Upcoming Events
Monday, June 21, 2021 | Harper Park Volunteer Work Party | 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM | Register HERE
Join us at Harper Park for a few hours of trail brushing and invasive plant species removal. Bring gloves, water, hand tools, and dress for the weather. Masks are required at the parking lot briefing. To register, please visit the Kitsap County Parks volunteer page: https://www.kitsapgov.com/parks/Pages/Volunteer.aspx
Park Closure: June 7 – 18, 2021
Harper Park will be closed June 7- 18 for the construction and installation of a new trail bridge. Please respect park barriers and signs. https://www.kitsapgov.com/parks
June 14th, 2021 2:30 pm-4 pm | Online Zoom Webinar | Harper Estuary & Park Monitoring Presentation | Register HERE
Dr. Jenise Bauman of Western Washington University and Jeff Adams of Washington Sea Grant will present their research findings of Harper estuary. This important research has been conducted over the last two years and will help us understand what it means for future restoration opportunities and the health of Harper Estuary & Park.
Dr. Bauman’s presentation will focus on her work investigating both native and invasive plant species in the estuary and the importance of the ecology that surrounds them. She will discuss sediment, soils, and the gradual accumulation of toxic micro-nutrients (heavy metals) that build up in certain plant species, also known as bioaccumulation. Her research helps identify which plants are better at storing micro-nutrients, which will aid in future restoration projects at Harper.
Jeff Adams will discuss the Crab Team’s findings monitoring for mobile fauna in Harper Estuary. He will describe the methods used to characterize the mobile fauna community and what changes may take place now that restoration efforts have been made. In addition to these efforts, Jeff will also summarize the UW Wetland Ecosystem Team’s results on insects, beach wood, and other habitat information as well as potential future opportunities to volunteer.
To register for this free webinar, click HERE.
March 27, 2021 10am-12pm | Harper Park Stewardship Group Work Party
The Harper Park Stewardship Group is holding a socially distanced work party to remove invasive ivy and plant native plants! Sign up here: https://events.dudesolutions.com/kitsapgov/site/volunteergroups/event/harper-park-work-party-2
For more information on the stewardship group, please contact Carmen Smith at [email protected] or call Parks at 360-337-5350.
Community Feedback on Harper Park and Estuary Planning
April 3, 2020 – Community Conversation
Thank you to all who participated in the Interpretive Sign and Display survey for Harper Park! We appreciate your input. You can see the results below.
Survey Results for Review:
Summary Infographic
Full Report
If you have questions about interpretive signs and displays at Harper Park or would like to be involved in the development and/or review of these signs and displays, please contact Carmen Smith at [email protected].
March 16, 2020 – Community Conversation
Outdoor interpretive signs and displays are coming to Harper Park! We want to hear from you about what interpretive topics you would like to see in Harper Park. Please click HERE to take the survey. The survey will be available until March 30th. Thank you for your participation!
If you need assistance or have any questions, please contact Carmen Smith at [email protected]
December 18, 2019 – Community Conversation
Survey results for the community’s design preference for Harper Park ball field and picnicking improvements
An online survey (see below) and a community conversation board posted in Harper Park indicated a preference by people for Option A.
In total, Option A received 51 votes and Option B received 34 votes. Option A received 60% of the votes.
We have selected Option A to be included in the Draft Harper Park Improvement Plan because it received the majority of support.
November 21, 2019 – Community Conversation
We would like to hear about your design preference for the Harper Park ball field and picnicking improvements.
We present two alternative options A and B. Please click HERE to view them.
Please vote for one option via an online survey. This survey is based on the honor system – please only vote once. Click HERE to vote. Survey is open until December 4, 2019.
August 2019 DRAFT Harper Park Improvement Plan
A plan to improve Harper Park has been drafted and we want to hear what you think. The comment period will be open until Friday Sept. 20th, 2019. Please contact project staff to comment or ask questions.
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Community comments: Jennifer Haro, Kitsap County – Commissioners Office, [email protected]
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Project questions: Christina Kereki, Project Manager, Kitsap County – Department of Community Development, [email protected]
June 2019 Community Conversations Summary on Park Assets and Values
May 20, 2019 Community Conversations Summary on Dugouts and Ballfield
Materials for Review:
Past Meetings and Events
August 21, 2020 1-3pm | Harper Park Stewardship Group Work Party
The Harper Park Stewardship Group held a socially distanced work party focusing on invasive ivy removal and planning for an entrance sign flowerbed! View photos from the event here.
For more information on the stewardship group, please contact Carmen Smith at [email protected].
July 24, 2020 1-3pm | Harper Park Stewardship Group Work Party
The Harper Park Stewardship Group held a socially distanced work party – continuing their ivy removal efforts behind the ball field.
June 26, 2020 1-3pm | Harper Park Stewardship Group Work Party
The Harper Park Stewardship Group held a socially distanced work party to remove invasive ivy from behind the ball field. The Group plans to continue ivy removal in this area this summer to make more room for native plants.
February 29, 2020 10am-12pm | Harper Park Stewardship Group Native Planting Extravaganza
The Harper Park Stewardship Group held a native plant planting extravaganza! The group planted various species of native trees and shrubs in the area behind the ballfield – and was able to load a full trailer of ivy to be removed from the park! Thanks to all those who attended!
Check out pictures from the event here!
January 26, 2020 10am-12pm | Harper Park Stewardship Group Work Party
The Harper Party Stewardship Group held a work party to perform trail maintenance and remove invasive ivy from behind the ballfield. The cleared area will be the focus of next month’s Native Planting Extravaganza.
October 27, 2019 | 9:30am & 10am-12pm Harper Park Stewardship Meeting and Trail Maintenance Work Party
Meeting at 9:30am was held for community members to learn about stewardship opportunities at Harper Park. They met at the park’s covered picnic table area. Volunteer trail maintenance work party followed from 10am-12pm. Drinks and snacks provided. Weather permitting. If you have any questions please contact Amy Smalley at [email protected] or Carmen Smith at [email protected].
September 26, 2019 | 6:30 – 8:00 pm Community Meeting on the Draft Harper Park Improvement Plan
Meeting took place at the Colby United Methodist Church, 2881 Harvey St. SE, in Port Orchard.
September 14, 2019 | 1 – 3pm Harper Estuary Plant Walk & Survey
Please join us at 1:00 pm Saturday, September 14, to learn about the importance of estuary plants and how to monitor plant communities. Meet at the Harper Park parking lot. Bring your boots! Participants will walk the site and take part in a citizen science plant survey. The survey will be led by Dr. Jenise Bauman, professor at Western Washington University in the Huxley College of the Environment.
May 25, 2019 | Volunteer Harper Park Ivy-Pull
Meet at 9-11 AM at the parking lot next to ballfield. 3500 SE Southworth Drive, Port Orchard, 98366Join the Parks Department and new Life Church volunteers to pull invasive English Ivy. Tools and instruction will be provided. Please bring your own gloves. For more information contact: Jackson Lee, Volunteer Coordinator at 360-337-5350.
May 15-16, 2019 | Harper Beach Cleanup
Department of Natural Resource Crews will be at Harper Estuary to clean up creosote wood. Please contact Kitsap County (360-337-5777) or DNR (https://mycoast.org/wa) if you have creosote wood or debris on your beach that you’d like to remove.
April 20, 2019 | Celebrate Earth Day! Harper Park Ivy-Pull
Meet at 1-3 pm at Harper Park to pull ivy and do good! Kitsap County Parks is hosting this event. Bring gloves, tools provided.
March 25, 2019 | 6:30 pm
Volunteer Stewardship Meeting at Colby United Methodist Church, 2881 Harvey St. SE, in Port Orchard.
March 21, 2019 | 6:30 – 8:00 pm
- Meeting Summary
- Draft Concept Posters Concept Posters showing ideas to improve Harper Park and Estuary. The posters were developed to support community discussion on topics such as park trails, interpretive signs/displays (recognizing history), landscaping, picnic and parking facilities, field, and waterfront access. These are conceptual and not final designs.
- Community Meeting #3 to Discuss the Future of Harper Park at Colby United Methodist Church, 2881 Harvey St. SE, in Port Orchard.
- Community Meeting #3 Presentation
Walk-Shop: Sunday, February 24 at 2:00PM
- Walk-shop Summary – Meeting at Harper Park parking lot to tour the park and estuary, and talk about park improvements
- Walk-shop to discuss Harper Park Improvements
- Map of existing features at Harper Park
January 30, 2019 6:30 – 8:30pm
- Meeting Summary
- Community Meeting to Discuss the Future of Harper Park at Colby United Methodist Church, 2881 Harvey St. SE, in Port Orchard.