Parks and recreation in Centralia, Washington

Parks and recreation in Centralia, Washington is administered by the Centralia Parks and Recreation Department (CPRD). The agency oversees a variety of sites, including natural areas, community recreation facilities, and city parks, classified as either neighborhood or community. The department also oversees several single-purpose sites in the city and partners with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) on maintenance and improvements to several areas, including Hayes and Plummer lakes. Centralia hosts privately owned parks and there are some trails under volunteer oversight.

Centralia's first organized park and recreation plan began in 1963 and the agency has long had plans to create a trail corridor system that would link the parks in the community. , the Centralia Parks and Recreation Department had an operating budget of over $2.5 million, and employed 161 people.

Neighborhood parks
Centralia classifies most parks under 10 acre, and within residential areas, as a neighborhood park.

Community parks
Centralia classifies most parks between 10 acre and 100 acre as a community park, provided that the area contains a variety of leisure activities, such as sports, hiking, or picnicking. The classification also includes grounds at Centralia Middle School, Centralia High School, and Centralia College, but not elementary school recreation areas. School park areas are not under oversight of the CPRD, but in a cooperative partnership with the education systems to help expand or maintain the land, especially if the school grounds are adjacent to a city park.

Natural areas and open space corridors
The classification covers areas in a more natural setting, with recreational activities geared toward hiking or exploration.

Special facilities
Under the CPRD, several buildings or locations are considered a special facility. Classified as a single-purpose location, this includes such sites as the Armory Hills Golf Course, the Centralia Train Depot, the First Street trees, and the Sticklin Greenwood Cemetery and Washington Lawn Cemetery. The classification also includes historical buildings and sites within Fort Borst Park.

Trails
Several parks and natural areas contain hiking trails of various surfaces and difficulty.

The largest trail that is not connected to a park is the Discovery Trail, a level 1.5 mi path that traverses through restored riparian habitat that parallels the Chehalis River. Opened in 2006, it is located north of Centralia in Ford's Prairie. Volunteer efforts that includes local student involvement, have replanted the area since the path's early beginnings, and the repaired ecosystem is home to a variety of wildlife, including beaver, deer, and eagles. The trail is overseen by the city and is part of a habitat conservation easement owned by the Chehalis River Basin Land Trust.

Future plans
The parks system has long been planned to be linked by a trail corridor, allowing residents and visitors access to a variety of recreation opportunities. Expansion of existing parks, including upgrades, have taken precedence in the 21st century, including emphasis on retaining or reinvigorating historically important concerns with the park system.