Divers Gene Coronetz (Marker Buoy), Joyce Merkel (Marker Buoy), Jan Kocian (NWDC), and myself attended the meeting along with about 100 locals. About half the meeting was taken up with the diseased tree problem in S. Whidbey St. Park. There is extensive damage to many trees in this old growth park and they can fall without notice and little provocation. This makes safety in the campground quite problematic. There is no easy and obvious solution. It is evident that the non-diving community does not understand liability like divers. They figured people could just sign a waiver or Parks could put up a warning sign and they would be off the hook.
The part dear to the dive community, Possession Point, took up the 2nd half. The entire room was in accord with not 'surplussing' the park uplands. The part that we dive from was actually not part of the potential surplus plan at all. It was made clear at the start of the meeting that this option had been primarily a theoretical consideration based on directives from the legislature regarding ALL State Parks and properties. This option has essentially been taken off the table. How to develop, what to do exactly, and how to administer that property is still being looked at. The house is in bad repair, water is unfit for consumption, road down is dicey and washes out easily during the winter, etc.
This meeting was supposedly and mostly a question and answer period, which it very much was. But they took commentary from anyone that wanted to speak (I did for the dive community). The meeting was handled well by Randy Kline, Parks Planner.
Marker Buoy Club President Mark Wilson also sent a letter to Randy Kline along with some questions. He got this informative response back from him so I post it verbatim. Responses are in blue.
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[Also, I have been following some conversations on divers forums and there seem to be some conflicting views on what a decision to surplus the property would mean. So here are a few questions.
Are you only considering the status of Possession Point Park now or has a decision already been made to change it's status as an actively managed Park?
Only considering, also the portion of the park under consideration for possible transfer to another agency is the forested upland portion but not the shoreline area, the beach, the house, the upper parking lot, the road access down to the park, or the Washington Water Trails campsite. At this stage we are bringing forward conceptual proposals for public consideration and discussion. No decision has been made – our next public meeting will be in late August but a Commission decision will not be made until November 2016 or later.
If the decision to change it from an actively managed Park has been made what are the status options and what does each mean?
This decision has not been made.
If the Park is surplused who would or could take control over the land and improvements?
The most likely candidate would be another public entity as there are restrictions on the type of development that can occur due to the grant funds used to purchase the property – whoever takes over the property would need to use it for recreational use or purchase an equivalent property which could provide at least the same level of recreational use.
Is it possible that it would be offered for sale to private parties? Very remote possibility for the upland forested portion.
Transfer to another public entity would be the initial approach.
If it is offered to private parties what is the process for selling it?
The Parks and Recreation Commission has to authorize sale of property.
If sold to a private party would there be any restrictions on future usage?
In this case there would be multiple restrictions based on the funding source.
Does the property currently have a zoning designation from Island County? If so what type is it?
Yes, the Island County zoning designation is “Park”]
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At this point the dive community does not have to panic, nor should they stick their head back under the water and ignore it. This is a remarkable site, and we simply have too few sites of any sort to give up, let alone one as unique as this. The support letters we send DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. This is what the Parks people can take back to the legislature. If they have nothing, the folks with the $$$ assumes no one cares. Do not let that happen! Write a letter or send an email to Randy expressing you concerns about the site. It doesn't have to be long or eloquent, but it does have to be there to do any good.
If you have more questions about the surplusing possibility it would be worth reading the WHOLE article in the So. Whidbey RECORD I link to in my post above. The first paragraph is what seemed to have started the alarm, which is not necessarily a bad thing in this case.
Fritz
Send support to Randy Kline , or call him. He's a nice guy and easy to talk to. He really does want to hear from people. We
are his job. Remember, this is a STATE park, not just a Whidbey Park.
Randy Kline, Parks Planner
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
1111 Israel Road SW, Tumwater, WA 98501
PO Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504
Phone: 360.902.8632
randy.kline@parks.wa.gov
http://www.parks.state.wa.us
![IMG_0002.JPG (2.67 MiB) Viewed 2093 times Possession Point Grounds](./download/file.php?id=27428&t=1&sid=3c78e25e186ee53f71599405be390189)
- Possession Point Grounds
![IMG_0003.JPG (3.28 MiB) Viewed 2093 times Beach out front](./download/file.php?id=27429&t=1&sid=3c78e25e186ee53f71599405be390189)
- Beach out front
![IMG_0022.JPG (2.79 MiB) Viewed 2093 times Gene Coronetz and Joyce Merkel review handouts before the meeting.](./download/file.php?id=27430&t=1&sid=3c78e25e186ee53f71599405be390189)
- Gene Coronetz and Joyce Merkel review handouts before the meeting.
![IMG_0023_JanK.jpg (2.32 MiB) Viewed 2093 times Jan Kocian, the one and only.](./download/file.php?id=27431&t=1&sid=3c78e25e186ee53f71599405be390189)
- Jan Kocian, the one and only.