PORT TOWNSEND — The future of three North Olympic Peninsula state parks remains unknown until Senate and House lawmakers approve a state budget.
That could happen this week.
Until then, the status of Old Fort Townsend State Park, Fort Flagler State Park, both near Port Townsend, and Bogachiel State Park, 6 miles south of Forks, hang in limbo.
Fort Casey on Whidbey Island, part of the military’s historic “Triangle of Fire” with Forts Worden and Flagler on Admiralty Inlet, and Fort Ebey State Park are also on list for closures or transfer.
The parks are among 36 that Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has listed for possible closure or transfer of ownership to local government.
The commission intends to cut $23 million of the agency’s $100 million budget to help the state deal with a $9 billion deficit.
“Once we get the budget, we will call a special meeting, and that’s when we’ll discuss it,” said Linda Burnett, Washington State Parks spokeswoman.
The commission pulled the matter from its work session scheduled today and its action meeting on Thursday, Burnett said.
At present, the only Peninsula state park with a possible taker is Old Fort Townsend, south of Port Townsend, which the Port of Port Townsend is considering owning and operating.
“Really, the big question is for the budget to be finalized, and are you going to close this one or not?” port Executive Director Larry Crockett said Tuesday.
Crockett said if it becomes clear that the state wants the port to take on management of the 367 acres of Old Fort Townsend State Park, the port commissioners will be in a position to negotiate a sustainable business model.
Bogachiel
Discussions about potential operators of Bogachiel State Park– a 123-acre park with camping facilities and 2,800 feet of shoreline along the Bogachiel River — have taken place with county and tribal officials, Forks Mayor Nedra Reed said Tuesday, but nothing has been decided.
“We’re hopeful that the Legislature will provide an opportunity for a solution,” Reed said, mentioning in particular a bill Rep. Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, introduced this Legislative session to help save state parks.
Kessler represents the 24th District, which covers Clallam, Jefferson and a part of Grays Harbor counties.
Now, people can choose to donate $5 toward state parks when they pay vehicle registration fees. Kessler’s bill would change the procedure from an “opt in” choice to an “opt out” requirement. In other words, if a person didn’t want to donate $5, that person would have to say so.
“We’re waiting, and . . . we’re sincerely hoping that will be able to fund Bogachiel” and all other state parks, Reed said.
“Absent that, we are going to wait until the Legislative session is over, and then work with city, county, tribes and possibly service clubs to try to maintain that facility.”
Fort Flagler
Bob Suther, Friends of Fort Flagler president — who will attend the state park’s commission meeting today and Thursday even though the parks closure list is not on the agenda — also is basing hopes on the “opt out” bill.
The state House Monday night approved the bill.
“It’s looking like the opt out may happen,” Suther said, if similar legislation passes the state Senate.
He was optimistic since the Senate has approved a state parks budget greater than what the House approved.
In the port’s letter of intent delivered to the state agency last week via Kate Burke, Fort Worden State Park manager, the port states that it intends to operate Old Fort Townsend “in the same manner as Washington State Parks is currently.”
“The uses would include the present camping and recreational vehicle sites, trails, pavilion and other day-use activities,” the letter states.
Crockett made it clear that the port is interested only in the core 367 acres of the 614 park acres now under state ownership.
The park’s core includes 50 recreational-vehicle sites that port leaders want to upgrade with power and water.
The port commissioners want to upgrade Old Fort Townsend’s two RV camp sites with power and water hookups so they could justify higher camp fees and generate additional revenue needed to maintain the park.
Puget Sound Energy is surveying the power facilities into the park to determine if they would have to be upgraded to accommodate power to RVs.
The port also wants all amenities to remain at the park, such as picnic tables and other maintenance equipment, to reduce the port’s expenses.
The port, Crockett said, will be involved in the park’s classification and management process now under way to determine the future of land uses in the park’s future.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
Managing Editor Leah Leach contributed to this story.
