PORT TOWNSEND — Democratic candidate for governor Christine Gregoire voiced praise and support for efforts to keep Fort Worden State Park’s parking free to visitors.
“When the state raised parking fees for all state parks, all state parks visitation is down with the exception of Fort Worden — where you folks have stepped up,” Gregoire told a group of about 20 Jefferson County Democratic leaders gathered in the park’s Commons cafeteria building on Monday.
Those welcoming Gregoire, the state attorney general, included Port Townsend Mayor Catharine Robinson, Councilman and former Mayor Kees Kolff and county commissioners candidates David Sullivan and Phil Johnson, two Democrats up against GOP incumbents.
Jefferson County Democratic Party Chairman Bill Biery hosted Gregoire at the gathering.
Besides its recreational, camping and conference facilities, historic Fort Worden is home to 10 organizations, including Peninsula College, which last weekend moved the majority of its classes to the park’s schoolhouse just north of the Commons.
Gregoire, who Democrats led on a tour of Fort Worden prior to her talk, said that like other state parks, Fort Worden had gone too long without proper annual maintenance for lack of state funding.
$25,000 payment
It is that funding shortage that led state leaders to charge a $5 daily parking fee for visitors at the other state parks.
This year the city paid $25,000 as part of an agreement between the city and state to keep parking free at Fort Worden.
It is the only state park with such an arrangement.
