The Park Board works closely with staff to develop projects for the parks and to continually shape the vision for parks and recreation throughout the County. The Park Board provides specific advice to the County Commissioners regarding opportunities for new park lands, capital improvements within existing parks, and on matters of rules, regulations, and policies in the parks.
Park Board members are appointed by the County Commissioners to six-year terms.
The Benton County Park Board regularly meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Commissioner's Board Room (Room 303) of the Administration Building on the Kennewick Campus (also know as the Benton County Justice Center). Those unable to attend meetings in person are able to attend virtually via Zoom. The link to participate on-line is available on the meeting agendas. NOTE: Each meeting has a specific link, so check the Agenda for the meeting you wish to attend.
During the summer months, regular Board meetings may be held as as "field meetings" on-site in some of the parks. Follow our Facebook Page for the latest updates.
Get Involved
Interested in joining the Benton County Park Board? Fill out a Board Application.
Agendas & Minutes
Agendas and minutes of Park Board meetings can be found on the " Agendas & Minutes" webpage.
Parks Program Narrative History
These documents were assembled using Park Board minutes, newspaper articles, and other documents, interviews, and accounts. They add a richness to the first quarter-century of the Park Board, Parks Department, and overall development of Benton County’s parks system. “Book 1” is presented how it was found in a three volume set in the archive. The volumes overlap, and also have gaps. We may work to sort this out for better linear presentation in the future.
Park Board Members
Dave McNeal (Chair)
Dave retired from 40 years of federal service in 2013, most of it with US Department of Agriculture. Dave and his wife, Jennifer, grew-up in the humid South and realized the benefits of Western life via career stops in Nebraska, Idaho, and Colorado. They came to Benton County to be near children and grandchildren here and on the West side. They enjoy vegetable gardening, and they are attempting to recover a very small parcel with native vegetation at their property north of West Richland.
Robin Emmingham (Vice Chair)
A retired schoolteacher and principal, Robin joined the Board in 2013 and fills his free time with golf, travel, and other active pursuits.
Ismael Mendoza
I share the love for parks with my wife and three daughters and I’m excited to be a part of the park board in our county. I currently work on lawncare and irrigation in the Tri-cities area and I hope to share my experiences and knowledge to benefit our community. I also plan to encourage the Latino community to get involved and work together to better our county. Keep going forward.
Kit McBurney
Kit loves being outdoors in open space areas where she enjoys playing with her grandchildren in area parks, running, walking, hiking and paddle boarding. Being on the park board enables her to help support the amazing efforts that many local non-profit groups (Park Partners) make towards the preservation of local open spaces to protect natural habitat and provide recreational opportunities. She also appreciates our county park department employee’s stewardship in taking care of our county parks. Kit joined the Benton Park Board in January 2022. Prior to joining this board, she had the opportunity to be on the City of Richland Parks & Recreation Commission for approximately four years.
Michael LeCompte
A lifelong Tri-Citian, Michael loves the region and the community. Believing the Tri-Cities is a great place to live, work and play he sees the Park Board as an opportunity to promote and preserve the abundant recreational resources of the area. Michael is a member of the local news media and a writer.
Frank Cooper
David Cannon
