EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of a two-part series about the two state parks on the North Olympic Peninsula that are in danger of losing state funding. Today’s story is about Old Fort Townsend in Port Townsend.
PORT TOWNSEND — State legislators hold out little hope for continued state funding of Old Fort Townsend, but park supporters are not giving up.
“It’s really a treasure to the county,” said Jefferson County Commissioner John Austin, D-Port Ludlow, as he toured the park last week.
“Our parks are an important part of making people want to come out here to visit and to live.”
The 367-acre Old Fort Townsend State Park is one of two North Olympic Peninsula state parks proposed to lose state funding.
Bogachiel State Park, which covers 119 acres near Forks, is also in danger.
If no other governmental entities or groups take over operations, the parks will close.
Gov. Chris Gregoire’s proposed budget for 2009-2011, issued in December, included cutting 13 parks to help save millions in park maintenance statewide.
The issue is now before the state Legislature, which, say representatives of District 24 — which covers Jefferson, Clallam and a portion of Grays Harbor counties — probably will cut funding for both parks for the biennium.
We would do very well not to close any more parks than these two in our district,” said Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim.
“That would be a win.”
Van De Wege said that the General Government Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member, will review this issue.
Park funding issue has had only limited consideration so far in this 105-day legislative session, he added.
“We’re not close to an answer yet,” Van De Wege said. “Progress is limited.”
House Majority Leader Rep. Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, also sees little prospect for continued state support of the two parks.
“I think it’s not so good,” she said when asked the chances both parks have for staying open under state ownership.
Gregoire’s proposed budget slashed more than $3 billion from funds affecting education, social services, prisons, health programs, and perhaps the second ferry for the Port Townsend-Keystone route, as well as state parks.
Her budget assumed a $5.6 billion to $6 billion shortfall, but since the state Legislature convened Jan. 12, estimates of the shortfall have grown to the $7 billion to $8 billion range.
Park supporters’ hopes
Fort Townsend supporters hope to either convince legislators to fund their park, or find another owner or operater.
Austin and the other two county commissioners — David Sullivan, D-Cape George, and Phil Johnson, D-Port Townsend — went to Olympia on Thursday to lobby legislators to keep the park open.
Austin said they received a promise that Van De Wege, Kessler and Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, would try, but not much more.
At a public meeting earlier this year about the possible closure of the park, Austin told the audience to try, too.
“We have three pretty powerful legislators,” Austin said.
“We need to write them and let them know what Old Fort Townsend means to us.”
Austin is hoping there is another way to keep the park open, perhaps by finding a local group to manage the location until the state can afford to again bring it back into their system.
No one has stepped up with an offer.
The county is strapped for cash as it is, Austin said, adding that perhaps Friends of Old Fort Townsend could take it on.
The group released a statement last month saying that members believe that the park needs to remain in state hands.
“While it may be possible for Washington state to save approximately $70,000 per year by closing this park, this is an insignificant savings when compared with [Old Fort Townsend’s] strategic value to the state park system,” said Nancy Steinberg, with Friends of Old Fort Townsend.
“Old Fort Townsend is a valuable asset to the citizens of Washington state and must not be dropped as an active state park for minor fiscal gain.”
Improvements
Believing that the state has looked at 2004 data for the park, the group points out that a new barn has been installed that serves as a meeting center and has helped bring financial stability to the park in recent years.
Also, the park recently received additional land from Port Townsend Paper as part of a land swap, possibly adding to the value of the location.
One day last week, Austin took a walk through the park and talked to people using the trails along the woods and beach near Glen Cove.
“They are looking at closing this park,” Austin said to Laura Goodwin, who was walking the beach with her infant daughter.
“If you want to help save it you can write to our representatives.”
When they finished talking, Austin reflected on the importance of the park for people like Goodwin.
“I like living in a place where a woman can walk along the beach by herself and feel safe,” Austin said.
“If we lose the park, that is one less location that could be considered safe.”
Austin can be contacted at 360-385-9100.
Friends of Old Fort Townsend can be reached by e-mail at foft@broadstripe.net.
On Monday: Bogachiel State Park supporters plan meeetings on how to keep the park open.
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com
