PORT TOWNSEND — The Fort Worden State Park Advisory Committee is pleading with state parks officials and lawmakers to keep Old Fort Townsend State Park in its budget.
The committee will discuss and possibly approve wording in a letter to state officials when it meets at noon Thursday at the Fort Worden State Park Conference Center, 200 Battery Way, Port Townsend.
“The letter is necessary because there has been no indicator that the state will change the status of Old Fort Townsend State Park,” said letter writer Henry Werch, an at-large member of the advisory committee.
“Its still on the list of possible closures.”
Legislature’s hands
The fate of 367-acre Old Fort Townsend State Park — which the state parks system proposes for a local ownership transfer to help save millions in state park maintenance — is before the state Legislature, grappling with budget cuts to balance a projected two-year deficit of as much as $7 billion.
The proposed 2009-2011 budget released by Gov. Chris Gregoire asks State Parks to take a 10 percent budget cut, or $10 million, mostly in staffing and operations.
Old Fort Townsend State Park, about 2 miles south of Port Townsend off state Highway 20, is one of 13 parks listed in the proposal.
Bogachiel near Forks is the other state park in the North Olympic Peninsula on the list for possible transfer to local government.
Options include turning the parks over to a city, county or concessionary operator or to a combination of owners.
Other cutbacks
State Parks is freezing equipment replacement, closing one of four regional offices and reducing programs and staff at its headquarters to save an additional $6.5 million.
Although the state proposes that Jefferson County absorb Old Fort Townsend into its system, county commissioners have said the county faces its own financial troubles after budget cuts and layoffs late last year.
The county is not in a position to acquire and manage another park, they said.
Jean Dunbar, Fort Worden State Park Advisory Committee chairwoman, said Monday that Old Fort Townsend State Park, like its Port Townsend big brother park, Fort Worden, is vital to the county’s tourism economy.
“We just want to urge state parks to reconsider the idea of closing it based on facts that are way out of date,” said Dunbar, who has been on the committee since 2005.
“In working with Fort Worden State Park and Old Fort Townsend, I know we can serve an awful lot of people up here.”
She said Old Fort Townsend is a great alternative campsite for visitors who cannot get into Fort Worden State Park when it is full.
“Review of a detailed cost-benefit analysis of the park’s operation has clearly demonstrated that it presents a very high value to the state at a very minimal cost,” the local advisory committee’s letter says.
“The park’s net operating cost is under $85,000, and is likely to decrease, because the state’s recent investments in the park . . . have positioned it to both draw more visitors and generate greater revenue.
“These recently completed investments in structures and campsites make Old Fort Townsend State Park much more attractive for overnight camping and hiking, and they will generate more revenue. The new shelter and special programs in the new barn will attract new paid uses for daily events.”
Old Fort Townsend State Park features 3,960 feet of saltwater shoreline on Port Townsend Bay.
Military history
The heavily wooded park has a rich 19th century military history.
The fort was closed between 1859 and 1874 and declared “unfit” after an inspection by an Army headquarters commander. It was reopened in 1874.
The fort thrived until 1895, when fire destroyed the barracks.
The property was used as an enemy-munitions defusing station during World War II. State Parks took custody of the premises in 1953.
Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
