PORT ANGELES — Generous donations from private landowners have made the Clallam County parks system what it is today, Public Works Director Craig Jacobs told the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce on Monday.
“We’ve had the finest county parks system of any county in the state of Washington,” Jacobs said at the chamber luncheon at the Port Angeles CrabHouse Restaurant.
Important part
“It has taken help from an important part of the community that’s not often recognized. That’s the private and corporate land owners that have felt so strongly about our parks system and the ability to provide accesses to our local waters that they’ve actually donated either parts of or all of their property to the county for public use in the future.”
Jacobs spent the first 20 years of his 30-year tenure with Clallam County as parks director. He has announced that he will retire on Dec. 31.
In a slide presentation, Jacobs discussed the history of the 19 parks within county jurisdiction.
The four parks with access to overnight camping are Dungeness Recreation Area, Salt Creek Recreation Area, Camp Hayden and Camp David Jr.
The 15 day-use parks are Panorama Vista, Port Williams, Dungeness Landing, Cline Spit, Mary Lukes Wheeler, Three Waters, Jesse Cook Scriven, Robin Hill Farm, Verne Samuelson Trail, Freshwater Bay, Pillar Point, Clallam Bay Spit, Lake Pleasant, Quillayute River and the Agnew soccer fields.
60 miles of trail
The county has also built more than 60 miles of the Olympic Discovery Trail, which will eventually connect Puget Sound to the Pacific Ocean from Port Townsend to LaPush.
Detailed descriptions of these parks are available on the county’s Web site, www.clallam.net.
Formed in 1941, the Clallam County Parks Board has the distinction of being the longest-running parks board in the state, Jacobs said.
The seven volunteers on the Parks Board make recommendations to the county commissioners on park planning, policies, acquisitions and development.
Camp David Jr. at Lake Crescent is the oldest county park. Camp David Jr. and Fort Vancouver in Clark County were each acquired in 1935.
One of Jacobs’ first duties with the county in 1979 was to take a bond issue to restore Camp David Jr. to the public. The bond issue passed, and the cabins and main lodge were renovated.
“Today, the lakefront camp serves thousands annually,” Jacobs said.
A land donation from Chester Smith in 1946 led to the acquisition of Freshwater Bay and its boat launch site.
“Since then, we have purchased adjacent lands making this a 23-acre park with 1,400 feet of tidelands, picnic sites, a boat launch and beach access,” Jacobs said.
The 1950s saw more property acquisitions and donations that made room for the popular Pillar Point, Dungeness Recreation Area and Salt Creek county parks.
Salt Creek
The county in 1959 paid the federal government $4,425 for the 196-acre Salt Creek Recreation Area, which was originally a military base called Camp Hayden.
More parks were added through the years.
On Wednesday, the county dedicated the two Agnew soccer fields off Old Olympic Highway. Half of the $411,000 acquisition of the land was covered by a state grant.
“Nothing happens in Clallam County overnight, except violent storms and floods,” Jacobs said.
“Certainly our county parks system was not developed overnight. Park acquisitions, park developments, park and recreation services have been a long tradition with Clallam County reaching over 70 years.
“A park system like ours takes years of planning. It takes a lot of grassroots efforts. It takes good political leadership, dedicated employees, hundreds of volunteers and citizens like you all working together for a common goal.”
“We have a great 70-year history. I hope the legacy will live on for another 70 years and we’ll add even better parks to our system.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.