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ISLAND COUNTYPUBLIC WORKS |
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ISLAND COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
PARKS PLAN FINAL DRAFT 7/14/98 Adopted ______________
Island County, Washington 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ISLAND COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Parks and recreation facilities are becoming more important for all generations as places to exercise, spend time with family and friends, play, enjoy nature and relax from the stresses of modern society. Island County, known for its natural beauty and rural lifestyle, has become a favorite place for many to live, retire and visit. These characteristics have made Island County one of the fastest growing counties in the state. The county is Washington’s second smallest county in land area, yet it has one of the highest population densities with almost 300 people per square mile. As growth resulting from new development increases the need for recreational opportunities, it thus becomes increasingly important to ensure that existing and planned parks and recreational facilities can meet the needs of an expanding population. The county’s seven State Parks account for 12.5% of all state park visits throughout Washington. In 1990 almost five million visits were made to State Parks in Island County, a doubling in only ten years. Because State Parks are annually filled with regional visitors, their availability to local residents is sometimes limited. The County contains over 200 miles of saltwater shoreline, but very few miles of this shoreline are publicly accessible. A 1991 survey of Island County residents indicated that adequate shoreline access was the highest area of concern. Eighty-three percent of the respondents felt they did not have adequate access to the shoreline. Given the current trend of accelerating property values, the cost to acquire shoreline parcels suitable for recreation may soon become prohibitive for local governments. The impact of growth in Island County is felt by everyone. More people are forced to share limited park space and recreation facilities. The necessity to preserve open space and shoreline access, and to expand the recreation services for a growing population becomes increasingly important. A comprehensive parks and recreation plan that addresses these issues is essential. This Parks and Recreation element continues planning efforts that began with the 1969 Parks and Recreation Study, and the Parks Summary included within the 1977 Island County Comprehensive Plan. The 1969 Parks and Recreation Study consisted of an inventory of existing facilities and needs. However, it did not include suggestions, goals or long-range planning elements. The ten-page 1977 Parks Summary included several recommendations which have not yet been implemented. A Shoreline Access Study conducted in 1976 partially listed public shoreline access locations. Another important document is a 1994 publication, Getting to the Water’s Edge: Accessing Public Beaches on Whidbey and Camano Islands. Published by the WSU Beach Watchers of Island County, this booklet provides valuable information regarding access and restrictions to county shorelines. The purpose of this plan is to guide the acquisition, planning and development of parks and recreation facilities in Island County. A second function of the plan is to reaffirm the eligibility of Island County to participate in state and federal funding programs for parks and recreation facilities. In the past, the primary responsibility of the Island County Parks Department has been the management of existing parks facilities while working within a limited budget. Due to the high rate of growth throughout the county and the increasing utilization of existing facilities, the Parks Department must consider the need to expand the number of parks and types of services available to handle the increasing demands. Establishment of outdoor recreation programs and trail systems should also be given a high priority in this expansion. The development of parks and recreational facilities should be an integral part of a larger open space framework where the protection of the unique island environment and its natural resources are balanced with recreational enjoyment and interpretation. The development of a Natural Lands element in this plan is therefore closely linked to this Parks and Recreation element in the identification of future parks and recreation areas, greenbelts and trail corridors. Besides the traditional management of park areas, Island County is mandated by GMA to preserve "critical lands" such as environmentally sensitive areas and wildlife habitats. The preservation of agricultural and forest resources are also linked to the open space framework, and it is necessary for the county to establish a stewardship role in guiding and facilitating the preservation efforts. Open space and recreation opportunities are tied together in a balance between providing recreational access and preserving natural resources. Only parts of the open space pattern will be open for recreational access, while others may allow only visual access such as bird watching and scenic vistas, without permitting physical access to an area.
Parks and open spaces which provide active and passive recreational opportunities are an integral element of the character of Island County. All residents, and all visitors to the county should have ample access to a wide variety of well-maintained parks, recreational amenities and open spaces. In order to comply with the internal consistency mandate of GMA, the Parks and Recreation element must not conflict with other elements of the Comprehensive Plan. Of particular importance will be consistency with the Land Use, Critical Areas and Natural Lands elements of this plan. In addition, implementation strategies identified in this element should be considered in the drafting of the Capital Facilities Plan. External consistency; i.e., consistency with other planning documents, is also important. The Parks and Recreation element should not conflict with the county’s Non-Motorized Trails Plan or its Shoreline Master Program, or with the comprehensive plans of the various jurisdictions and special purpose districts incorporated within the county, or with the goals and policies identified by such state agencies as the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), or the Inter-Agency Committee on Outdoor Recreation (IAC). Also of importance will be consistency and coordination with the United States Park Service, which is responsible for the Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve. Each of these agencies has been consulted in the drafting of this plan, and their comments have been reviewed and included to the greatest extent possible. The implementation strategies encouraged by this plan must be based upon a recognized set of goals and policies adopted by the county. The County-wide Planning Policies related to the natural lands element are found in the Policies section of this document. To be effective, these goals must also be consistent with the requirements of state law, and must be compatible with the values of county residents. In addition, in order to maximize opportunities to seek and obtain adequate funding for the acquisition, development and maintenance of recreational areas, the goals and policies established by the state’s IAC should also be considered. Goals of the Growth Management Act. While a Parks and Recreation element is not specifically required under GMA, the development of such a plan element does require conformity with certain goals set forth in GMA. Some of these goals, not listed in any order of priority, apply to this plan element. These applicable goals are:
Island County Goals for Parks and Recreation. The goals and policies identified in this plan element are intended to build upon the county’s history of providing significant opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy recreational pursuits, and to relax in natural open space areas. This historic trend reflects the values of county residents, who place great importance on matters pertaining to their quality of life. Goal 1; Planning. To develop, implement and maintain a comprehensive parks and open space program. Such a program will be based upon local standards which are suited to meet the long-range needs of county residents. Elements which shall be considered in such planning efforts include existing natural land features, population growth and distribution, facility types, needs of identified user groups, accessibility and travel time, and staffing and capital facility needs. Goal 2; Maintaining rural character. To maintain rural open space patterns within Island County. Goal 3; Environmental stewardship. To ensure that the environmental quality of the county’s open spaces is maintained. Goal 4; Shoreline access. To increase public access to the county’s shoreline areas. This goal will require adherence to the goals and policies set forth in the county’s Shoreline Master Program. In addition, it will require the identification of sites that have the potential to be added to the county’s inventory of points of shoreline access. Finally, strategies which add to public access opportunities without requiring the purchase of land should be explored. Goal 5; Open space corridors and greenbelts. To establish and maintain natural and man-made open space corridors that have convenient access to residential areas, especially within the county’s cities and Urban Growth Areas. Goal 6; Coordination. To continue to work in cooperation with state and federal agencies, local governments and special purpose districts, and other organizations who have an interest in achieving the goals set forth in this plan. A special effort in this area will include working with school districts to develop ‘multiple use’ concepts which can optimize the public use of appropriate school properties for recreational purposes. Goal 7; Programming. To implement a program of outdoor recreation pursuits that features activities of interest to users in all age groups. A comprehensive programming effort will include cooperation and coordination of those other agencies, organizations and groups identified in Goal 6. Goal 8; Public involvement. To continue a program of active public involvement in the establishment and implementation of policies and programs that promote the goals of this plan. The goals identified above will work with the following policies to provide guidance to the implementation steps which are shown in a later section of this plan. The availability of parks and open spaces enhance our quality of life by providing land areas that permit enjoyable physical activity or quiet enjoyment of a tranquil or scenic environment. Except in limited circumstances, the ability to provide these experiences at a profit is limited. Those limited circumstances can include private golf courses, marinas, health clubs, and those small neighborhood parks and tot lots that may be required as a condition of approval for a residential development. Because private clubs may not be affordable to all residents, good public policy suggests that facilities that can benefit the general public are most effectively provided by government. Policy 2. Parks and open spaces can help to preserve our heritage. Like many other areas, Island County’s history is illustrated through the preservation of special places where important events are remembered. An active parks system can help to preserve these areas for future generations, and can also provide interpretive areas to help citizens understand their past. Policy 3. Parks and open spaces make economic sense. The economy of Island County relies heavily upon tourism. The importance of the infusion of outside capital provided by tourists and visitors to Whidbey and Camano Islands cannot be minimized. The open, rural character of the area: the forests, prairies and scenic vistas; are the essence of the attraction of the area to visitors. The county’s system of parks and open spaces, which includes campgrounds, beaches and trails, helps to create and maintain the physical environment which is so attractive. If governments are the most appropriate provider of many parks and recreation opportunities, then it must be remembered that governments represent people. The types of lands devoted to parks and recreation, the facilities provided on these lands, the programs developed, the very nature of government efforts in this area; all of these elements must rely on the vision and values of local residents for their long-term success. Shorelines and Access. It has been noted that Whidbey and Camano Islands have a combined total of some 200 miles of saltwater shoreline. However, public access to this shoreline is limited due to physical constraints such as high bluffs, and by private property restrictions. Because public access to shorelines has been identified as a priority by county residents, strategies to increase this access should be pursued. Those strategies may include:
Trails. In 1995, the county adopted a county-wide Non-motorized Trails Plan. This ten-year plan was intended to work in cooperation with the county’s 1993 Transportation Plan, which has been updated as an element of this comprehensive plan. The Non-motorized Trails Plan identified an existing system which includes more than 300 miles of trails. That plan, which is incorporated herein by reference, accomplished the following tasks:
Public Lands. There exist throughout Island County numerous parcels of land which are owned by the public, and are idle or used for purposes other than active or passive recreation or open space. Many of these parcels may have the potential to provide future recreational opportunities. The types of properties which may have this potential include utility corridors, road rights-of-way (including vacated streets), properties acquired through tax foreclosure, and properties owned by state or federal agencies. The Natural Lands element of this plan suggests procedures to prioritize these lands for possible future acquisition by the county. Facilities Design. Recreational facilities must be of adequate size to serve intended user groups without generating conflict between activities. From tot lots and pocket parks, to ball fields, regional parks and special purpose facilities, the size of the available property will be a major determinant to the use of the property. The needs of user groups are also important to facilities design. In locations where a property may be developed for multiple uses, the size and location of buffers will help to minimize user conflicts. Appropriate facilities design must also include compliance with the provisions set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act, which provides for accessibility to sites for persons with physical disabilities. Recreation Programming. The resources required to acquire, improve and maintain facilities for parks, recreation and open space are substantial and ongoing. In order to gain the maximum value from this significant public investment, the development and implementation of recreation programs which promote the use of these facilities by the public makes great sense. The establishment of recreation programs requires a continuing investment in staffing and equipment. The use of volunteers to supplement the work of paid staff, partnering with educational institutions, and seeking private sector sponsorships are examples of strategies that can help to minimize the public costs of such programs. Island County enjoys a variety of parks and recreation facilities that are owned and maintained by many different government and volunteer organizations. These include:
Figure 1 provides a summary of the facilities provided in each service area in Island County by various entities. Figure 1 Facilities by Service Area
* Total Acreage includes building footprints and undeveloped areas
Description of Parks and Recreation Facilities on Camano Island: Owned/Managed by Island County: 1) Maple Grove: This .76 acre site consists of a boat ramp, parking area, picnic area and beach access. 2) Utsalady Vista: This 1 acre site contains a picnic area and a view point. 3) Utsalady #2.: The 0.5 acre site has a boat ramp and a very limited parking area. The boat ramp is in good repair and only needs occasional maintenance.. Note: Mode III service level* 4) Livingston Bay: The 0.75 acre site has a parking area and beach access. This is an undeveloped area that requires no maintenance other than trash pick up. Note: Mode IV service level 5) Camano Multi-Purpose Center: This 6 acre area contains the multi-purpose center (Senior Center), one ball field, two tennis courts, a picnic area/playground, and a pump house. 6) Cavalero Beach: The 0.5 acre site has a boat ramp, picnic area and parking area. The approach to the boat ramp needs improvement. The site is generally in good condition. 7) Walter G. Hutchinson Park: This 5 acre park has nature trails, a picnic area and parking. Due to deed restrictions, the site must be left in its natural state. Maintenance is minimal requiring only trash collection and storm damage clean up. Note: Mode III service level 8) English Boom This 6.72 acre parcel consists of 2.5 acres of timbered uplands, and more than 4 acres of lowland salt marsh beach with approximately 900 feet of water frontage. The site offers unlimited bird-watching opportunities, beach combing, and sweeping scenic vistas. Future plans for the facility include a 6-10 car parking lot including handicap accessibility, a vault toilet, interpretive signage, a trail connecting the uplands to the beach, and a paved pathway to an accessible viewing area. Other than the pavement associated with the accessible trail, the property will remain largely undeveloped. 9) Dry Lake Road Trail Head This is a 2.5 acre undeveloped parcel that will be developed as a trail head/rest area for users of the Camano State Park-Cama Beach Trail. Future trail development can link this site with the trail to the Elger Bay DNR property. Limited development of this site may include a small parking area, picnic facilities and rest rooms.
Owned/Managed by the Stanwood School District: No Facilities in Island County are currently owned by the Stanwood School District. However, recent estimates indicate that approximately 50% of the Stanwood student body resides on Camano Island. It is assumed that many of those students utilize recreational facilities owned by the school district and located outside of Island County. Owned/Managed by the State of Washington: 10) Camano Island State Park: This 134.4 acre state park is located on the south west side of Camano Island. The park has 114 picnic units, two boat launches, and one view point. The 87 camp units served 19,357 overnight visitors in 1990, in addition to the 385,793 day use visitors. The park, which also contains 6,700 feet of shoreline, is generally considered to be operating at capacity in terms of the number of visitors served. The park primarily serves as a regional destination park that is highly sought by visitors, and thus provides only limited service to the local population due to seasonal crowding. 11) Cama Beach State Park: This former resort has been purchased as a state park by joint agreements between the property owners and the Washington State Park & Recreation Commission. The site has an extensive gravel beach that provides access to public tidelands that extend north to the west shoreline of the island, and south to Camano Island State Park. The beach portion of the park includes a series of wooden vacation cabins, a general store, a boat works yard, and other structures that are being renovated for day use activities. The upland portion of the site extends to West Camano Drive, to include Cranberry Lake and numerous wetlands located within a coniferous forest. Description of Parks and Recreation Facilities on North Whidbey Island: Owned/Managed by Island County: 1) Monroe Landing: This 0.25 acre road end has a boat ramp, beach access and a parking area that has been established by a 25-year use agreement with the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The boat ramp is in good condition and requires only routine maintenance. 2) Scenic Heights: The 0.75 acres picnic area is located close to private residences and is not heavily used. Note: Mode VI service level* 3) Hastie Lake: The 0.75 acre area contains a boat ramp, parking and beach access. This area is in excellent condition and requires minimal maintenance. 4) West Beach Vista: The view area is closed due to hazardous bluff conditions. Note: Mode III service level* 5) Moran Beach: This 0.5 acre road end has a parking area and beach access. This area is undeveloped and requires very minimal maintenance. Note: Mode VI service level 6) Mariners Cove: The 0.25 acre area contains a boat ramp and a very limited parking area. The boat ramp is in good condition and is presently being maintained by community volunteers. 7) Ethel Taylor Property: This 33 acre parcel is undeveloped with an older house and outbuildings. Wetlands comprise approximately 50% of this property. The largest of these wetlands is connected to Cranberry Lake, which is within the boundaries of Deception Pass State Park. No plans for development of this property have been formulated. 8) Ala Spit: This is a 12 acre site consisting of an 8 acre sand spit, 4 acres of uplands, and more than 5,000 linear feet of beach and tidelands. The area is currently undeveloped, except for a gravel parking area. Available activities include clam digging, fishing, crabbing, bird watching, beach combing and picnicking. The extreme southeast portion of the beach area has been designated as a camp area for users of the Cascadia Marine Trail. Future development will be limited to parking area improvements, rest rooms, and picnic facilities. Owned/Managed by the City Of Oak Harbor: 9) City Beach Park: This 28.5 acre community park has developed recreational facilities such as ball fields, 15 picnic units, an exercise course and children’s play areas. The park’s principal value is the 2,100 feet of shoreline bordering Oak Harbor Bay. The park has one boat launch and a recreational trailer park with space for 55 R.V. units. 10) Neil Park: This 3.5 acre neighborhood park contains one tot lot and the Holland Gardens. 11) Smith Park: This one acre neighborhood park has picnic sites and children’s play area. 12) Summer Park: This 4 acre neighborhood park has two tennis courts and a covered picnic site. 13) Flintstone Park: This 1.5 acre neighborhood park has beach access with 500 feet of shoreline, two picnic units, a pier and float for use of transient boaters, and rest rooms. The park is developed as a theme park based on the Flintstone comic strip. 14) Tyhuis Park (Well site #6): The 0.75 acre well site contains a tot lot. 15) Koetje Park (Well site #7): The 0.75 acre site has a baseball field and a tot lot. 16) Kimball Park (Well site #8): The 0.75 acre site contains a tot lot. 17) Hal Ramaley Memorial park: This 0.5 acre passive recreation site contains a small play area. 18) Well Site #11: The 1.5 acre site contains a tot lot and a picnic site. 19) Well Site #12: The 0.8 acre site has a tot lot and a picnic site. 20) Shadow Glen Subdivision: This 0.75 acre site contains a tot lot, picnic site and a baseball practice field. 21) Oak Harbor Marina: The city owns and operates a 420-boat facility located on approximately eight acres of the former Navy Seaplane Base with 1,000 feet of shoreline. The marina is open seven days a week with a capacity of 133 open and 183 covered slips, in addition to 104 dry storage sheds. The facility, which also accommodates the Oak Harbor Yacht Club, is within walking distance of most retail services including motels and restaurants in Oak Harbor, It is a half-way point for boaters from Seattle, Tacoma and Everett en route to the San Juan Islands, providing extensive moorage for boats in excess of 50 feet. 22) Civic Center: The City owns the 14 acre site that includes one softball field, as well as the Oak Harbor Senior Center. Also located on the site is the John Vanderzicht pool, owned and maintained by the North Whidbey Parks and Recreation District.
Owned/Managed by the North Whidbey Parks and Recreation District: 23) John Vanderzicht Pool: The John Vanderzicht indoor swimming pool with sauna, therapeutic and training pools is located on the Civic Center grounds owned by the City of Oak Harbor. This pool facility is owned and maintained by the North Whidbey Parks and Recreation District. 24) Clover Valley Ball Field: The 4.0 acre site has two ball fields. Owned/Managed by the Oak Harbor School District: 25) Administrative compound: This 4 acre area contains a football stadium. 26) Broadview Elementary: The 16 acre school site has a play field and three softball/baseball fields. 27) Clover Valley Elementary: The 15.4 acre school site has three softball/soccer fields, two outdoor basketball courts, a playground and a large grass play field. Estimated size of the recreation area is 10 acres. 28) Crescent Harbor Elementary: The 10-acre school site has three softball/soccer fields, outdoor basketball court, playground, and large mowed grass play field. Estimated size of the recreation acres is 5 acres. 29) Oak Harbor Elementary: The 16-acre school site has two play fields and four softball/baseball fields. The estimated size of the recreation area is a 8 acres.
30) Oak Harbor Middle School: The 17-acre school site contains a football field, four softball/baseball fields, a quarter-mile paved athletic track and four tennis courts. The estimated size of the recreation area is 8 acres. 31) Oak Harbor Junior High School: The 25-acre school site has a football field, three softball/baseball fields, two tennis courts, and a quarter-mile paved athletic track. The estimated size of the recreation area is 12 acres. 32) Oak Harbor High School: The 43.9-acre school site has a football field, a quarter-mile paved athletic track, six tennis courts and a baseball field. The estimated size of the recreation area is 22 acres. 33) Olympic View Elementary: The 12.0 acres school site has a play field and three softball/baseball fields. The estimated size of the recreation area is 6 acres. Owned/Managed by the U. S. Department of the Navy: 34) The Naval Air Station at Whidbey Island: This facility has 206.86 acres of park and recreation areas containing six softball fields (three for casual use only), one football field, one soccer field, six tennis courts, two volleyball courts, four basketball courts, one gravel running track and a fitness trail. Even though the facilities are not accessible to the general public, 31,675 personnel and dependents are eligible to use the facilities (D.T. Waggoner, 7/7/92). Since a large number of these service personnel live on North Whidbey Island, it may be assumed that the availability of these facilities, while restricted from the general public, provide recreational opportunities that would otherwise need to be provided from other sources. NAS Whidbey also has an 18 hole golf course and picnic area located at Rocky Point. Owned/Managed by the State of Washington: 35) Deception Pass State Park: 1,195 acres of the park’s 1,248 acres are located on Whidbey Island at the very northern tip surrounding Deception Pass. This park is the most heavily visited State Park in the state, with nearly 3.5 million visits recorded in 1990. This amounts to more than three times the number of visitors recorded by the next most popular state park. The park has 254 camping spaces that handled 97,070 overnight visitors in 1990. The park has 2345 picnic units, an environmental center, moorage and docks, an outdoor amphitheater and 8.5 miles of hiking trails. The park has approximately 30,000 linear feet of shoreline on the Whidbey Island side. Heavy use of the park by out-of-county visitors limits local use during the summer season. The adjacent 680 acre Hoypus Hill DNR property was transferred to State Parks in February, 1992. This area is under consideration for designation as a Natural Forest Area (NFA) and/or a Natural Area Preserve (NAP). 36) Joseph Whidbey State Park: This 112 acre park is located on the west coast of Whidbey Island, just south of the Naval Air Station. This park has limited facilities, yet it recorded 61,676 day visits during 1990. 37) Dugualla Bay: State Parks has acquired the 586 acre tract of land located southeast of Dugualla Bay. This land, which was previously owned by DNR, contains over a mile of shoreline.
Description of Parks and Recreation Facilities on Central Whidbey Island: Owned/Managed by Island County: 1) Rhododendron Park: The county-owned 32 acres of the park contains a picnic area, two ball fields, rest room facilities, a small playground and pump house. Scheduled improvements include a storage building and a paved parking lot. The State Parks Department maintains a 10 acre site, the Department of Natural Resources Campground, located just north of the County Park. 2) Libbey Beach Park: This three acre park has 1.5 acres of developed park consisting of a shelter, picnic area with barbecue, vault rest room and beach access. This facility is heavily used. 3) Telaker Shores: The 0.74 acre site has a picnic area and beach access. The area is maintained by the Coupeville Lions Club, and requires minimal maintenance by county personnel. Note: Mode IV service level* 4) Ledgewood Beach: The 0.5 acre site provides beach access by way of a ramp and stairs. This is a relatively undeveloped site that could be enhanced with a picnic area. Note: Mode IV service level. 5) Lagoon Point #1: The road end provides limited access to DNR-owned tidelands, and is used primarily for surf cast fishing. Parking is limited. Note: Mode IV service level. 6) Lagoon Point #2: This road end provides limited access to DNR-owned tidelands, and is used primarily for surf cast fishing. Parking is limited. Note: Mode IV service level 7) Amber Property: This 80 acres of selectively logged property lies adjacent to the county-owned Barstow property, and was purchased to be utilized as open space. In addition, this property will provide a link between the Kettles Trail. That trail traverses the southern boundary of the site, connecting to the Barstow and Fort Ebey properties. This site is intended to remain as a passive use area. Owned/Managed by the Town of Coupeville: 8) Town Playground: The Town Playground is a half-acre neighborhood park in a single family residential area, located on the north side of Coupeville in close proximity to the county courthouse. The park contains a tennis court, playground equipment and a softball backstop. 9) Town Park: This 3.8-acre park is located in the northwest section of town. The north portion of the park is wooded, medium bank waterfront land with 500 feet of shoreline. The site was donated to the town for use as a natural park. The area, which is sheltered from the wind, contains a tennis court. A 440-foot trail leads to the beach. The south portion of the park is used as a picnic and playground area. Playground equipment consists of swings and a log "jungle Jim" type structure. The picnic area contains a concrete barbecue pit, a covered open-air kitchen, and rest rooms. In addition, the Coupeville Lions Club recently constructed horseshoe pits and a shuffleboard court. 10) Alexander Blockhouse: The 0.1-acre site next to the Museum contains the historic Alexander Blockhouse. Insert FIGURE 4; EXISTING P & R AREAS ON CENTRAL WHIDBEY
11) Captain Thomas Coupe Park: This 0.8-acre park is situated east of and adjacent to the Town’s Wastewater Treatment facility, and has recently been improved. The park has approximately 500 feet of low or no bank shoreline and contains a new boat launching ramp with floating dock, new rest rooms, parking and picnic facilities. The park also has a holding tank dump station for travel trailers and recreational vehicles. 12) Triangle Park: This small, 0.11-acre site on Main and Ninth Streets has been attractively landscaped by the Coupeville Garden Club. Park facilities consist of park benches. Owned/Managed by the Port of Coupeville: 13) Coupeville Wharf: The wharf is located in downtown Coupeville on port-owned property and tidelands. The wharf has a public pier and a float with transient moorage slips. Owned/Managed by the Coupeville School District: 14) Coupeville Elementary School: This one-acre site has a covered sports court and a playground with play equipment. Directly adjacent to this facility is Clark Field, a 9.7-acre site which contains the School District’s stadium and several multi-purpose athletic fields. The recreation area is approximately 10 acres in size. 15) Coupeville Junior/Senior High School: This 6-acre site houses the junior and senior high school facilities. It has three tennis courts, two baseball fields and two gymnasiums which are used by the community. Owned/Managed by the State of Washington: 16) Ebey’s Landing: This 22 acre site is located on the west side of central Whidbey Island between Fort Casey and Fort Ebey State Parks, in the National Historic Reserve. The site has a small gravel parking lot, an interpretive display board and hiking trails along the top of a steep bluff with exceptional views of the Strait of Juan De Fuca. The site contains 2,720 feet of shoreline. The area is owned by State Parks and the Ebey’s Landing Trust Board. The area had 45,559 day visits in 1990. 17) Fort Casey State Park: The 411.5 acre park is located near the Keystone Spit and the Port Townsend ferry terminal. The park contains a parking area, 60 picnic units, rest rooms, two boat launches, and view points. Attractions include pre-World War II military shore defense fortification structures and an operating light house. The park reported 494,099 day use visitors in 1990, and also 20,330 campers who utilized the 35 overnight camping spaces. The park has 8,200 feet of mostly high bank shoreline. The park also contains the Keystone Underwater Park, which is very popular with scuba divers. 18) Fort Ebey State Park: The original 228.2-acre park is located on the west side of Whidbey Island, a few miles north of Ebey’s Landing in the National Historic Reserve. The park has 61 camp units, which attracted 19,044 overnight visitors in 1990 in addition to 236,549 day use visitors. The park has 20 picnic units, rest rooms, a historic fort, and scenic vistas. With the acquisition of the Point Partridge property from the Department of Natural Resources (see below) the park now contains over 644 acres. 19) Point Partridge: The 416-acre DNR site was transferred to State Parks ownership in 1990, and has been incorporated into the Fort Ebey State Park. The area is located at the western-most point of Whidbey Island overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The Olympic Peninsula, and even parts of British Columbia can be observed on clear days. The point is within the Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve. Owned/Managed by the Department of Natural Resources: The State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages large areas of forest lands in Island County for the benefit of school and university trust accounts. However, due to recent management decisions, some of these lands have been designated as "urban transitional" and will be sold in the near future, with the capital re-invested in more productive forest lands outside Island County. This decision may result in significant loss of public owned lands in Island County. The County should encourage the transfer of DNR forest lands to other public agencies. 20) Rhododendron Park: DNR owns most of the area known as Rhododendron Park. 120 acres are designated as school trust lands, 32.58 are state owned and 31.85 acres are owned by the County. A potential sale of the 120-acre School Trust lands could adversely impact the park. Acquisition by Island County or other parks providers should be seriously considered. Insert FIGURE 5; EXISTING P & R AREAS ON SOUTH WHIDBEY
Description of Parks and Recreation Facilities on South Whidbey Island: Owned/Managed by Island County: 1) Dave Mackie Park (Maxwelton): This 5-acre park has a boat ramp, a rest room facility, a ball field with grandstand, a concession stand with water and electricity, a shelter with a brick stove, a playground, a picnic area with a barbecue, a pump house and beach access. This facility is in good condition. This park is not included in the Parks Department turf maintenance program (fertilization) due to budget restrictions. 2) Dan Porter Park (Clinton): This 8.5 acre park contains vault rest rooms, a playground, tennis court, ball field, nature trails and a picnic shelter. This facility is in good condition, but is in need of improvements such as new rest rooms and ongoing turf maintenance. Also, the entry road and parking area should be paved. 3) Hurt Property: This 30 acres of forest land was deeded to the county for a passive, interpretive and educational park. The deed is very restrictive and excludes the possibility for establishing parking or any facilities in the area with the exception of nature trails. The deed requires that the county build a fence along the property boundary. This fence is a high priority item for the Parks Department. Note: Mode IV service level. 4) Double Bluff Beach Access: The Double Bluff Beach Access is located at the end of Double Bluff Road and consists of a visitor parking area with 22 parking spaces, adjacent to three waterfront parcels which feature over 800 feet of beach front. The site provides access to more than two miles of state-owned tidelands. Development includes rest room facilities, a paved pathway, a landscaped berm, an interpretative kiosk, viewing benches and a grassy picnic area. 5) Mutiny Bay: The .33-acre area contains a boat ramp and parking area. The site consists of 12 undeveloped lots containing regulated wetlands. The boat ramp suffers from excessive sand build up and requires frequent cleaning. 6) Freeland Park: The 15.5-acre park contains a boat ramp with float, rest rooms, a playground, a picnic area with barbecue, picnic shelters, and the Freeland Community Hall. 7) Baby Island Heights #1: This two acre site is closed due to hazardous conditions. 8) Baby Island Heights #2: These three acres of beach and tidelands are surrounded by private property. The site is not accessible by land. Note: Mode IV service level. 9) Island County Fairgrounds: The 13-acre site is home to the annual Island County Fair. The area is also utilized as camping area during the summer season. The capacity is 80 camp sites. In the winter season the fairgrounds are used as a storage area. Owned/Managed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife: 10) Deer Lake Fishing Area: The 0.2-acre fresh water access is located on the east side of Deer Lake. The area contains a boat ramp, a swimming/fishing dock with a designated swimming area, vault rest rooms, a picnic area and parking. The area is managed by the Island County Parks Department. 11) Lone Lake Fishing Area: The five-acre fresh water access is located on the north side of Lone Lake at the end of Lone Lake Road. The area has a boat ramp, vault rest room and a picnic area. The site is managed by the Island County Parks Department. 12) Goss Lake Fishing Area: The 0.6-acre fresh water access site is located on the north side of Goss Lake. The area contains a boat ramp, swim area, vault rest rooms and a picnic area. The site is managed by the Island County Parks Department. Owned/Managed by the City of Langley: 13) Sunrise Beach: This 0.20-acre site in Langley includes a six-foot community walkway and tidelands. 14) Seawall/Totem Park: The 1.0 acre park is located in downtown Langley along the waterfront below First Street. The park has four picnic tables, a staircase to the beach and 1000 feet of shoreline.
15) Phil Simon Memorial Park: The .21-acre park lies adjacent to the Langley Small Boat Harbor and contains two picnic tables and 400 feet of shoreline. 16) Langley Small Boat Harbor: The .11-acre site consists of a marina with 38 transient moorage slips, fishing pier, rest rooms, shower facilities, boat launch and beach access. 17) South Whidbey Island Community Center Park: The 43-acre park is currently under construction. It includes plans for a community center, picnic shelter, all purpose ball fields, an amphitheater, rest rooms, and trails. Outdoor recreation programs: The South Whidbey Park and Recreation District offers a variety of recreational programs to the community. These include a fun run, bow shoot, hay ride, caroling party, volleyball tournament and summer teen dances. In 1990, a Program Coordinator was hired to administer the recreation program. Owned/Managed by the Port of South Whidbey: 18) Possession Beach Waterfront Park: The 11.9-acre park contains a boat ramp, rest room facility, picnic sites, nature trails and beach access. 19) Clinton Recreational Pier: The 0.5-acre community pier has a walkway and a small float with two daytime moorage slips. Public parking is available at Clinton ferry commuter lot. Owned/Managed by South Whidbey School District: 20) Langley Middle School: The 30-acre school site is located in Langley north of the Fairgrounds. The area contains a large grass field, two softball fields and a football field. The recreation area is approximately 10 acres in size. 21) South Whidbey Primary School: The 28-acre school site is located on Maxwelton Road and contains two playgrounds and one basketball court.
22) South Whidbey Intermediate School: The 20-acre school site is located on Maxwelton Road and a large grass play field that is utilized for a variety of recreational activities. The recreation area is approximately three acres in size. 23) South Whidbey High School: The 40-acre school site is located on Maxwelton Road and contains one football field, one quarter-mile running track, one softball field, one practice field, one baseball field, and five tennis courts. The recreation area is approximately 20 acres in size. Owned/Managed by the State of Washington: 24) South Whidbey State Park: The 85-acre park is located on the west side of Whidbey Island, northwest of Freeland and southwest of Greenbank. The park contains 70 overnight camping sites that handled 13,681 overnight campers in 1990. The park also recorded 206,525 day use visits during that year. The park has rest rooms and 19 picnic units. The 4,500 feet of high bank shoreline is accessed by hiking trails. State Parks has reached an agreement with the Department of Natural Resources to transfer ownership of the adjacent 262 acres of old growth forest, known as "Classic U". This area has been classified by the state’s Parks and Recreation Commission as a Natural Forest Area (NFA). NFA’s are "designated for preservation and interpretation of natural forest processes." In general, recreational activities permitted in these areas are limited to hiking on designated trails, and viewing interpretive panels and markers. This designation will expand the size of the park to 347 acres. Owned/Managed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife: DFW manages two large public recreation shellfish harvest areas in Island County. The largest is a 3.25-mile section of tidelands that extends from San De Fuca to the town of Coupeville. The other harvest area is a 1.6-mile section located between the communities of Shangri-La Shores and Glenwood, on the southwest shore of Whidbey Island. The character of the inter-tidal ownership varies in these areas and does not provide consistent recreational access. Some sections of tidelands do not have upland public access and can only be reached by boat. This agency also manages two artificial reefs that were constructed to enhance fish habitat Omanac Point Reef and Possession Point Reef contain a total of 51 subtidal acres.
Level of Service Standards. As noted above, Island County features a wide variety of parks, recreation and open space sites and facilities, ranging from neighborhood tot lots to national reserves. In order to ensure an adequate supply of such facilities for county residents and visitors, appropriate level of service (LOS) standards should be established. Such standards are useful to decision-makers for budgeting and capital facilities planning. Figure 6 identifies existing and proposed service levels for certain facilities related to parks and recreation. Figure 6 Level of Service Standards
Community Values. In order for parks and recreation planning and programming to succeed, it must have the active support of the public. Active public involvement has been a cornerstone of this comprehensive planning effort, paying particular attention to soliciting public input for the Natural Lands element and this Parks and Recreation element. Only by actively engaging the public in discussion and debate can we ensure that the resulting plan reflects the vision and values of the community. In addition to the various public meetings and hearings held in association with the overall comprehensive plan, the preparation of this Parks and Recreation element included several meetings held for this specific purpose. In 1991, an extensive public involvement effort included a Parks and Recreation Survey that was distributed to all households in the county. The results of the 1991 survey are shown in Appendix B. In addition, four public meetings were held in different sub-regions of the County. As a result of this effort, more than a thousand people contributed through written or oral comments. 1998 Survey Results. In January, 1998 three additional public meetings were held in various locations within the county to seek public input into issues related to natural lands and parks and recreation planning. During those meetings, participants were asked to respond to a survey that included questions related to parks and recreation issues. Respondents were asked to rank their priorities for certain types of parks or recreation facilities. Given the response choices of high priority, medium priority, low priority, no priority, or do not know, participants listed their responses to these categories: Please mark the box you feel represents your priority of the improvements below: The survey also included the following questions:
In addition to these questions, respondents were asked to identify the area in which they lived. Thus, the responses could be tabulated as a total, or into the geographic areas of North Whidbey Island, Central Whidbey Island, South Whidbey Island or Camano Island. From those public meetings, a total of 78 participants responded to the survey. Based upon the responses, it appears that residents place the highest priority on ‘More natural areas with limited facilities.’ This category ranked first as a high priority overall, and also ranked first in each area of the county except North Whidbey Island, where it tied for second. The second highest overall priority went to ‘A trails system linking communities and parks.’ Ranking third overall, and first in North Whidbey Island, was ‘Improve access to and along the shoreline.’ While each of these categories received at least 42 ‘high priority’ responses, no other category received more than 23. Overall, the least popular categories were ‘More regional parks for visitors,’ and ‘More playgrounds in unincorporated areas.’ The ‘More regional parks’ category received only one vote as a high priority among all respondents, and it also received the highest number (31) of votes as a low priority. Figure 7 Highest Priority by Area
The figure above indicates which element received the highest priority from respondents in each geographic area of the county. The numbers in each column represent the actual number of respondents ranked the element as a high priority. The TOTALS column contains two numbers, the first being the total of each geographic area in the row, and the second number representing the overall rank of that element among all respondents. The numbers shown in bold indicate the highest-ranked element within the geographic area. Also of interest from the survey is the response to the question, ‘Would you be willing to pay something to secure recreational opportunities in your community?’ A total of 63 of the participants responded to that question, with 58 answering YES, and only 5 saying NO. Thus, 92% of respondents indicated that they would be willing to pay for additional facilities or programs. Figure 8 Would you be willing to pay something to secure recreational opportunities in your community?
Implementation of this Parks and Recreation element will involve working in three areas:
The Capital Facilities element of this plan identifies planned acquisitions, the resources needed to fund the purchases. In determining priorities for future acquisitions, the information gained through the extensive public participation process that accompanied the development of this plan should be given considerable weight. The county’s annual budget must funds for the labor and materials needed to protect the county’s investment in parks through a planned maintenance program, and also to promote the use of these facilities through recreation programming. The amount of funding necessary to implement this plan is considerable, and the priorities expressed in the plan must compete with other county priorities for funding. Therefore, implementation of this plan will require creativity, persistence and patience in identifying local and outside sources of funding. Those sources may include local tax programs such as the Conservation Futures Fund, outside sources such as grants from state or federal agencies or foundations, or combinations of resources in collaboration with others. A more complete discussion of funding options can be found in the Natural Lands element. Implementation must also conform to the Level of Service (LOS) standards identified here and in the Capital Facilities Element. In budgeting for future acquisition, special attention should be paid to increasing the amount of land devoted to county parks, and also to trails. Finally, implementation will succeed only if activities include a continuing program of public involvement and education. As changes in public attitudes and priorities were noted between the 1991 and 1998 surveys, future changes may also be expected. By monitoring these changes over time, the county can ensure that its future actions reflect the vision and values of its citizens.
Island County
Results of 1991 Island County Survey
A public survey was conducted in March-April, 1991 to determine interests and needs of county residents. Rather than a complex formal scientific survey focused on behavioral patterns, a short one page questionnaire aiming directly at priorities was determined to be more appropriate. Analysis of existing patterns do not necessarily reflect individual preferences but only reflect present usage of recreational opportunities that are currently available. The survey contained four key components:
The survey was distributed to all 26,656 households in Island County as an insert in the local newspapers/Hotsheet for both subscribers and non-subscribers. A total of 969 surveys were returned, indicating a 3.64% response rate. This response rate is much higher than usual for surveys of this type. In the survey the respondents were asked to prioritize nine potential actions the County could take to improve the parks and recreation situation. The priorities from Island County as a whole are indicated below. The numbers reflect the percentage of respondents who selected each priority. The potential actions are listed in order of importance as determined by the survey results. Priorities - General Island County:
The highest priority in Island County as a whole was for increased access to and use of the shoreline. Increased shoreline access was significantly higher than any other category in the survey. This is a remarkable finding in a county containing over 200 miles of saltwater shoreline and indicates that a serious problem exists. Since much of the shoreline is held under private ownership, a significant number of residents have limited access to this resource. This segment of the population can be expected to grow as the population increases compounding the problem. The second highest priority was to maintain scenic vistas from County and State roads. The third highest priority was to obtain more natural areas with limited facilities. The fourth priority was a trial system and the fifth priority was the improvement of existing parks and facilities. The highest priorities generally focused on access, visual quality, maintaining the natural character of the Islands and low intensity use rather than establishing more park facilities for high intensity use. The more traditional parks and intensive facilities such as small parks, destination parks and playgrounds were assigned a lower priority. All regions identified regional parks for visitors as the lowest priority. This indicates that local residents prefer separate community recreation Areas and facilities so that they do not have to directly compete with the 4.8 million visitors each year who utilize State Parks in Island County. The number of our-of-county visitors is expected to increases significantly as Western Washington’s population increases. The following table lists the priorities of each of the four regions in Island County. The number represent the percentage of respondents who selected each priority in order of importance. The issues are listed in the order they appeared in the survey. Priorities in the four regions of Island County: NORTHEND CENTRAL SOUTHEND CAMANO
Camano Island: The five highest rated priorities on Camano are: Shoreline access, scenic vistas, improvement of existing parks, natural areas and small parks. Compared to the County as a whole, the park improvements, small parks and playgrounds categories rated higher while trail systems and natural areas received lower priority ratings. North Whidbey: The five highest rated priorities on the north end of Whidbey Island are: Shoreline access, scenic vistas, natural areas, trail system and improvements of existing parks. Compared to the County as a whole, establishment of more regional parks for visitors, improvement of existing parks, maintenance of scenic vistas and obtaining additional natural areas with limited facilities received higher priority ratings while increased shoreline access and creation of more destination parks received lower than average ratings compared to other parts of the county. Central Whidbey: The five highest priorities on Central Whidbey Island are: Shoreline access, trail system, scenic vistas, natural areas and improvement of existing parks. Compared to the County as a whole, establishment of a trial system was rated as the second most important priority. Regional parks for visitors, small parks and playgrounds received lower ratings compared to other parts of the County. South Whidbey: The five highest priorities on the south end of Whidbey Island are: Shoreline access, natural areas, trail system, scenic vistas and improvement of existing parks. Compared to the County as a whole, increased shoreline access, trail system and natural areas received higher ratings while scenic vista category was rated as a lower priority. Regional comparison: The priorities are very similar in all four regions of the County, with four out of five top priorities being the same.
Identification of areas that respondents felt should be kept as open space in their local community Certain areas within communities were identified as especially important to the residents because of historical significance, visual quality, traditional uses and other reasons. The following is a list of areas that were mentioned in each region of the County. Camano: Cama Beach Utsalady Eagle nest/bird refuges Elger Bay South side of Camano Barnum Point Camano Head Maple Grove Madrona Beach Kristofferson Lake Juniper Beach East side of Camano Browns Point Lowell Point North Whidbey: Ala Spit West Beach Cornet Bay Dugualla Bay Central Whidbey: Ebeys Landing area Keystone Spit & surrounding area Crockett Lake & surrounding area Lake Hancock & surrounding area
Central Whidbey, cont’d OLF/Rhododendron Park area Lagoon Point area Grasser Hill Hastie Lake Fort Casey and area Greenbank Beach Admiral’s Cove Marsh area Madrona Drive area Baby Island Bush Point Reeder Farm area Penn Cove Cedar Hollow Chase Lake Pennington Hill Whidbey Winery Pondilla Lake Useless Bay wetlands South Whidbey: Deer Lagoon Maxwelton area Baby Island Waterman Pond Maple Point Newman Pond Fossic Farm
Identification of facilities to be improved: The following is a list of recreational facilities that respondents stated they wanted to see improved or established in their community: Camano Island: Boat facilities/boat ramps Playgrounds/picnic area/ballfields Bicycle/Nature/other trails Shoreline/beach access Swimming pool Tennis Courts Recreation Center Vista points Shooting Range Overnight Camping North Whidbey: Trails: Bicycle, walking, equestrian Playgrounds/ball fields More beach access More RV and camping facilities More Boat ramps Swimming Pool Central Whidbey: Shoreline/beach access Trails: Bicycle/Natural trails/other Ballfields/playgrounds/picnic areas Boat ramps/fishing docks Swimming pool Golf Tennis courts Camping/RV Vista Points Skate board area South Whidbey: Beach access Swimming pool Trails: Bicycling, Hiking/other Boat ramps/fishing docks Ball fields Tennis courts Public golf course When asked if respondents would be willing to pay more to purchase additional parks and open space in the community, the majority said yes. Despite an unspecified amount or method of collection, 72.2% of respondents said they were willing to pay more to obtain additional parks and open space. Willingness to pay for obtaining additional parks and open space in local community:
The willingness to pay was high in all four sub-areas of the County but was highest on the south and central Whidbey. Willingness to pay in each region The willingness to pay ranges from 69.5 % on Camano to 76.5 % on the South end. The unwillingness to pay for additional facilities was highest on the north end (18.8%) and Camano (16.7%) while lowest on the south end (10.8%) and in Central Whidbey (11.1%). Priorities of the group willing to pay:
Priorities of those unwilling pay more:
Those respondents unwilling to pay placed more emphasis on improvement of existing parks while those willing to pay more listed purchase of natural parks as a higher priority. |
