Curtin Creek Community Park is now open to the public, offering new recreational space, sports amenities and public art on Northeast 72nd Avenue.
The park, located at 12603 NE 72nd Ave., includes a picnic shelter, multipurpose turf field, pickleball courts and natural open space.
The multipurpose sports turf field is also available for scheduling.
Groups interested in using the field may contact Eric Christensen at 564-397-1680 or eric.christensen@clark.wa.gov. The pickleball courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Although the park is open, some work remains. The pickleball courts will need to close during a future, to-be-determined period for surface coating. Updates will be posted on the county’s webpage and on signs at the courts.
Clark County recently celebrated the park’s grand opening with demonstrations by Vancouver West Soccer and the Clark County Rugby Club, activities from Vancouver Fire, a bird walk hosted by Vancouver Audubon and remarks from Rep. Stephanie McClintock, Sen. Adrian Cortes and Clark County Council Chair Sue Marshall.
Speakers recognized the many people and groups involved in bringing the park to completion, including the Curtin family, which owned the land before it was purchased by the City of Vancouver in 1999. They also recognized the construction contractor, consulting engineer, Public Works project managers and current and former members of parks advisory groups. Marshall cut the ribbon during the ceremony.
The park project dates back to 1999, when Clark County and the City of Vancouver jointly purchased 38.67 acres at the site. The land was intended for a Vancouver fire station on about five acres and a county park on the remaining 33 acres.
Of the park property, 16.18 acres are planned for park development, while 16.82 acres will remain in a natural state.
In 2005, voters approved the Metropolitan Parks District levy, which provided dedicated funding to construct 35 new parks. The levy also included funding for sports fields and new trails.
The park also features “SkyDancer,” a 15½-foot-tall sculpture created by Tacoma artist Mauricio Robalino with assistants Arthur Lopez and Raul Soto.
Robalino, who was born in Quito, Ecuador, and moved to the United States in 1971, said he has loved drawing and making things since childhood. The sculpture is built with a wood skeleton bolted to an aluminum base, secured by 12-inch anchor bolts into a 30-inch concrete base. Its sides are made with weather-resistant plywood, lightweight cement board and glass pieces, including cut glass, glass beads, floral beads and fused glass.
