The City of Richland began work on restoration and repair projects along Richland’s Riverfront Trail. Detours will guide users to safe, accessible alternative routes.
WSU-Tri-Cities North Richland Riverfront Trail - Work Begins May 2, 2024
A section north of Sprout Street behind the Washington State University Tri-Cities Campus that was damaged by wash out last fall will be restored and repaved. The detour includes a pedestrian friendly and separate biking route.
Hains Street Levee Riverfront Trail - Work Begins May 13, 2024
A south section of the levee above Hains Street will be closed for asphalt removal, tree, and root removal, and repavement of the trail. Crews will remove trees growing within five feet of the trail to reduce future root damage.
The approximate half-mile section of the levee, from Porters Real Barbeque to River Road will be closed to safely route users around the area. This project should be complete in approximately three - four weeks.
For more information and to view the detours, visit ci.richland.wa.us/projects.
The City of Richland proudly announces the appointment of Chris Waite as their new Parks and Public Facilities Director. With a renowned 19-year career in parks and recreation, Waite brings a wealth of experience and a passion for community to this pivotal role.
Waite is recognized as a motivated and focused project administrator who thrives on the creative process and excels in team collaboration. His career highlights include serving as Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Umatilla, Oregon, where he managed three divisions, oversaw department budgets, and led full-time and seasonal staff. He also served as Cemetery/Parks Supervisor for Billings Parks and Recreation, overseeing cemetery operations and staff while developing division policies and fee structures. Additionally, Waite excelled as a Volunteer Coordinator for Billings Parks and Recreation, spearheading a successful volunteer and community outreach program.
Waite holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Montana and a Bachelor of Fine Art from Brigham Young University-Idaho. He is a Certified Parks and Recreation Executive, Certified Playground Safety Inspector, and is affiliated with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).
“We are pleased to welcome Chris Waite to our Executive Leadership team,” states Deputy City Manager, Joe Schiessl. “I am confident his experience in recreation along with his commitment to establishing partnerships, promoting volunteerism, and engaging our community is the right fit for Richland”.
In his new role as Parks and Public Facilities Director for the City of Richland, Waite will lead efforts to enhance the city's parks, recreational facilities, and public spaces, fostering community engagement and quality of life for residents.
Waite begins his new role on Monday, April 29, 2024.
For more information regarding Richland’s parks and public facilities, visit www.richlandparksandrec.com
Don’t miss the first annual Community Wildfire Preparedness Expo on May 4, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Badger Mountain Trailhead Park.
This family-friendly two-hour event includes exhibits, demonstrations, and opportunities to talk with emergency service agencies, land, water, and wildlife organizations, and more. Citizens will learn more about wildfire preparedness, protection, and evacuation. There will be emergency vehicles to explore, public training on performing Hands-Only CPR, and a chance to meet with about fifteen partner organizations.
This event is hosted by Richland Fire and Emergency Services who received a grant from the Department of Natural Resources to educate and prepare neighborhoods living near undeveloped open space. The Community Wildfire Defense Grant includes a wildfire preparedness kiosk for park users with a QR Code that directly links to an online hub that features educational information, notifications, instructions in case of fire, and real-time updates. The grant provides funding every year to target various locations throughout Richland.
Badger Mountain Trailhead Park is located at 1294 White Bluffs Street, off Keene Road in Richland.
The City of Richland and community partners are hosting a one-day Mobile Food Vendor event on May 3, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This event will streamline and simplify the inspection and permitting process for mobile food vendors in our region. Participants can quickly obtain the necessary permits and approvals to operate their business throughout the Tri-Cities.
This free, one-stop solution will have experts from Tri-City area fire departments, Benton Franklin Health District, and the City of Richland's Code Enforcement, Zoning, Building, and Parks and Recreation teams to provide information, inspections, and permits.
To participate, vendors must pre-register for a designated time slot and present a valid Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) permit.
The event will be held at Columbia Point Marina Park, situated at the east end of Columbia Point Drive in Richland.
Secure your spot by registering at https://bit.ly/3QlaKcm and creating an account. Questions? Contact the City of Richland Business Licensing team at 509-942-7713 or by email at BusinessLicensing@ci.richland.wa.us.
The City of Richland will celebrate Arbor Day on Friday, April 26, at 12:15 p.m. in Jefferson Park. About 25 trees will be planted by Jefferson Elementary Kindergarteners and community volunteers.
The celebration begins with a proclamation and recognition of Richland's long-term Tree City USA and Tree Line USA designations. The City Arborist and parks crew will conduct a tree-planting demonstration before the volunteers plant the trees.
Jefferson Park is located at 1400 George Washington Way.
We invite the media to attend this exciting occasion with us!
The Friends of the Richland Library’s Spring 2024 book sale begins Thursday, April 25, at 5:00 p.m. for members, and Friday and Saturday, April 26 and 27 at 10:00 a.m. for the general public.
Memberships are available for $10.00 per individual, or $15.00 for a family.
There are thousands of books and a wide variety of subjects and genres to choose from. Prices range from .25 to $1.00 per item. There are also some puzzles, CDs and DVDs too.
On Saturday, you can fill a bag for only $5.00. Bring your own or one will be given to you.
All proceeds are redirected back to support and expand library activities and programs.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/friendsofrichlandpubliclibrary.
The City of Richland (City) is excited to launch the search for our next Chief of Police. With the position now posted, we're eager to welcome a dynamic and visionary public safety leader to join our community.
The City has teamed up with Mosaic Public Partners, a distinguished consulting firm specializing in public sector recruitment and organizational development. Mosaic's wealth of experience and strategic approach will be instrumental in identifying the ideal candidate to lead our police department.
Anticipated Timeline:
• Open Recruitment – Applications accepted beginning Friday, April 12, 2024
• First Review of Applications – May 13, 2024
• Finalists Selected for Interviews – May 20, 2024
• Finalists Announced – Early June 2024 (bios of finalists to be shared with public)
• In-Person Interviews & Public Engagement – Mid-June 2024 (date to be announced)
• Background Investigation – July 2024
• Candidate Announcement – August 2024
Community members are encouraged to actively participate in the selection process by attending a community engagement event (date to be announced). The event will allow citizens to meet the finalists, share insights, and help shape the future of the Richland Police Department. The feedback will be invaluable in ensuring the best candidate is identified to serve Richland.
Under RCW 43.101.095, candidates will undergo a thorough background investigation. This process is essential to ensuring the integrity and suitability of our future Chief of Police.
City Manager Jon Amundson states, “Mosaic Public Partners has a demonstrated ability to recruit top candidates, specifically law enforcement executives. I am confident their energy and industry experience will assist in identifying our next Chief of Police. I encourage members of the public who wish to meet our finalists to attend the community engagement event and provide feedback as we make this important decision.”
Interested candidates can view the application and further details at www.mosaicpublic.com/careers.
For inquiries about the hiring process or recruitment, please contact the City of Richland Human Resources Director at lpaulsen@ci.richland.wa.us or 509-942-7719.
The City of Richland is excited to kick off construction next week on the first phase of the West Village Community Park. The 33-acre park in Badger Mountain South will be adjacent to the new Fire Station 76 currently under construction on Trowbridge Boulevard.
The 4.5-acre Phase 1, expected to be completed by the end of 2024, will include parking, landscaping, grass play areas, space for a playground, and a comfort station. Phase 1 construction marks just the beginning, with the installation of playground equipment slated for Phase 2.
Park plans began taking shape when the City of Richland sought public feedback on a draft long-range plan for the West Village Community Park in 2021 with two in-person public meetings, one Zoom meeting, and an online survey. Feedback from the community was impressive, with 306 responses received.
For up-to-date information on the construction and to view long-range plans for the park, see www.ci.richland.wa.us/projects.