Plain secures its first community park

PLAIN — Chelan County has secured 18 acres of open green space in Plain, marking a significant milestone in creating Plain’s first community park.

The Chelan County Board of County Commissioners recently purchased the property for $1.2 million from G&B Properties East of Plain. The property is located across from Plain Hardware and along State Haul Road.

“We are thrilled to be able to play a role in the Plain community’s dream to have its own park,” said Commissioner Shon Smith, who represents Plain and District 2. “When residents approached us with a vision for this property, we wanted to help them preserve that space. We wish to see this park become a year-round attraction for both locals and visitors.”

The formerly private property has been traditionally used for winter recreation, hosting a system of ski trails maintained by the nonprofit Plain Valley Ski Trails and home to the Plain Valley Ski Team.

In an announcement, officials said the county recently secured joint irrigation and easement agreements from the seller. Next, Chelan County Natural Resources will work on a maintenance and operations agreement with Plain Valley Ski Trails, which is expected to manage the property. The group plans to actively engage residents and local organizations to help shape the design and use of the land, bringing year-round amenities to the space.

“When we learned of this potential sale by the property owner and were told it was time sensitive, a steering committee was formed to develop a strategy to secure the land,” said Christie Wilder, executive director of Plain Valley Ski Trails. “We approached the county to acquire the land to preserve Plain Valley Ski Trail’s winter access for the ski trails and to further develop a year-round community park in Plain. We are so pleased with the immediate support from our Commissioners.”

The purchase of the property serves two purposes, said Smith. The Plain community is one of a few rural communities in Chelan County that does not have a community park. This development will not only change that, but also address a need revealed in the Chelan County Tourism Impact Assessment: more opportunities for tourism-related activities in areas that are not already heavily saturated by visitors.

“We are hoping the new park, when completed, will offer another opportunity for all those visitors in nearby Leavenworth to seek out recreation in Plain and visit that wonderful community,” Smith said. “The new park will enrich the community for residents while providing another attraction for our many visitors.”

County officials said the property will be paid for using county funds. The $1.2 million will be split down the middle between lodging tax dollars and money from a sales tax credit the county receives from the state, which is referred to as 0.09 funds.

“We are grateful for Grahame Watson, a Plain resident since 1988 and owner of G&B Properties, as he gave us the time needed to work with the county to evaluate the opportunity and buy the land,” Wilder said. “Now that the land has been secured, we believe that working together, we can develop a vision that allows our community to enjoy this acreage today and for years to come.”

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media