QUILCENE — The prospect of a nearby off-road vehicle park has some looking forward to having fun while others anticipate a fight.
The Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Division plans to submit a proposal for such a park to the county commissioners next month.
County Commissioner David Sullivan, D-Cape George, said he didn’t know when commissioners would consider the proposal.
Parks and Recreation in August narrowed 11 possible sites for the park down to two — both in the Quilcene area.
One potential site is on Skidder Hill, located on Snow Creek Road west of U.S. Highway 101 and Crocker Lake.
The other is on Penny Creek Road, west of Quilcene.
Both locations are on land owned by the state Department of Natural Resources.
“We’re already getting some negative comments, but we’ll just have to wait and see,” said Sullivan.
“I’m sure it will be controversial.”
Pro and con
The prospect doesn’t please Sharon Giles, who has lived with her husband James on a 40-acre parcel on Penny Creek Road for 25 years.
“If it materializes, it’s going to significantly alter our quality of life,” said the 65-year-old woman.
Their home is about a quarter-mile from the boundary of the Penny Creek proposed site.
“It’s going to impact access to our house and there will be dust and noise pollution.”
Don Truesdel, 42, used to enjoy riding motorbikes and 4-by-4 off-road vehicles, but said there are no longer many legal opportunities to ride like he used to in East Jefferson County.
Truesdel has lived in Quilcene since the age of 5.
“I would get dirt bikes and quads again if there was a place to ride them,” he said.
“I just would like to see something like that happen.”
He hopes those who want to ride and those who want peace and quiet can find a way to agree.
“It just kind of hits my heartstrings when I hear people are so opposed to it and think it’s such a horrible thing.”
Public comment
About 100 people attended a workshop on Sept. 19 hosted by the Parks and Recreation Division to provide information and take public comment.
Viewpoints ranged from condemnation of the proposal, and a perceived lack of public involvement up until that point, to enthusiasm about the creation of an off-road vehicle park.
The comments will be presented to county commissioners along with other findings in the Park and Recreation report.
Since 2004, a coalition of off road vehicle users has lobbied for a park in East Jefferson County.