks and recreation facilities
within the City of Yelm.
'
Land and Facilities ~ ~
Longmire Community Park
Parks
There are currently three parks - totaling 23.45 acres - all of which will be developed by
March 2008 except for the addition of amenities. Two of these parks (Cochrane Memorial
Park and Yelm City Park) have facilities that provide a range of features for mostly passive
recreational use (e.g., picnic shelters and tables, barbeque grills, trails, seating areas,
performance stage, playground, water features, information kiosk, restrooms); some active
recreational use (e.g., open play areas, skate court); and other recreational opportunities
(e.g., kitchen facility, vendor stalls, veterans' memorial sites).
The third facility - Longmire Community Park - is an active recreation facility, with most of
the work completed in March 2008. The park includes three Little League regulation-size
baseball fields, one soccer/football field, a paved parking lot of 135+ spaces, and accent
landscaping around the parking lot. Sani-cans will be installed to serve the needs of park
users. Picnic areas and a trail system are planned potentially to be phased-in over the next
several years.l
In addition to its function as a facility for passive recreation, Cochrane Memorial Park serves as a water
reclamation facility for the City of Yelm. Through an extensive treatment process, wastewater generated
by the City is converted to water clean enough for specific reuse applications, enabling the City to
conserve water resources. Four of the nearly eight park acres are comprised of wet cells that filter reuse
water prior to its reentry into local aquifers.2
Yelm City Park is located in the center of town - in a space roughly the size of one city block - and
serves as the signature downtown park. Because of its central proximity and existing features favorable
to community-oriented activities, many special events are held throughout the year at this facility.
~ Personal communication with 1'im Peterson, City of Yelm Public Works Department, Public Works Director, November, 2006
and June, 2007. The installation of trails and picnic areas are subject to available funding.
z As mentioned on the website of the City of Yelm, Cochrane Memorial Park is a signature facility for the preservation and
conservation ofwater, and consequent protection ofthe Nisqually River from pollution run-off. Reclaimed water is used by the
City far the irrigation of several facilities, including most Yelm High Schoo] athletic fields, some Yelm Middle School fields,
Yelm City Park and, of course, Cochrane Memorial Park.
DraR Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 13
The foifowing table describes existing parks currently in use or under development for recreational
purposes in the City af Yelm.
Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 14
Table 1. City of Yelm parks - existing facilities (2008).
Cochrane Memorial Park 7.88 Water reclamation facility (cells, ponds and water channels), trails,
(developed) picnic shelter and picnic areas, barbeque grills, seating areas,
fishing pond, wildlife observation areas, waterfall feature, fountain,
wood observation deck, open space, paved parking lot (20
spaces), portable toilet, landscaping
Note: restrooms to be added at future date
Longmire Community Park 13.37 Open space, paved parking lot (130+ spaces), landscaping,
(development completed March three Little League-sized baseball fields, one football/soccer fieid,
2008) and playground equipment
Note: restroom, trails, picnic shelter and picnic tables added at a
fufure date
Yelm City Park 2.2 Picnic shelter, picnic tables, barbeque griil, covered vendor stalls,
(developed) enclosed park kitchen facility, restroom, open play areas, softball
backstop (used for Little League t-ball only), skate court,
playground, covered concrete surface multi-purpose area, covered
concrete surface performance stage, seating areas,
commemorative stone plaques, flag pole, gravel parking lot (40+
spaces), accessibility paved parking lot (7 spaces), perimeter
landscaping
Note: Redesign and include adjacent properfy, and add PA
system, and expanded play equrpment.
Trails - Yeim and UGA 33 3.29 miles of paved trail within Yelm and its Urban Growth Area
(developed) (UGA) for bicycle and pedestrian use with linkages to the Yelm to
Tenino Trail network and to the rest of the existing and planned
Thurston Regional Trail network. Currently approximately 58 miles
of paved trail in the Thurston region could expand to as much as
145 miles of trail over time.
Note: This includes the portion of the Yelm to Tenino trarl wrthin Yelm and
its UGA. Also included is the Yelm Prairie Line Trail within the Yelm city
limits that will be paved by mid-year 2009 as a resuJt of a State
Transportation Enhancement Grant and City matching funds. Acreage
includes a!1 land within the f 00 ft. rail corridor right-of-way - except for the
po~tion from Rhoton Rd. to Canal St. that wil! be shared trarl and rail. For
this portion only the 14 ft. rmproved trar! area is counted as park space.
• ~
Sources: Crty of Yelm Public Works Department
Trails
In 2007 the Thurston Regional Trails Plan was adopted. This detailed plan builds on past rail corridor
preservation and regional bicycle plans. It will guide future trail planning for the Thurston Region with the
goal of completing a region-wide off-street trail network that will serve the region's resident and visitor
transportation and recreation needs.
Yelm-Tenino Trail: This Thurston County trail, approximately 14.5 miles in length, extends east-west
between Yelm, Rainier and Tenino, serving as a regional connector. Completed in late 2004, the trail
complements a regional trails system that intersects with the 22-mile long Chehalis-Western Trail, and
provides a major link to the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater area. The trail includes a 10-foot wide, paved
surface for pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-motorized vehicle uses. The Yelm trailhead originates
Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 15
near City Hall, and includes parking, benches and an information kiosk. Though the trail and trailhead are
owned and managed by Thurston County, the trailhead is maintained mostly by the City of Yelm Public
Works Department.3
Yelm Prairie Line Trail: The City of Yelm purchased a segment of the Yelm Prairie Line Railroad from
Burlington Northern Railroad Company in 1998 with the help of transportation grant funds. Yelm owns
the railroad right-of-way (ROWj and its underlying property from State Route 510 northeast to the Town of
Roy in Pierce County (approx. 5 miles). As a condition of acquiring this ROW with grant funds, the
Federal Highways Administration required that a shared-use trail must be built along the length this
corridor - from Rhoton Rd. on the south end. City of Yelm land use plans support future land use
activities targeted to customers requiring rail shipping services, since active rail service could be restored
to this corridor in the future. The City of Yelm may be the first in the region to not only provide a shared-
use trail that connects to another county, but could also have a joint shared-use trail with active rail
service. This trail will improve travel for bicycle and pedestrian tra~c by providing an off street
uninterrupted route through the center of Yelm with connections to the Yelm-Tenino Trail Corridor.
The City-owned rail corridor - within Yelm city limits - approximately 1.5 miles long, extends in a
northeasterly direction from the Yelm-Tenino Trail trailhead behind City Hall, through the heart of
downtown, along NP Rd. SE to its endpoint at the existing Centralia Power Canal. A small segment was
completed as part of an open space requirement for a subdivision. Grant funds appropriated in 2007 will
complete the remaining 1.1 miles of trail between SR 510 and Canal Rd.
Figure 1. City of Yelm Parks and Trails.
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Source: Crty of Yelm Public Works Departmenf
3 Personal communication with Tim Peterson, City of Yelm Public Works Department, Public Works Director, November, 2006.
Because the trailhead is located next to a visible downtown civic landmark (City Hall) the~ is a desire by Public Works to keep
the area maintained on a frequent basis.
Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 q 6
Extension of the Yelm Prairie Line Trail to the town of Roy will require a region-wide effort to finance,
plan, design, and build this trail corridor - including the City of Yelm, Roy and Thurston and Pierce
' counties.
Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 1 ~
Indoor Facilities
The City of Yelm does not own or operate any indoor recreation facilities at this time. The only indoor
recreational facilities in the community are within local schools (listed in Table 2 below).
Thurston County Parks - Southeast
Thurston County is currently developing Deschutes Falls Park, a hilly 167-acre property located
approximately 15 miles southeast of downtown Yelm, off Bald Hills Road SE. Purchased in part as a
nature preserve retreat, the site will feature mostly passive recreation facilities (e.g., trails, seating, picnic
areas, wildlife observation, overlooks). The County is in negotiation to purchase an adjacent 12-acre
~ parcel for possible development of informal open play areas and playgrounds. The park is not yet open
to the public 4
Schools
The school district currently serves more than 5,000 students in ten separate facilities: six elementary
schools (Fort Stevens, Lackamas, McKenna, Mill Pond, Prairie and Southworth), two middle schools
(Ridgeline and Yelm), one high school (Yelm HS) and one supportive education facility (Yelm E~ension
School). With the passage of a City construction bond in 2003, Lackamas Elementary School opened in
2005 and Ridgeline Middle School opened in the fal! of 2006. Expansions were recently completed at
McKenna Elementary and Yelm High School, with follow-up site construction continuing at the High
School.5
Due to a significant shortage of City recreational facilities and fields, Yelm Community Schools serve as
the primary venue for Yelm area community sports organizations. Typically, a limited number of school
facility fiefds are available at any given time, with priority always given to school programs. Some
facilities have even greater limitations (for example, only making available practice areas - not playing
fields - for use by community sports groups). Sports organizations reserve available space with the
School District, and subsequently arrange their schedules with other local sports groups to meet their
needs. Due to the limitations of school facilities, some sports organizations are required to travel outside
of the Yelm area (e.g., to Lacey and Olympia) to find available fiefd space.
The following table describes existing school recreation facilities, most of which currently serve the needs
of local commun+ty sports organizations.
4 Personal communication with Michae] Welter, Thurston County Parks & Recreation, Director, January IQ 2007. Completion
timeline of the park is subject to available funding.
5 City of Yelm website (Yelm Community Schools).
Draft Ye/m Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 ~8
Table 2. Yelm Community Schools - existing recreation facilities (2006).
Fort Stevens Elementary School Two Little League size baseball fields, one open play field (used for soccer),
one dirt surface walking track, one playground with multiple play apparatus
and swing sets, one full-sized gymnasium with vinyl composition tile (VCT)
flooring.
Lackamas Elementary School One open play field (used for PE classes and soccer practice), one covered
asphalt surface play area, one playground with play apparatus, one half-sized
gymnasium with wood flooring
Note: one swing set to be added in 2007.
McKenna Elementary School One playground with play apparatus, one separate swing set (to be relocated
to playground), one full-sized gymnasium (no bieachers) with Mondo (soft
rubber) flooring.
Note: one Little League basebal! field to be added at future date.
Mill Pond Elementary School Two fast pitch softball fields (to be shared with Ridgeline Middle School
users), one playground with multiple play apparatus, one asphalt surface
basketball court area with four hoops, one full-sized gymnasium (no
bleachers) with rubberized flooring.
Prairie Elementary School One large play field (used for football and soccer), one 4 to 5-ft wide asphalt
surface walking track, two fast pitch softball fields, one open play field (used
for young age-group soccer), two playgrounds (both with play apparatus and
one with swings), one covered asphalt surface play area, one asphalt surface
basketball court area with two hoops, one full-sized gym with wood flooring.
Southworth Elementary School One open play field (used for young age-group soccer), one baseball field
(non-regulation size), one playground with multiple play apparatus and swing
sets, one asphalt surface play court, one covered asphalt surface play area,
one full-sized gymnasium with rubberized flooring (no bleachers).
Ridgeline Middle School One full-sized main gymnasium with wood flooring, and one full-sized
gymnasium (no bleachers) with Mondo flooring, sharing of two fast pitch
softball fields with Mill Pond Elementary School (see above), one weight
room.
Note: New facilrties completed to be open spring 2009: football/soccer field,
one baseba!!, one soRball, one fastpitch field, and a running track.
Yelm Middle School Two fast pitch softball fields, one open play field (used for soccer), one soccer
field surrounded by an engineered surface running track, four asphalt surface
basketball courts with six hoops (at three out of four courts), one football field,
one baseball field, one fuil-sized gymnasium with wood flooring, one weight
room.
Yelm High School One combination footballlsoccer stadium with bleachers and lighting, one
rubber surface running track in stadium, one fast pitch softball field, one
varsity baseball field, one open play field (used for football practice), one
junior varsity soccer field, one 'events' field (used for soccer or football and for
field events such as javelin throw and shot put), six asphalt surface tennis
courts, two full-sized gymnasiums with wood flooring, one weight room.
Yelm Extension School No recreation facilities on-site.
Source: Yelm Communrty Schools (Facrlities)
Yelm Publrc Works Department
Community sports groups also use certain non-recreational spaces creatively to help meet their
athletic needs. For example, a grassy open space inside the paved bus loop at Southworth
Draft Ye/m Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 p 9
Elementary School is used as a practice area for soccer and t-ball, as well as a playing field for U-5
(early age group) soccer games.s
The following table describes user groups, limiting factors and other uses of recreation facilities and
spaces at Yelm Community Schools.
Table 3. Yelm Community Schools - Portions of recreation facilities use by community sports
groups (2006).
. . ~ • . •
Fort Stevens Baseball, soccer Availability of fields and gym Dirt track used for exercise;
Elementary practice, walking, space; one field not lined or field used for soccer practice,
School indoor basketball and irrigated. sometimes for baseball.
other activities
Lackamas Soccer practice Small site with little space Open field used occasionally
Elementary available for organized sports; for soccer practice only (no
School gym use for school only; field not games).
lined for games or irrigated.
McKenna Indoor basketball and Availability of gym space;
Elementary other activities baseball field not yet built.
School
Mill Pond Soccer, softball Availability; softball fields shared Bus parking lot used for
Elementary with adjacent middle school. special events (e.g. pit stop for
School Seattle-to-Portland Bike Tour).
Prairie Football, soccer, Availability of fields and gym Large field used for both youth
Elementary softball, walking! space. football and soccer games.
School running, basketball
Southworth Basebail, soccer, Fields not lined for games or Grassy area inside bus loop
Elementary t-ball irrigated. used for youth age soccer and
School t-ball; bus loop used for charity
walking events.
Ridgeline Middle Indoor basketball and Availability of gym space and New facilities to be open
School other activities weight room; softball fields spring 2009: football/soccer
shared with adjacent elementary field, one baseball, one
school; softbaN, one fastpitch field,
and a running track
Yelm Middle Baseball, football, Availability of fields, gym space All fields used extensively by
School soccer, softball and weight room: football and community groups.
baseball f+elds closed Nov to
Mar.
Yelm High Football, soccer, Availability of fields, gym space Stadium field used for semi-
School softball, track, indoor and weight room; several pro football (South Sound
basketball and other facilities strictly for school use Shockers) and regional events
activities only or closed to community Nov (sports jamborees); track used
to Apr. for charitable events.
Source: Yelm Communrty Schools (Facilities)
6 Personal communication with Chris Hansen, Yelm Community Schools, Maintenance/Grounds Supervisor, and Deb Matthews,
Prairie Soccer Club, Coordinator, who noted that this is a common use of open space for youth soccer needs (particularly the
early ages, which don't need a ful]-sized field), since community school fields are not always available for practices and/or
games.
Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 2~
Draft Ye/m Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 2~
Table 4 identifies public recreational City of Yelm facilities, city/county trail system and Yelm Community
Schools facilities available for use in the Yelm area.
Table 4. Yelm Community Schools and City parks and trails - existing recreation facilities
inventory (2007).
•
Barbeque Grill 0 5 5
Baseball Field, Little League or Other 5 3 8
Sasketball Court, Outdoor 6 ~ ~
Bench/Seating 0 13 13
Covered Play Area 2 1 3
Football Field, Youth 1 0 1
Football/Soccer Field, Illuminated 1 1 2
Gymnasium $ ~ $
Information Kiosk ~ 2 2
Kitchen/Concessions Facility 0 1 1
Open Play Field 6 2 8
Parking, Accessible Yes, amount varies 5 5
Parking, Standard Yes 198+ 198+
Performance Stage 0 1 1
Picnic Shelter wt Tables 0 1 1
Picnic Tables, Individuai 0 10 10
Playground $ ~ 9
RestroomlPortable Toilet o 2 2
Running Track 2 0 2
Running Track, Illuminated ~ ~ ~
Socoer Field, High School Age 2 ~ 2
Soccer Field, Youth Age Z ~ 2
Softball Field ~ o ~
Skate Court 0 1 1
Tennis Court 6 0 6
Vendor Stall 0 16 16
Source: Yelm Public Works Department and Thurston Reg+ona! Planning Councrl
Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 22
Other Recreational Facilities - Private "
4f "
,
Baseball (Little League): One basebail field (shared and f
jointly maintained by two groups.)An important facility used ~r~~l
by community sports groups in the City of Yelm is Sam ~
Brewer Field, a Little League-sized baseball field on the
VFW Nisqually Valley Veterans Building property (SE corner
of Grove Road SE and 103rd Avenue SE). Two community ~
sports groups - Nisqually Basin Little League and Nisqually , ~,,y ;
Basin Cal Ripken (a subsidiary of Babe Ruth League) share fi' ~'~~F~ t?~
this facility and maintain the field on a regular basis during fi, ,y ~Y
9,~.~..
spring, summer and fall months.
Longmire Community Park
Baseball: One partially improved field. Another facility used by the Nisqually Basin Little League is a
makeshift ball field located at the Deschutes Grange (SW corner of Vail Road SE and 143rd Avenue SE).
This facility was used for games by 7-8 year age groups in 2006, and is being slowly improved by
volunteers from the League.e
Camping: One Camp and Conference Center. Located to southeast of downtown Yelm is the non-
profit Cascades Camp and Conference Center, a private summer horse camp and retreat center on more
than 500 acres, open on a seasonal basis for public use.
Golf: One 18-hole Golf Course. Just west of the center of town is the Tahoma Terra Golf & Country
Club. The 75-acre site includes an 18-hole regulation, par 72 course, 6,007 yards in length. The Cascade
Mini Golf facility is located near the center of the City, on one-half acre of land. Both facilities are
privately-owned and open to the general public on a seasonal basis.
Gymnastics/Fitness: Five fitness facilities (two for women only); one gymnastics facility; one
small gym. Several privately-owned fitness facilities open to the public are found in downtown Yelm,
including Anytime Fitness, Reflections Women's Gym and Yelm Martial Arts Fitness Center. Also
downtown is the Rainier Gymnastics Academy, a privately-owned business that serves the public. East
of downtown towards McKenna is the privately-owned coed Firehouse Fitness Center that is open for
public use. Yelm Community Services UCBO near downtown has a small gymnasium available to the
public on a limited basis.
Other: Bowling. Prairie Lanes of Yelm is a small, privately-owned bowling alley in downtown Yelm,
available for public use.
~ Personal communication with Julie Shipe, Nisqually Basin Little League, Vi~ President/ Treasurer, January 3, 2007. The two
leagues work out a shazed schedule at the beginning of the season and usually alternate Saturdays for use of the field for games.
8 Julie Shipe. Grading, seeding and other improvements have been made over time, with the hope for batting cages to be
installed in the spring or summer of 2007.
Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 23
Events, Recreation Programs & Services
The primary recreation service provider for activities taking place on City park property is the Parks
Advisory Committee, a seven-member volunteer group created to advise the Yelm City Council on
matters related to City parks. Recreation activities offered by the City, or which generally take place in
Yelm City parks, are described as follows:
• Car shows (May)
• Christmas in the Park (December)
• Circus event (every three years)
• Nisqually Basin Little League (t-ball, spring)
• Patriot Day (September)
DraR Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 pq
~a~~~ . ~ ~
~
• Prairie Days (June) =
• Prairie Street Rod Association Car Show ~
(August) 3>`~s~ ,
• Yelm Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt (March or
9 ~ ' : iJ S~y(
April)
w
A number of non-profit and for-profit organizations also
provide recreation services to the citizens of Yelm and
residents of surrounding communities. Some of these
organizations serve a specific age group; others serve
all segments of the population. Most of these Yelm Community Park
organizations have space needs that currently can
only be accommodated at Yelm Community Schools facilities. The following is representative of private
recreation service providers.
• Black Hills Football Club
• Nisqually Basin Cal Ripken League (subsidiary of Babe Ruth League)
• Nisqually Basin Little League
• Prairie Soccer Club (subsidiary of Thurston County Youth Soccer)
• South Puget Sound Youth Softball Association
• South Sound Baseball
• Thurston County Fast Pitch Association
• Thurston County Youth Football League
• YMCA Basketball League {Yelm)
• Yelm Lions Club
Each of these recreation providers contributes to the numerous activities that comprise the recreational
resources available to the citizens of Yelm. It is important to recognize that these private organizations
depend on public facilities such as parks, schools or other publicly-owned venues for facilitating their
recreation activities. Of any public venue, it is the recreation facilities of the Yelm Community Schools
that these organizations rely on most (or exclusively, in some cases) for recreation resources.
Open Space
All park land could be considered "open space" but for this plan - as identified on the Park and
Recreation Plan map - open space is public or private land set aside during development review or
identified and preserved by the City. The City requires a percentage of open space to be set aside during
development review (usually 5%). These open space areas can provide corridors between natural areas
and urban land uses. In some cases these can preserve unique environmental features or areas and
increase public use and access where possible and appropriate. The City has also designated "critical
areas" for protection. Critical areas include wetlands, areas with recharging effect on aquifers used for
9 Personal communication with Cecelia Jenkins, Yelm Chamber of Commerce, President, and City of Yelm Parks Advisory
CommitYee, Chair; and Dana Spivey, City of Yelm, Staff, January 4, 2007.
Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 25
potable water, fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, frequently flooded areas, and geologically
hazardous areas. See Map 4 for Yelm Parks and Open spaces Map at the end of this plan document.
Park and Recreation Budgets
As there is no Parks and Recreation Department in the City of Yelm at the present time, administration of
park planning, park maintenance and facility improvements are performed by the Public Works
Department. The DepartmenYs budget activity for parks is structured along functional lines of
salaries/wages, personnel benefits, supplies, services/other charges and maintenance. In addition,
capital outlay budgeting for Parks and Recreation in 2006 included $150,000 to complete development of
sports facilities in Longmire Park.
The following table lists actual City of Yelm parks costs for 2007 and proposed expenditures for 2008.
With the opening of Longmire Park additional equipment will be needed to tend to the athletic fields;
therefore, future maintenance budgets are likely to increase significantly.'o
Table 5. City of Yelm Parks expense budget summary: 2007/2008.
. . ~ .
~i .
Salaries/V1lages $127,590 $144,764
Personnel Benefits $48,910 $56,611
Supplies $10,119 $11,700
Services/Other Charges $12,601 $15,000
Maintenance $65,279 $64,100
~ ~ i
Source: City of Yelm Public Works Department.
Parks Maintenance
As there is no Parks and Recreation Department in the City of Yelm at the present time, maintenance of
City parks is managed by the Public Works Department. Currently, there are three full-time employees
responsible for maintenance at Cochrane Memorial Park, Yelm City Park and approximately 85%-90% of
the maintenance required at the Yelm-Tenino Trail trailhead next to City Hall. A fourth employee will be
hired at a future date to take part in additionaf responsibifities brought about with the opening of Longmire
Community Park in the Spring of 2008. One employee provides daily maintenance at Cochrane Memorial
Park, with hours varying on a seasonal basis. Labor hours required at Yelm City Park vary by season
and by extent of use (e.g., set-up and clean-up requirements for special events)."
10 Personal communication with Tim Peterson, City of Yelm Public Works Deparirnent, Public Works Director.
City of Yelm, Public Works DeparGnent.
Draft Yelm Parks & Recreafion Plan - May 2008 26
The following table lists maintenance requirements for Cochrane Memorial Park, Longmire Community
Park, Yelm City Park and the Yelm-Tenino Trail trailhead.
Draft Yelm Parks & Recreation Plan - May 2008 27