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Raymond E. Shaffer Community Park Development

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Thank you to everyone who made time to share their experiences with Shaffer Park and helped gather ideas for the future of this important community space!

The proposed master plan and phase 1 construction for the park was approved by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission on Feb. 21, 2024. Park planners have begun the permitting process and expect to start phase 1 construction in mid 2025. Learn more about Fall 2024 tree work at the park.

Through an online survey and in-person open house event, we heard that neighbors value Shaffer Park as an exceptional, restorative, natural environment in the city. The mature trees and open space are special resources that should be celebrated and protected.

People who participated in early community outreach would like the future park development to continue offering walking paths and seating among the trees and open spaces. People are also interested in exploring how new park amenities could create:

  1. Attractive places for children and adults to play in the park, from play structures to sports courts.
  2. Opportunities for dogs and dog owners to safely enjoy the park.
  3. Comfortable gathering areas for a range of events from birthday parties to spending time with a friend or enjoying nature on your own.
  4. Enhanced native plantings and habitat restoration in the park to complement the existing trees and lawns.
  5. Improved sense of safety and comfort throughout the park, especially at the edges.

Raymond E. Shaffer Community Park Master Plan


Phase 1 Construction Plan


Vancouver Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services is making plans to develop Raymond E. Shaffer Community Park and we want your help!

Community parks are designed to serve residents who live within 3-miles of the site or about a 10-minute drive. They provide access to nature, space for recreation, and serve as a community gathering place. Special amenities found at community parks may include:

  • Large Playground
  • Sports Fields/Courts
  • Picnic Shelters
  • Skate Parks
  • Water Features/Splash Pads
  • Dog Parks
  • Parking Lots
  • Restrooms

Planning, design and construction at Shaffer Park will take a few years. Residents are invited to participate by providing feedback throughout the process. Some elements and ideas that cannot be implemented in the initial planning may be considered for further development in the future, so we want to hear your ideas, hopes and dreams for Raymond E. Shaffer Community Park!

Raymond E. Shaffer Park is a 10-acre undeveloped community park in north-central Vancouver. Located at the corner of NE 58th St. and NE 76th Ave., Shaffer Park is in a recently annexed portion of the city and serves residents in the Walnut Grove Neighborhood.

The landscape features open grassy fields lined with groves of tall Douglas fir and noble fir trees. Recent expansion of the park boundary has added groves of fruit trees and a spectacular walnut tree. Since the site is currently undeveloped, most visitors use the park to walk on the soft surface trails that loop through the park. The fence surrounding the park has also made it a popular spot for local dog owners.

Vancouver City Parks are open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. It is unlawful to enter or be in any park between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless otherwise permitted by the director (VMC 15.04.150). Contact the police non-emergency line at 311 to report unlawful park use.

Edith Shaffer sold the property to the City of Vancouver in 2010, with the future park to be named after her late husband, Raymond E. Shaffer. Approximately 8 acres of the property was immediately open for use as an undeveloped community park. Mrs. Shaffer continued to use a portion of the property where her house, garage, workshop and barn were located until she passed away in 2020.

There were originally two houses on the property, one built in 1920 and one built in 1930. Beginning in 1935, the property was used for small-scale farming including an apple and pear orchard, family garden, cultivation of hay and grain, a pasture for horse grazing, and chinchilla farming.

In 2018, Washington Trails Association (WTA) partnered with the City to build soft surface trails throughout the park. Benches were installed in 2019 as part of an Eagle Scout project.

The house built in 1930 was removed in 1980, the house built in 1920 was removed in 2021. With the Shaffer's permission, both buildings served as training sites for the Vancouver Fire Department before they were demolished. This gave firefighters the opportunity to practice life-saving skills in a real world setting.

The second portion of the property (approx. 2 acres) became available for public use at the end of 2021, when the site was cleared and the fence that originally surrounded the Shaffer home was removed.

Thank you to everyone who made time to share their experiences with Shaffer Park and helped gather ideas for the future of this important community space!

The proposed master plan and phase 1 construction for the park was approved by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission on Feb. 21, 2024. Park planners have begun the permitting process and expect to start phase 1 construction in mid 2025. Learn more about Fall 2024 tree work at the park.

Through an online survey and in-person open house event, we heard that neighbors value Shaffer Park as an exceptional, restorative, natural environment in the city. The mature trees and open space are special resources that should be celebrated and protected.

People who participated in early community outreach would like the future park development to continue offering walking paths and seating among the trees and open spaces. People are also interested in exploring how new park amenities could create:

  1. Attractive places for children and adults to play in the park, from play structures to sports courts.
  2. Opportunities for dogs and dog owners to safely enjoy the park.
  3. Comfortable gathering areas for a range of events from birthday parties to spending time with a friend or enjoying nature on your own.
  4. Enhanced native plantings and habitat restoration in the park to complement the existing trees and lawns.
  5. Improved sense of safety and comfort throughout the park, especially at the edges.

Raymond E. Shaffer Community Park Master Plan


Phase 1 Construction Plan


Vancouver Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services is making plans to develop Raymond E. Shaffer Community Park and we want your help!

Community parks are designed to serve residents who live within 3-miles of the site or about a 10-minute drive. They provide access to nature, space for recreation, and serve as a community gathering place. Special amenities found at community parks may include:

  • Large Playground
  • Sports Fields/Courts
  • Picnic Shelters
  • Skate Parks
  • Water Features/Splash Pads
  • Dog Parks
  • Parking Lots
  • Restrooms

Planning, design and construction at Shaffer Park will take a few years. Residents are invited to participate by providing feedback throughout the process. Some elements and ideas that cannot be implemented in the initial planning may be considered for further development in the future, so we want to hear your ideas, hopes and dreams for Raymond E. Shaffer Community Park!

Raymond E. Shaffer Park is a 10-acre undeveloped community park in north-central Vancouver. Located at the corner of NE 58th St. and NE 76th Ave., Shaffer Park is in a recently annexed portion of the city and serves residents in the Walnut Grove Neighborhood.

The landscape features open grassy fields lined with groves of tall Douglas fir and noble fir trees. Recent expansion of the park boundary has added groves of fruit trees and a spectacular walnut tree. Since the site is currently undeveloped, most visitors use the park to walk on the soft surface trails that loop through the park. The fence surrounding the park has also made it a popular spot for local dog owners.

Vancouver City Parks are open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. It is unlawful to enter or be in any park between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless otherwise permitted by the director (VMC 15.04.150). Contact the police non-emergency line at 311 to report unlawful park use.

Edith Shaffer sold the property to the City of Vancouver in 2010, with the future park to be named after her late husband, Raymond E. Shaffer. Approximately 8 acres of the property was immediately open for use as an undeveloped community park. Mrs. Shaffer continued to use a portion of the property where her house, garage, workshop and barn were located until she passed away in 2020.

There were originally two houses on the property, one built in 1920 and one built in 1930. Beginning in 1935, the property was used for small-scale farming including an apple and pear orchard, family garden, cultivation of hay and grain, a pasture for horse grazing, and chinchilla farming.

In 2018, Washington Trails Association (WTA) partnered with the City to build soft surface trails throughout the park. Benches were installed in 2019 as part of an Eagle Scout project.

The house built in 1930 was removed in 1980, the house built in 1920 was removed in 2021. With the Shaffer's permission, both buildings served as training sites for the Vancouver Fire Department before they were demolished. This gave firefighters the opportunity to practice life-saving skills in a real world setting.

The second portion of the property (approx. 2 acres) became available for public use at the end of 2021, when the site was cleared and the fence that originally surrounded the Shaffer home was removed.

Page last updated: 31 Oct 2024, 05:01 PM