PORT ANGELES — A private land owner is willing to donate 1.2 acres of waterfront property on the southwest shore of Lake Crescent to Clallam County to be used for public access.
The property is on Eagle Point, which juts into the lake about a mile east of Fairholme. It is divided by Eagle Creek wedged between the shore and U.S. Highway 101.
“There’s a turn-out there, so it has [public] access now,” Clallam County Parks, Fair and Facilities Manager Joel Winborn told commissioners Monday.
“It’s just a really nice beach access to a really nice point on Lake Crescent.”
The county Park and Recreation Board voted unanimously in July to recommend the property acquisition, Winborn said.
“We would see this as a very positive acquisition for the county, especially at no cost to us with the exception of some staff time both on my part as well as the prosecutor’s office,” Winborn said in a work session.
“There are no deed restrictions. There are no limitations. It’s one of those things that’s almost kind of too good to be true.”
Commissioners are expected to hold a public hearing in the coming weeks to gather feedback on the proposed land transfer.
Although Lake Crescent is located within Olympic National Park, Clallam County owns and operates Camp David Jr. on the north shore.
But unlike the 80-year-old camp, the Eagle Point property would remain undeveloped if acquired by the county.
County Administrator Jim Jones said the park board would likely recommend no more than limited parking expansion, perhaps a picnic table and “maybe a Sani-Can if they really wanted to go hog wild.”
“Basically it’s just a place for people to park and get their kayak in or dip their toes in the water,” Jones said.
“It’s just a spectacular spot.”
Public access to water is the top priority in the county parks and recreation master plan and a long-standing directive of the board of county commissioners, Jones added.
Commissioners Jim McEntire and Bill Peach said they would support the acquisition.
Commissioner Mike Chapman was absent Monday.
The late owner of the property had several holdings in the county, and the heirs of the estate are looking to get rid of the Eagle Point parcel, Winborn said.
Before signing off on the land transfer, McEntire suggested a written agreement with Olympic National Park to “define the contours of the relationship with the park so we don’t get wrapped around the axle at some future date.”
Clallam County and Olympic National Park have agreements now for Camp David Jr., East Beach Road and the Spruce Railroad Trail at Lake Crescent.
“I just appreciate the estate’s desire to approach us, the county, to see if we want to take this,” McEntire said.
“That’s a lovely thing, and I appreciate their thought of us. And access to the water is always a worthy thing to seek.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
