Public Spaces

Dozer Day set for this weekend in Vancouver

Monday, May 14th, 2012, 10:17am

Dozer Day, which gives kids an opportunity to operate heavy construction equipment and enjoy many other excavation-related activities for less than the cost of going to the movies, is set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 19-20.

Under the guidance of the Nutter Foundation, Dozer Day, has grown to over 20,000 attendees and raises over $100,000 for local children's charities.

Buy tickets online.

Location: CEMEX - Fishers Quarry (directly off SR-14 at the 192nd exit. Corner of Brady Rd. and 192nd Ave.)

Email: intern2@nutterfoundation.org

Phone: 360-759-2300

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Volunteers still needed at Columbia Springs' invasive species invasion

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Thursday, April 26th, 2012, 9:43am

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Join Columbia Springs for a community service day this Saturday.

Staff at the 100-acre environmental education center located at the historic Vancouver Trout Hatchery are recruiting volunteers to help defeat the assault of invasive plant species with a monthly Invasive Species Invasion from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 28.

All volunteers are welcome, including kids younger than 14 with parental supervision and teens younger than 16 with parental permission. Snacks and tools will be provided. Participants are asked to bring sturdy shoes, appropriate outdoor work clothing, a water bottle, and their enthusiasm for helping the community.

The focus for this Invasive Species Invasion will be on manual removal of English Ivy to save native trees and restore the forest floor.

To sign-up or for more information, send an email or call Mariah Acton at 360-882-0936 ext. 230.

Columbia Springs is at 12208 SE Evergreen Highway, Vancouver, WA 98683.

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Vancouver replenishes reserves for Hotel/Convention Center

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012, 9:00am

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- More than 94,000 people attended 1,050 events at the Vancouver Convention Center/Hotel during 2011. However, tough times continue to impact the industry and community.

This month, Vancouver city officials transferred $1.7 million in lodging tax revenues to replenish the hotel/convention center operating and capital reserves. Lodging tax dollars that were collected and held for this purpose by the City were used for the payment. No City general funds have been paid -- or will be used -- for this purpose. Lodging tax revenues are restricted to tourism related activities like the convention center; under state law, they cannot be used for City services such as police, fire, parks, or roads.

Under the original 2003 agreement when the hotel/convention center was built, the City guaranteed limited funding on an annual basis, if needed, to support the debt issued to construct the project. Although the City was billed by the trustee for only a portion of its guarantee in 2010 and was not billed in 2011 or prior years, an amount due had been accruing.

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Computer lab open for job seekers

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011, 1:15pm

Unemployed? Update your resume, file for unemployment, or apply for your dream job in this special computer lab just for job seekers. Microsoft Office software, high-speed Internet, USB ports, CD and floppy disc drives, color scanner, and black-and-white printing are available.

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Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation proposes updates to park code

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Thursday, October 13th, 2011, 8:00am

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- In a workshop Monday night, Vancouver City Council heard recommendations from Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation for revisions to the Vancouver Municipal Code about governing Vancouver city parks.

"The City of Vancouver's Park code has not been updated in 40 years," said Parks and Recreation Director Pete Mayer. "Not only did language need to be clarified, new awareness around health and safety could not be ignored. We also had to assess and respond to some areas in which our code did not fully align with the Washington State Constitution or recent case law. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission (PRAC) and community members have already offered valuable feedback that has refined the recommendations. Today the public comment period opens and we look forward to hearing more feedback before we take this on for PRAC and City Council confirmation."

New sections have been added to the code. They would only affect public parks within the city limits, as opposed to County owned parks outside the City of Vancouver. The code updates include:

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New picnic shelter at Marshall Park receiving finishing touches

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011, 11:21am

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- People driving by Marshall Community Center have probably noticed a new picnic shelter has been under construction on campus.

The 2,414-foot shelter at Marshall Park (1009 E. McLoughlin) will be finished later this fall. Positioned near the popular Chelsea Anderson Play Ground, the shelter will enhance the services already offered on the Marshall Center campus, providing space for day camps and other Parks and Recreation programming, as well as offering the public a new, reservable meeting space for family and event gatherings.

The shelter will be equipped with picnic tables for 52 people. There will be room for tables accommodating up to 30 more people. It will contain a serving counter and electrical outlets.

Once completed, the shelter will be available for public use on a first-come, first-served basis when it is not already reserved. It will be added to the Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation shelter list, and available to reserve as of Feb.

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Sept. 17 grand opening of Vancouver City Hall celebrates renaissance of city

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Thursday, August 25th, 2011, 8:00am

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Officials from the City of Vancouver are inviting the community to a grand opening of the new City Hall from noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 17 to discover and celebrate the renaissance of historic downtown Vancouver.

Join the City Hall dedication at 12:30 p.m., meet Vancouver City Council, staff and volunteers as well as colorful characters in Vancouver's history. Guests will participate hands on to discover more about Vancouver and what services the city provides.

Come take a tour of new Vancouver City Hall - get up an close view of airplanes from Vancouver's historic Pearson Field and museum, participate in "We are Vancouver" filming opportunities, take a free Zumba classes and learn about neighborhood emergency preparedness as part of national preparedness month. Take a 40-minute downtown walking tour from the new City Hall past five historic City Hall sites from Vancouver's 154 years guided by Clark County Historical Society.

Kids can join in Junior City Council sessions and play Mayor for a day, up on the City Council dais viewable on the Clark-Vancouver TV screen.

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