2022 03 21 letter from Bill Serrahn friends of Skate Creek ParkNotes for March 21, 2022 BOCC Wrap -Up Meeting
by Bill Serrahn, President
Friends of Skate Creek Park
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Board of County Commissioners
Lewis County Washington
MAN ? 12022
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Good morning Commissioners. Thank you for the opportunity to come before you
this morning. As I'm challenged as a public speaker, I am speaking from a script,
which I have provided.
I recently attended Seminary Hill Natural Area's annual meeting. Seminary Hill
will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year. Today everyone, including the political
leadership, understands the value of this natural area to the community. Not so,
40 years ago where the City of Centralia planned to log the property. If not for the
vision and persistence of a local conservation group, this natural treasure, in the
midst of residential Centralia, would not exist.
Today, we face a similar situation in Packwood. We have a 175-acre established
public natural area containing the last public access to lower Skate Creek, nearly
mile of the last undeveloped public Cowlitz River frontage, and nearly 4 miles of
family friendly, all season, trails. This established public natural area has a variety
of forest ecosystems and is wildlife habitat.
Like Seminary Hill, Skate Creek Park is now surrounded by private property and a
growing residential area. As Seminary Hill was 40 years ago, Skate Creek Park is
threatened with potential future internal development and forest harvesting.
In the 20th century, Packwood had a timber resource -based economy. In the 21s'
century Packwood has a increasingly recreation and visitor based economy.
Visitors chose Packwood to enjoy the natural world. The Skate Creek Park natural
area has become a popular walking and bicycling destination in Packwood,
enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. This established public natural area
contributes to our quality of life and local economy and enhances Packwood's
image as a mountain getaway location.
In 2009, many of us from Packwood attended the Washington State Parks
meetings regarding the reclassification of their Packwood Property. We were
assured that any future transfer of the property would include deed restrictions,
preserving the property as open space, and preventing it being developed for high
intensity uses such as overnight camping facilities.
This brings me to the question of why does Lewis County want this park?
Do you want to protect and preserve this established public natural area
which is becoming so important to the Packwood Community?
• Or do you hope to eventually build overnight camping facilities on the
property? There is not enough acreage to do both.
The county parks revenue model, you are developing, suggests that you are
hoping to fund county parks through fees - primarily camping fees. Of course, this
model would incentivize the development of RV Parks on park properties.
We would hope Lewis County could see the tremendous opportunity in acquiring
this established natural area as the crown jewel of its park system and pledge to
protect it for future generations of humans and wildlife and not destroy it with
roads and RV sites
If you believe in the future, as with the Seminary Hill Natural Area, 40 years from
now everyone will celebrate the vision and determination of the people and their
leaders who saved this natural area for them.
I walk Skate Creek Park daily and talk with visitors from many places in the state,
country, and the world as well as area weekend and full-time residents. I
especially love the families with children. All are happy and enjoying the trails and
the natural world. This is why we Friends of Skate Creek Park care, and why I am
here today, hoping that you can understand the value in preserving this park as
an undeveloped natural area for future generations.
We, the concerned community, insist on Washington State Parks and Recreation
honoring the commitments State Parks made when they adopted the 2010 Upper
Cowlitz Area Management Plan.
If you cannot accept the protective deed restrictions and will not develop a
protective park plan prior to the transfer process, we request you withdraw your
letter of intent to acquire the property.
Thank you.
I'm available for your questions or comments.
Bill Serrahn, President
Friends of Skate Creek Park (a 501c3 non-profit organization)