Public hearing to be held October 18 regarding proposed transfer of real property to the City of Ridgefield for the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex.
RIDGEFIELD, WASHINGTON, OCTOBER 5, 2017– Citizens will have an opportunity this month to comment on the proposed transfer of real property of the Ridgefield School District No. 122 (“District”) to the City of Ridgefield (“City”) during a public meeting of the District’s Board of Directors.
The District has proposed transferring approximately 7.2 acres of land along South Hillhurst Road to the City for purposes of the planned Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex (“RORC”). Slated to include turf recreational fields and other amenities, the RORC will be located adjacent to the District’s planned 5-8 Schools Complex, which is under construction. In exchange for the District parcel, the City plans to transfer to the District a 7.5-acre parcel that will be part of the site for the 5-8 Schools Complex.
In spring 2016, the District and the City signed a groundbreaking agreement calling for construction and joint operation of the RORC, which is expected to include six multi-use fields, trails, open spaces, a community building, playground, picnic shelters, and other amenities. The agreement is designed to leverage public dollars by creating a recreational destination for school and public use located next door to the District’s newest school building. The RORC will complement the 5-8 Schools Complex, which will house students in grades 5-8 and is part of the District’s 2017 bond program.
The agreement provides that the City will fund construction of the RORC facilities, estimated to be approximately $15-20 million, and that the District and the City will exchange parcels of real property along South Hillhurst Road to facilitate construction. The District property, located at 3215 S. Hillhurst Road, is part of Clark County parcel no. 21580800. The property is depicted on the attached diagram.
The City property involved in the proposed exchange is Clark County parcel no. 986039417. The City previously acquired that parcel, located on the east side of the school site, under an option agreement with a developer.
Pursuant to RCW 39.33.020, the Board of Directors will hold a public hearing on the proposed transfer on October 18, 2017, at 10 a.m. at the District Office, which is located at 2724 S. Hillhurst Road, Ridgefield, Washington.
More information about the RORC, including conceptual renderings, is available online at www.RORC.info. More information about the District’s bond program is available online at http://www.ridgefieldsd.org/o/District/page/bond--2.