Cascade County used grant funds to hire consultants to develop land use plans for the former smelter site in Black Eagle.

Tonight, the team from Water & Environmental Technologies, LPW Architecture, Land Design, Inc. and Community Development Services will present their designs for Art Higgins Memorial Park bicycle/pedestrian connectivity design options along with other park improvements and designs for the former smelter site.

The meeting is 6-8 p.m. at the Black Eagle Community Center, 2332 Smelter Ave.

Draft plans for former smelter site include trails, mountain bike area, archery, folf and more

The design options were developed after meeting with local groups with ties to the area; the public; and discussions with the Black Eagle Community Park Board, Cascade County, state and federal regulators.

Public meetings were held in Black Eagle in September and November to gather ideas, suggestions and concerns from the community.

During the November meeting, the consultants unveiled their draft plans, which included paved trails, secondary gravel trails and areas for mountain biking, archery and folf. The draft plans also include an amphitheater and large shelter for community use and events, as well as an interpretive center, smelter stack replica and smelter stack memorial.

Restrooms connected to utilities are included in the western areas of the park, which are closer to existing infrastructure, reducing cost. Vault toilets are included throughout the site. A tent camping area was also included in the draft plans.

Maps were handed out to those who attended so that they could draw on the map, ask questions or write comments and send the map back to WET.