PORT ORCHARD, Wash. — City of Port Orchard staff on Oct. 5 presented three distinct design alternatives for a proposed stormwater park on a 30-acre parcel near Blackjack Creek that the city purchased in 2022, saying the engineered stormwater facility is required to allow pedestrian improvements in the surrounding neighborhood.

"My name is Nick Bond. I'm the community development director for the city of Port Orchard, and, we are here for the Sherman Avenue Stormwater Park concept design workshop," Bond told about 60 attendees at the workshop. The city said the park project is intended first to provide regional stormwater capacity so sidewalks and other pedestrian facilities can be added; a park is a potential ancillary benefit.

Why it matters: the city presented the park work as part of a federal stormwater-permit requirement and neighborhood connectivity effort. Bond and a public-works representative said the stormwater portion of the project must be implemented under the city’s federal Clean Water Act stormwater permit, with work to be completed by 2029, and that the park design would be compared against a no-action alternative.

City staff described three alternatives: a trails-and-conservation park emphasizing low-impact, soft-surface trails and habitat preservation; a family-nature park with playgrounds, picnic areas and educational signage integrated with stormwater features; and a community-garden-and-recreation park with community garden plots, sport courts and a central gathering space. Staff said the alternatives were developed from an earlier survey (about 80 responses) and neighborhood outreach including door hangers and mailed postcards.

Public feedback at the workshop favored natural trails, flexible open space and, in places, community garden space, but residents raised recurring concerns about safety, loud freeway noise at the site, limited vehicle access and parking, and how sidewalks and road improvements would be phased. "I'm Tyler. I live on Long Branch, and I'm excited for a park to be nearby," one nearby resident said. Another resident who asked not to be named said, "safety concerns is probably my number 1 priority based on where I live there, not only for my family but the community at large."

Technical and planning details offered by staff included: the property is about 30 acres located at the south end of Sherman Avenue near Blackjack Creek within a study area generally bounded by Blackjack Creek, Tremont and State Route 16; a community-garden area was described as roughly 100 by 200 feet and a small parking lot of about 20 stalls might sit adjacent to garden and playground areas; vehicle access directly to the park would be from Sherman Avenue only, although staff discussed potential pedestrian connections to nearby neighborhoods via a pedestrian bridge over Blackjack Creek or an overpass to the planned Ruby Creek park-and-ride if grant funding can be secured.

Staff said they have not decided on night lighting or a final maintenance plan. Bond said public-works staff are focused on meeting stormwater requirements while the design team led by associate planner Connor Dahlquist will prepare illustrated concept plans. "We're going to get Connor to work on drafting some concept plans to visually depict what each of these alternatives looks like on this site," Bond said; staff suggested they would have visual concepts available by late fall or winter and would seek broader public input next spring.

No formal decisions or motions were taken at the workshop. Instead, the meeting produced direction to staff to refine the three distinct alternatives (and a no-action option) and to return with illustrated concept plans and an opportunity for public comment. Bond and staff also said they will continue outreach by email and the project web page and will meet individually with residents who request further discussion.

Speakers and participants included city staff and elected officials who attended and spoke or fielded questions: Nick Bond, community development director; Connor Dahlquist, associate planner; Jim Fisk, principal planner; a public-works representative identified only as Melinda; and Councilmember Mark Trenary (who encouraged neighbors to spread the word). Several named residents spoke in the public-participation portion (for example, Greg Gressant and Mike Oliver) and multiple residents raised concerns about noise, parking and safety during the workshop.

Next steps: staff will refine the alternatives, prepare illustrative concept plans and post materials on the project web page and email list. The city did not take action to approve any design at the workshop; staff described a tentative schedule to return with visual options before the end of the calendar year and to seek a preferred alternative in the spring. Residents were told the project remains subject to available funding and permit timelines, including the 2029 stormwater implementation milestone required by the city’s federal permit.