Port Orchard seeks public input on Sherman Avenue Stormwater Park design alternatives

City of Port Orchard staff presented three distinct design alternatives for the 30‑acre Sherman Avenue site at Workshop No. 2 and asked nearby residents to weigh in via a survey open through July 12.

Nick Bond, director of community development, said the city purchased the property in 2022 to provide a regional stormwater facility tied to planned sidewalk and street improvements: “we bought this 30 acre piece of property,” Bond said, and explained the site was funded with a mix of park funds and stormwater funds so it could serve both purposes. Bond and staff said federal NPDES permit requirements are a primary driver of the stormwater work and that the city expects engineering work to begin next year with likely stormwater construction activity by 2028, depending on funding and design.

Connor Dalquist, the city’s associate planner who prepared the illustrations, described the three alternatives in detail. Alternative 1, the trails and conservation park, emphasizes low‑maintenance native plantings, meandering soft trails and elevated boardwalks to bring visitors above wetland vegetation, and overlooks with interpretive signage about Blackjack Creek. “This alternative emphasizes preserving the natural character of the site,” Dalquist said.

Alternative 2, presented as a family nature park, would add nature‑based play areas, picnic shelters, looped walking paths and flexible open lawns so families can explore and observe the site’s ecology. Alternative 3 would emphasize community gardening and active recreation, locating garden plots near the entrance and providing multi‑use courts and open lawns that could host small events.

Residents who spoke at the workshop expressed a mix of enthusiasm and concern. Kim Ael, a nearby resident, said she came because she “loves that little space down there,” while others asked about maintenance costs and how the city would fund more active amenities. Bond acknowledged those tradeoffs, noting that more playground equipment or sports facilities increase maintenance obligations and that the City Council would need to appropriate funds or pursue state grants to add higher‑maintenance features.

Staff answered questions about outreach and participation. Jim Fisk, principal planner, said the project’s public participation plan targets the neighborhood between Highway 16 and Blackjack Creek but confirmed broader outreach tools (mailers, door hangers and a mailing list of roughly 80–100 interested parties) and that the survey and workshop input are open to anyone. When asked whether outreach could be expanded beyond the immediate area, staff said they would publicize the survey more broadly but prioritized engagement with nearby residents first.

On funding, Bond outlined the likely phasing: the city would hire an engineer next year to prepare construction documents for the stormwater portion; stormwater funding is expected to be available, and staff anticipate applying for state Recreation and Conservation Office grants (which typically offer a 50% match) for park amenities, with an application cycle noted for 2028 that could fund work in 2029 if successful. Bond said the stormwater and park elements will be designed to be compatible but could be phased independently depending on available funds.

Staff also described next technical steps: geotechnical studies and a detailed stormwater report will follow selection of a preferred conceptual plan and will determine pond sizing, infiltration options, and impacts to road frontage designs. Sidewalks and road improvements depend on extending stormwater infrastructure and on eventual Council appropriation; staff said projects can be moved from the city’s longer-term (20‑year) planning list onto the six‑year transportation improvement program if funding is secured.

Next steps: staff will review comments from this workshop and the online survey, refine a preferred alternative (or hybrid), and present a recommendation to the City Council. The survey is available via the QR code on the meeting handout and through printed flyers; staff asked attendees to share the link with neighbors. The city encouraged participants to review the printed boards at the meeting, mark preferred features with sticky notes, and complete the survey before the July 12 deadline.

The workshop concluded with staff thanking attendees and reiterating the request for broad participation so the city can select a design that reflects neighborhood priorities.