Grant PUD to survey recreational users
Courtesy photo The Grant PUD is planning to survey users at its recreational facilities, including Crescent Bar, shown here under construction.
EPHRATA — People using Grant County PUD recreation facilities this summer will be asked to participate in an in-person survey.
“We want to get out and gather at least 200 surveys,” said Shannon Lowry, the PUD’s recreation and lands manager. The in-person survey is part of a more comprehensive assessment of the utility’s recreation program.
The survey is required every three years, Lowry said. She updated PUD commissioners on recreation activities at the regular meeting Tuesday.
The in-person surveys will be conducted between June and September. “We’re going to be monitoring on 41 specific days, randomly selected, some on weekends, some not on weekends,” she said.
“We always ask where (respondents) are from, but we’re going to ask them the zip code of their primary residence, as well as whether or not they pay a Grant PUD electric bill.” That will provide more precise data on people using PUD recreation facilities.
Before the recreation season begins, PUD officials are visiting and evaluating all existing boat launches, picnic grounds, parks and all recreation facilities, developed and undeveloped. The goal is to determine the impact of use, Lowry said. “Have users used it differently than we imagined, has the use been appropriate, do we need to do any rehab or restoration of this area. That work is ongoing right now.”
The information will be used to update the district’s recreation plan, which guides where and how recreation facilities are added, taken out or upgraded.
Some improvement projects already planned are underway, she said, including fish cleaning stations at some boat launches, more picnic shelters to provide shade and solar lights and reflectors at some boat docks to make them more navigable in the evening.
The boat launch on Crescent Bar should be open for use by Memorial Day, Lowry said. In answer to a question from commissioner Larry Schaapman, Lowry said the remodeled recreation facilities at Crescent Bar will include about 71 parking spots on the island, in addition to 47 parking spots on the riverbank. “Do we anticipate that’s going to max out?” Schaapman asked.
“At this point we have no plans to provide overflow parking,” Lowry said. In summer 2017 there was less parking on the island due to construction, and on most weekends that was enough, she said, although there is room for overflow if necessary.