PORT TOWNSEND — In considering taking over maintenance and operation of Old Fort Townsend State Park from Washington State Parks, the only question is economic feasibility, Port of Port Townsend commissioners said Wednesday.
Taking over Fort Flagler State Park, which is also on State Parks’ list for possible closure, is another matter entirely, they said.
“That’s a big operation,” Commissioner John Collins said of the nearly 800-acre Fort Flagler park on Marrowstone Island.
“We have no experience in running something like that.”
Many historic buildings, remnants of the fort established in the 19th century, are on the Fort Flagler grounds, which is used as a retreat center.
Old Fort Townsend and Fort Flagler near Port Townsend and Bogachiel State Park south of Forks are the three parks on the North Olympic Peninsula that are on a list of 36 the state parks system is considering for new ownership or to be “mothballed” to save $23 million of its $100 million budget.
While Forks officials consider what can be done to save the park on the West End — with no decisions made yet, said Forks Mayor Nedra Reed — the Port of Port Townsend has expressed interest in taking over Old Fort Townsend.
Old Fort Townsend and Bogachiel state parks were among the first list of 13 state parks proposed for closure.
Fort Flagler was added to another list quietly released by the State Parks Commission in Olympia late last week, which targets parks that cost the state $300,000 or more per biennium.
The latest list of state parks considered for closure also includes Camp Casey State Park at Keystone on Whidbey Island, part of the historic military “triangle of fire” at Admiralty Inlet during World War II, as well as Fort Ebey near Coupeville.
Also on the list are Illahee State Park, a 75-acre camping park near Bremerton, and Potlatch State Park, a 57-acre camping park in southern Hood Canal.
Fort Flagler
At the port’s board meeting on Wednesday, Commissioner Herb Beck said that Fort Flagler is too far away from other port facilities, while Old Fort Townsend State Park sits between port facilities in Port Townsend and port-owned Jefferson County International Airport.
Port security officers could swing into Old Fort Townsend park to patrol on their way to the airport, he said.
Commissioner Dave Thompson said that operation of Fort Flagler would require additional staffing, which is another reason the port is considering only taking over Old Fort Townsend.
Port Executive Director Larry Crockett, with the port commissioners’ blessing, last week sent a letter to state parks Superintendent Rex Derr, indicating the port’s interest in taking over Old Fort Townsend State Park, with its 367 acres off state Highway 20.
Crockett on Wednesday updated the commissioners on the proposal, saying he would prefer the state keep the park, “but it is a jewel to our local community and should stay in public ownership.”
With some infrastructure improvements, the port could develop recreational vehicle sites that could turn a small profit to help fund maintenance and park protection, Crockett said.
Crockett said he will talk with Derr and report back to the port commissioners in two weeks.
Beck, who wants the park to be “revenue neutral” and not a money drain on the port, said he wanted to see the state’s transfer agreement with the port before moving forward on the proposal.
Crockett said that he has learned through discussions with Derr, “We could increase activities, we could decrease it, we could mothball it, too.”
Take off list
Larry McNulty, a Friends of Old Fort Townsend member, said the group wants to sway the State Parks Commission to take the park off the proposed closure list.
He urged the port to wait until state parks received its final budget from the state Legislature before moving forward on acquiring Old Fort Townsend.
“We want to keep that park in the state parks system,” McNulty said.
He said the park is protected by a ranger on duty who is responsible for making sure that fires are not built in the woods by homeless people who camp near the residential community of Kala Point.
Beck said the port commissioners would have to conduct a hearing on the proposal within the next two months.
Bob Suther, president of Friends of Fort Flagler, said Tuesday that he and others with the volunteer group of about 75 were shocked to learn that the park, which saw 447,000 visitors last year, was on the state’s list of possible closures.
Tom Rose, co-owner of Nordland General Store on Flagler Road leading to Fort Flagler, said the closure of that park would seriously hurt his business.
Gov. Chris Gregoire on Feb. 19 announced an estimated $8.5 billion budget deficit for the 2009-2011 biennium, up from the governor’s original estimate of $5.7 billion and requiring additional cuts.
The state Legislature is wrestling with the budget deficit now. The session ends in April.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
