https://www.facebook.com/758091889665041/posts/912802760860619
Island County Commissioner Janet St. Clair (D-Camano Island) posted this to his Facebook page on .
Last night, the Washington State Parks Commission met with community advocates at Stanwood High School to discuss the future of Cama Beach State Park. Cama Beach is an iconic part of our community. For more information on Cama Beach, please go to the website set up for public input and information.
https://parks.wa.gov/about/strategic-planning-projects-public-input/projects/cama-beach-project
The Board of Island County Commissioners sent a letter to the Parks Commission to advocate for this important economic, historical and recreational asset in our region. Here is a copy of what was sent…..
Diana Dupuis, MA, Director
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Dear Ms. Dupuis,
The Board of Island County is writing you regarding Cama Beach State Park. As you know, our Board has been following the challenges and concerns closely since they became public. Island
County partners closely with many of the stakeholders and user groups at Cama Beach State Park including Friends of Camano Island Parks (FOCIP), Sound Water Stewards, Cama Beach
Foundation, and many others.
Cama Beach has significant cultural and historical significance for
our tribes, our pioneers, and the family that donated this fishing resort to our state. The park and the events it hosts is an economic generator for Camano Island, bringing tourism dollars to our
county and to local stores and restaurants. Cama Beach is an iconic and beautiful place to picnic, hike and visit We know you are aware of all these assets Cama Beach State Park brings to
our community.
We are writing to ask you to deeply consider the following actions:
• Please honor the history of our volunteers and the incredible work of many volunteer organizations who have contributed to the success of this park. Continue to keep these stakeholders informed and engaged in decision-making about the future of the park.
• Reopen to events and overnight stays when safely possible. Recognize its local and statewide importance as a destination.
• We support the retention of the historic cabins from the days of Cama as a fishing resort. While we recognize the challenges of keeping all cabins near the shoreline, if possible, it would be good to have a remnant to demonstrate historic use and to relocate others up on the bench where septic may be more viable.
• We support an interpretative area on the shoreline to demonstrate the history of the site and the peoples who have lived, worked, and played at this historic location. This to include the
history and importance of the original Salish people, our pioneers, and the recent history of the park acquisition.
Thank you for your ongoing efforts to keep all informed. We look forward to partnering with you
in the future.
Signed by the Board of Island County Commissioners
Friends of Camano Island Parks Sound Water Stewards
The Department of Natural Resources has issued a statewide burn ban restricting the use of outdoor burning, campfires, the use of charcoal briquettes, and prescribed burns on all forest lands within DNR’s fire protection, including all Washington State Parks, through Sept. 30, 2024. This date may …
