Sequim Bay park meeting set

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will consider adopting a final draft of the Sequim Bay State Park Management Plan in Anacortes on Aug. 7.

Rather than create or buy new parks, the state opted to reinvest in the ones it has. As part of the process, a team of state planners reviewed issues with the Sequim-area state park and developed a list of recommendations to carry the park into a new era.

While most of the recommendations are to improve on what already exists within the park, several may have impacts to the park’s appearance and layout.

The plan emphasizes management of natural resources with a high degree of conservation, resulting in the same or slightly lesser degree of park development.

The dramatic physical changes include redeveloping existing campsites with a focus on a limited number of high quality standard and recreational vehicle sites in the lower portions of the park, which are closer to the water. This change would result in the removal of all recreational vehicle sites in the existing RV loop.

Instead of an RV loop, the park would install hiker and biker camping sites and possibly a few cabins to accommodate expected Olympic Discovery Trail traffic.

The state planners included a pledge in the plan to continue to work with Clallam County on completing all necessary sections of the Olympic Discovery Trail to create a contiguous line of access through the park.

Also, the plan states the park would redesign and update the entrance to the park to make it safer. Plus, there could be the inclusion of an informational kiosk at the entrance, which would be accompanied by other informational, interpretive

signage throughout the park.

A complete list of recommendations and more information regarding the park can be found at www.parks.wa.gov/plans/sequimbay.

The state parks commission meeting is on Aug. 7 at 9 a.m. in Anacortes City Hall, 904 Sixth St.