PORT TOWNSEND — Port of Port Townsend commissioners will consider withdrawing their offer to take over Old Fort Townsend State Park in light of state Legislative action that promises to keep open state parks once proposed for closure.
Two other state parks on the North Olympic Peninsula also have won a reprieve: the nearly 800-acre Fort Flagler on Marrowstone Island and Bogachiel State Park south of Forks.
“No parks will close this summer,” state parks spokeswoman Sandy Mealing told the Daily Olympian.
The port commissioners on Monday will consider sending a letter to Washington State Parks announcing withdrawal of its offer to take over Old Fort Townsend park.
The letter would be the result of legislative action supporting an “opt out” measure in which people renewing their car or truck registrations will be charged a $5 donation toward state park operations unless they check a box to opt out of the donation.
A few weeks ago, State Parks — facing a $23 million budget cut — announced plans to close up to 40 parks and cut the agency’s staff.
The new 2009-2011 state budget, which awaits Gov. Chris Gregoire’s signature, includes enough money — in the form of an expected $23 million in “opt-out” donations from motor vehicle registrations and money from boater and trail rider gasoline taxes — to keep parks open, if the money comes in.
“We’re hopeful and very grateful to have this new revenue source, but it has no track record,” said State Parks spokeswoman Virginia Painter on Wednesday.
Parks remaining open
“What we have been saying is, for the time being, parks are remaining open.
“We just have to see how that new program measures out.”
The agency still will have to make cuts.
Painter said that the parks system would lay off at least 36 people and close the Puget Sound Region office in Auburn to help balance its budget.
A final decision on employee cutbacks will come during a State Parks Commission meeting May 19, Mealing said.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do to figure out how we are going to manage things,” Painter said.
The parks system had already lost many positions through attrition, she said, and now the agency would try “to live within our means until we see how we do.”
Draft letter
Port Executive Director Larry Crockett said he was writing a draft letter this week for commissioner consideration at their 1 p.m. Monday meeting at the port offices, 375 Hudson St., Port Townsend.
Crockett said he agreed with state parks superintendent Rex Derr that the 367-acre park south of Port Townsend should remain under state auspices.
Both Crockett and the commissioners have let it be known that they would prefer that the state keep the facility.
The Legislature approved the opt-out measure last month after grappling with budget cuts to balance a projected $5.1 billion state deficit. The measure takes effect Sept. 1.
After state parks officials proposed the closure or transfer of ownership of a list of state parks, the port expressed interest in Old Fort Flagler.
No entity came forward for Flagler or Bogachiel state parks.
Crockett said that, should the opt out measure fail to generate the needed state revenue, he was unlikely to recommend that the port reconsider taking over Old Fort Townsend park.
“It is the restrictions that keep you from making it a profitable proposition,” Crockett said.
He said that the port’s interest in improving recreational-vehicle areas with power and water hookups raised some doubts among state officials concerned that expansion would encroach on the heritage areas of the park that cannot be developed.
Crockett said that trees knocked down in storms could not be logged in the park’s natural areas. Such logging could have raised up to $50,000 a year.
Fort Flagler
Bob Suther, Friends of Fort Flagler State Park, said his volunteer group of about 70 was happy that state lawmakers backed the opt-out proposal.
The Washington program “appears to be the best solution available at the time, for now, but we need to find something better.”
He had hoped that the state would adopt the Montana opt-out plan which is enforced with a $100 fine for those found in state parks without paying the $5 donation.
Suther said his group would actively encourage residents to opt in on the $5 donation, such as during Flagler park events and concerts.
Suther said he will be launching a blog, “Flagler Flashes,” at www.flaglerflashes.blogspot.com to not only inform people about the park but also to campaign for support for paying the $5 donation.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
