Vancouver and Clark County Parks and Recreation Centers Add to Quality of Life
With breathtaking mountain views and towering evergreens, the Vancouver area is widely known for its natural beauty. But along with picturesque scenery, this bustling community offers a thriving collection of parks and recreation venues. In fact, the Vancouver-Clark County Parks and Recreation Department oversees roughly 7,000 acres of parkland, more than 44 miles of trails and a comprehensive network of facilities that includes pools, a tennis and racquetball center and various community centers.
“The Clark County Park District offers programs and services for people of all ages,” says Jane Tesner Kleiner, planning and development manager for the Vancouver-Clark County Parks and Recreation Department. “We get calls from newcomers all the time who are looking for ways to get involved and meet new people in their community. They tell us that our parks really add to the local quality of life.”
The Firstenburg Community Center offers the perfect case in point. Situated on the east side of town, this popular 80,000-square-foot multi-use facility offers everything from an indoor leisure pool and Nautilus fitness center to a climbing wall and juice bar/deli. On the west side, the Marshall Community Center has been a mainstay in Vancouver since 1965.
“We have adults who learned to swim at the Marshall Center now bringing their own kids for swim lessons – it’s really a community treasure,” Tesner Kleiner says. “The facility underwent major renovations in 2007, including a new fitness center, an arts and crafts studio and complete ADA features. One of the most popular additions is the Teen Lounge, which provides a safe, supervised environment for young people to hang out with friends.”
Likewise, the Luepke Senior Center – located adjacent to the Marshall Center in Central Park – offers a wide range of services and activities designed to promote an active lifestyle among older residents.
“The Luepke Center offers a number of programs designed especially for seniors,” Tesner Kleiner says, noting that the facility welcomes approximately 100,000 seniors each year. “There are fitness classes, bridge clubs, dance parties and travel groups – plenty of opportunities for recreation and socializing. Plus, the Loaves and Fishes volunteer organization – which provides meals to homebound seniors – operates out of the Luepke Center.”
One of the newest additions to the local park system is the Pacific Extreme Sports Park, a 10,000-square-foot area featuring both bowl/vert and street terrain. Open to skateboarders, BMX bicyclists, inline skaters and non-motorized scooters, the Extreme Sports Park is part of the 56-acre Pacific Community Park.
“The great thing about the Extreme Sports Park is that while developing the park, the Greater Clark County Parks District requested feedback from the skating and biking community to see what they really wanted. The result has been such a positive addition to the community. And because it’s part of the larger Pacific Community Park, there’s plenty of more passive recreation available too. So parents can let their older kids skate while the little ones play on the playground or enjoy a picnic.
“Our goal is to make sure our parks and recreation centers are accessible and inclusive to everyone – it makes such a difference in the community.”
