On July 18th, 2024, the Skamania County Board of County Commissioners officially enacted Ordinance 2024-02 into law. The ordinance contains the zoning language and land use changes we've all been working on since August of 2023. Now, large-scale recreational facilities (like Adventure Parks), are definitively disallowed in the West End!

Thank you for your ongoing support over the past 11 months!

Preserving Washougal and West End Rural Character

Educating and advocating to maintain the rural character of the Washougal watershed

Bridge over Washougal River
Bridge over Washougal River

Our Goal is

Preserving the Washougal River

Discover the beauty and importance of the Washougal River as we strive to protect and preserve its natural spaces, maintain air and water quality, and sustain the diverse flora and fauna that call it home.

Adventure Park

A developer plans to build an amusement park along the Washougal River.

The 150 acre footprint park plans to include:

  • Mountain Coaster

  • Zip Lines

  • Wedding Venue

  • Treehouse Camping

  • Tree to Tree Canopy Walks

  • Ariel Net Parks

Projects of Concerns for Adverse Impact to our Community

There are many ways an adventure park will adversely effect the Washougal River, Washougal, and West Skamania County. Listed are some of the obvious ones.

Traffic:

Environmental:

Economic:

Quality of Life:

Wildlife:

Emergency Services:

  • Safety

  • Congestion

  • Wear & tear on ill-maintained roads

  • Noise

  • Privacy encroachment

  • Crime

  • Parking concerns

  • Wetlands

  • Rivers

  • Litter

  • Increased wildfire risk

  • Bald Eagles

  • Fish

  • Small and large game

  • 100% Volunteer Fire Department

  • Law Enforcement is currently at capacity

  • Emergency Medical Support is at capacity

  • Negative impact on property values

  • Shift from residential to commercial

Get Involved

How can I help?

  • Talk to and update your neighbors

  • Write letters to the Editor of Post-Record, The Columbian, and The Pioneer

  • Talk to your Skamania County Commissioners

  • Write letters commenting on: SEPA, Scoping for EIS (Environmental Impact Statement), Draft EIS, and to the Hearings Examiner

  • Show up and testify for hearing in front of Hearings Examiner on Conditional Use approval or denial

  • Make a donation to support the necessary legal and related outreach costs that will be incurred as our community fights for stopping this ill-conceived "Adventure Park"

  • Download 'Decibel X' and record the ambient decibel level from your home

Preserving for Future Generations

All money raised, funds outreach and legal advocacy.

You can donate securely online using the form below. Use the Custom Amount box to specify any amount that you are comfortable contributing. All donations help.

Alternatively, you can mail checks payable to PWWERC:
3307 Evergreen Way
Ste 707 PMB 304
Washougal, WA 98671

Preserving Washougal & West End Rural Character is a Washington nonprofit corporation and tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (TIN# 93-3293548). Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Hearings Examiner

Conditional Use Criteria

In determining whether the use (adventure park) is compatible with the area, the proposed use shall:

  1. Be either compatible with other uses in the surrounding area or is no more incompatible than are other outright permitted uses in the applicable zoning district;

  2. Not materially endanger the health, safety, and welfare of the surrounding community to an extent greater than that associated with other permitted uses in the applicable zoning district;

  3. Not cause the pedestrian and vehicular traffic associated with the use to conflict with existing and anticipated traffic in the neighborhood to an extent greater than that associated with other permitted uses in the applicable zoning district;

  4. Be supported by adequate service facilities and would not adversely affect public services to the surrounding area;

  5. Not hinder or discourage the development of permitted uses on neighboring properties in the applicable zoning district as a result of the location, size or height of the buildings, structures, walls, or required fences or screening vegetation to a greater extent than other permitted uses in the applicable zoning district;

  6. Not be in conflict with the goals and policies expressed in the current version of the County's comprehensive plan.

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