Fruit Valley Park Playground
Plans for the new Elizabeth Austin Playground at Fruit Valley Park were officially adopted at the May meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. Park planners are beginning the permitting and preparation process. Construction is set to begin early next year with plans to have the new playground open by Summer 2025.
The community chose “Play Like a Bird” for the design theme of the playground, which celebrates the natural beauty and habitat of Fruit Valley Park and the Vancouver lowlands. The plan incorporates the play equipment and design features that were most popular on the community survey including:
- Inclusive play equipment with a rope climber, we-go-round spinner, zipline, bird’s nest play feature, water play area, play mounds and slide, bell and drum musical instruments, bird sculptures and bird houses.
- ADA-approved poured in place rubber surfacing that highlights the bird theme in the design.
- Planting area to enhance the natural setting of the playground.
- New bike racks, benches, picnic tables and garbage cans.
- Fencing around the playground to support the safety of children with specific developmental and neurodiverse needs.
Construction notifications will be provided to neighbors once the final timeline is in place. Subscribe to this project webpage for email updates about this project.
Fruit Valley Community Center Removal
The Fruit Valley Community Center is a small building in the park that used to be available for limited event rentals under the management of the Fruit Valley Neighborhood Association and volunteers. The building is owned by the City of Vancouver. The lease agreement that had been in place with the Fruit Valley Neighborhood Association ended in 2023.
Funding was set aside in the 2023-24 fiscal year to replace the roof on the building. As estimates were collected to begin planning the roof project, we discovered that there were more issues with the building. A Facility Condition Assessment determined that the building is in very poor condition due to:
- Environmental dangers (lead paint, asbestos, mold, radon gas)
- Minimal ADA access
- Does not meet seismic standards
- Does not meet Life Safety Code for occupancy
- The roof is not in safe condition
The building can no longer be safely used as a community resource so it will be removed by the City when construction begins on the new playground.
Take our quick poll to tell us which new amenities and improvements you would like to see added to the park in the future to create safe and inviting spaces for everyone to play, gather and celebrate.
Project Overview
Fruit Valley Neighborhood Park will receive a fully inclusive playground thanks to a generous $1 million donation from the Kuni Foundation. The new playground will honor the legacy of community leader and mother, Elizabeth Austin.
Increasing access to inclusive play spaces is a priority for Vancouver Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services, it is also one of the two funding priorities for the Kuni Foundation. Current CDC data indicates that one in four Americans (26%) have some type of disability. Most playgrounds incorporate basic ramps and a few wheelchair-accessible play options to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act’s 2010 playground rules. Those accommodations only address some mobility disabilities and still leave many members of our community on the sidelines.
In addition to making the park more inviting for people with disabilities, inclusive play environments also encourage strong physical, mental and social development in children who do not experience disability. The new playground at Fruit Valley Park will be a place where people of all ages and abilities can thrive together through play.
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Elizabeth Austin was a philanthropist, educator and community connector. As a mother of twin boys, she loved exploring Vancouver's parks and playgrounds with her sons. Together they visited every playground in the area.
Elizabeth championed inclusive spaces that were accessible to youth of all abilities and was engaged in this transformative work before the community lost her to cancer in 2021. Elizabeth thrived in the company of children and was known for her generosity, beautiful laugh and joy in bringing people together.
The new playground will be an enduring tribute to her warm, welcoming nature and love for creating community.
The Kuni Foundation believes in the power of human potential. Based in Vancouver, Washington, the Kuni Foundation invests in scientists advancing cancer research and advances inclusive opportunities for people experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities, including employment, housing, education and the community’s beautiful outdoor spaces.
Since 2017, the Foundation has awarded more than $47 million to organizations throughout Oregon and Washington in service to its mission.
To learn more, please visit KuniFoundation.org.
Fruit Valley Neighborhood Park (3200 Fruit Valley Rd.) is a six-acre park located in the Fruit Valley Neighborhood in west Vancouver. Fruit Valley is the largest neighborhood in the city by landmass, and the park serves more than 1,000 households.
A popular gathering spot for neighbors, Fruit Valley Park offers a beautiful natural environment that includes a playground, a sports court, a community garden and enough space to host large events like summer movies in the park.
The Fruit Valley Community Center is a small building in the park that was previously available for limited event rentals through the Fruit Valley Neighborhood Association and volunteers. The center is currently closed for rentals, as neighborhood association and volunteer capacity to operate the building has decreased. The City of Vancouver is exploring sustainable operation models and opportunities for the future of the Fruit Valley Community Center.
