Make Mine Milk

The Griffith’s “Cantagree” Dairy Farm

Posted Monday, April 20, 2026 5:33 pm
Norman Helgason / norman@thereflector.com

A new downtown park in La Center is poised to soon become the home of a playground, community events and even a food cart pod, pending approval from the City Council.

On Tuesday, April 14, the planning commission approved a recommendation to allow food carts and food cart pods in commercial zones and commercial overlay districts. The change would also shift restaurants that serve alcohol from conditional use to permitted use, clearing the path for more flexible development.

While the recommendation applies broadly, city officials say the immediate focus is a currently unnamed park just south of the C-Tran Park and Ride near East Sixth Street and East Birch Avenue.

“You’ll be able to ride a bus up, jump off the bus, go right through into the park, and then over into the food court,” La Center Mayor Tom Strobehn said. “It’ll have all the food carts in it and a covered seating area with restrooms and an entertainment area.”

That entertainment area, according to Strobehn, will be the historical ‘Make Mine Milk’ building that visitors see when entering the city through the I-5 interchange when taking Exit 16. The building, which once served as a local dairy farm, will be donated by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe.

The park will also serve as a permanent home for a farmers’ market, along with space for live entertainment and community events. The goal, according to the mayor, is to create a place where transportation, recreation and local business intersect. 

“I think it gives people another location to enjoy the outdoors, maybe shop for some farm fresh vegetables and crafts, let their kids play, and then other options for eatery,” Strobehn said. “If there is going to be some live music during one of those nights, they get to be entertained.”

The city purchased the property about a year and a half ago for $545,000, plus tax, which included two parcels according to Clark County’s Geographical Information Services. A house previously on the site, which had been condemned, was burned down as part of training for the local fire district.

As for expanding food carts elsewhere in La Center, the mayor said there are no additional plans at this time. For now, attention remains on making the downtown park a destination by Summer.

“We hope to have the park open on the weekend of July 4th,” Strobehn said.

Strobehn says more details, including the park’s name, will be decided closer to its anticipated opening.

“It opens up the options for people in La Center for things to do,” Strobehn said. They can swing over to 4th Street, have a couple of drinks, walk to the food carts, grab some food, sit back, listen to some music, or play in the park. It’s just something that’s long overdue and long needed in the city of La Center.”