SEKIU — The Peninsula’s Northwest Coast is one crucial step closer to getting a destination state park thanks to a block of funds approved by the state Legislature.
State parks officials confirmed Wednesday that Hoko River State Park properties — featuring Cowan Ranch located about two miles west of Sekiu — will be getting $450,000 in stabilization and park development money.
The largest chunk of funds, $350,000, will go toward maintenance work at two structures on Cowan Ranch, a 522-acre property donated by the late John Cowan in 2000 with the aim that it be turned into a state park.
For five years, however, the ranch’s barn and residence have received no significant upkeep, and the barn has been visibly decaying.
Currently one park employee stays at the residence to do light maintenance work.
“Whether or not the state allotment is enough money to make the buildings open for public use we don’t know yet,” said Peter Herzog, a parks planner with the state Department of Parks and Recreation.
Public meetings
Herzog said that before any work is done, they will hold public meetings to plan out the best course of action on the properties.
Last year, park planners steered the production of a low-cost park development plan through public meetings that produced the recommendations now being funded by the state.
Major work on Cowan Ranch’s buildings isn’t likely to start until at least the fall, when park officials are due to receive cash from state coffers, Herzog said.
The rest of the ranch property, which borders on the Hoko River and has a wide, picturesque pasture, has never received any money for development until now.
The Legislature approved an additional $100,000 as a separate line item on the state Parks and Recreation Commission capital budget.
That money is supposed to pay for initial developments to Hoko River State Park lands, making them more welcoming.
