Battle Ground underwent significant leadership changes in 2024, alongside major park planning efforts and the introduction of body-worn cameras for patrol officers.
In 2024, Dennis Flynn’s appointment as Battle Ground’s police chief marked a pivotal shift for the city. Following the January retirement of Mike Fort, Flynn officially took his oath of office during a packed City Council meeting on March 18.
Flynn brought over 30 years of law enforcement experience, serving 30 years with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and six years as deputy chief for the Commerce City Police Department in Colorado.
Flynn emphasized community engagement, transparency and trust-building. Early in his tenure, he proposed the implementation of body-worn cameras to enhance accountability. The department rolled out body-worn cameras for all patrol personnel on Oct. 7. Flynn acknowledged the initial apprehension from officers but stressed the importance of transparency.
“I have not yet met a police officer nationwide that, when you first talked about deploying body cams, that they’re not apprehensive,” Flynn said. “I think anybody anywhere would feel apprehensive if you said, ‘Here, I want you to wear this camera to document everything that you did all day.’ We also just have to acknowledge times have changed, and there we owe it to the public to be as transparent as we can.”
The City of Battle Ground underwent additional leadership transitions following the resignation of City Manager Erin Erdman. Erdman, who had served the city since 2014 and as city manager since 2019, announced her departure in March. Her resignation took effect on April 19 as she assumed the city manager role in Kennewick.
Kris Swanson was hired as an interim city manager April 22, filling the vacancy. Swanson stepped into the role with over three decades of public service including working as Longview’s city manager from March 2023 to April 2024.
The council partnered with Prothman, a recruitment firm, to find a permanent replacement. After a 12-week process costing $18,500, Swanson emerged as the leading candidate among nine applicants. In July, the council unanimously voted to remove the “interim” from her title, solidifying her role as Battle Ground’s city manager.
Swanson expressed gratitude for the community’s warm welcome and praised the city’s staff and council for their collaboration. As she guided the city through this transitional period, Swanson emphasized her excitement about the community’s enthusiasm for improvements and her commitment to addressing residents’ needs.
“I’ve really enjoyed working with this council, and the staffare incredible,” Swanson said during a July community meet-and-greet. “They’ve welcomed me with open arms and I’m grateful for that, and [for] our very talented staff.”
Swanson immediately focused on several key initiatives, including the Old Town Revitalization Plan, which officially launched in April. The plan aims to improve traffic flow, parking, pedestrian access and the aesthetic and investment potential of Main Street, from Parkway to Fairgrounds avenues. With a $350,000 grant from the Department of Commerce, planners are drafting a final subarea plan, with public engagement meetings scheduled for March 2025 and final adoption expected in April 2025.
The future of Battle Ground’s parks became another major focus for Battle Ground. In July, the city broke ground on a $1.2 million project at Kiwanis Park, slated to introduce six pickleball courts, a picnic area and a covered basketball court.
Additionally, the City Council approved plans for four significant park properties.
The Durkee property, a 35-acre site east of the city, will eventually be developed into a trail park, honoring the wishes of its original donors, descendants of farmer R.S. Durkee, a former state representative and founder of the Clark County Fair. This $3.9 million plan includes trails, a forest labyrinth and scenic viewpoints.
The 80.2-acre Remy property is slated for pathways, picnic areas, a dog park and basketball courts, with an estimated cost of $9.4 million. The Gardner Oaks property, spanning 13 acres, will feature a proposed nine-hole disc golf course, pedestrian bridges and nature-themed play areas, costing $7.7 million.
The plan for the existing Fairgrounds Park focuses on replacing Little League fields with specialty gardens, a splash pad and sports courts while retaining the skate park. This $15.1 million upgrade depends on the development of replacement ballfields elsewhere.
Mayor Troy McCoy acknowledged that the development of these parks will take time and come in increments contingent upon available funding.
“I don’t want the impression that ‘Oh, City Council just spent $36.1 million, and there’s going to be a bunch of new parks next year.’ It will be a long haul,” McCoy said.
