07/10/2006: "Public To Decide Use Of Gravel Pit: Island Rec"

A press release from Island Rec, (a junior taxing district on San Juan Island) states that the future development of the property will be decided by the public of San Juan Island. The recent transfer of title by the County Council of the LaFarge gravel pit to Island Rec (Previous story) now makes Island Rec the owners of the property; and responsible for costs of maintenance and development. The original plan was to develop the property as a multi-use park, but when a bond to pay for the development was put to the voters, it was soundly rejected. The following is the complete press release:

San Juan Island Park and Recreation District, (Island Rec) Board of Commissioners are pleased to announce that the San Juan Island community is the beneficiary of approximately 55 acres of land, donated by Lafarge North America, for use as a community park. San Juan County's recent purchase of the waterfront included the donated upland portion of the former gravel pit. In July 2003 San Juan County signed an agreement to transfer the land to Island Rec to fulfill the obligation of Lafarge's donation of the 55 acre uplands for a community park.

The process to acquire this property began in 2001 with the idea that the land might be developed to meet the Island's need for athletic fields. At that time the School District, County Commissioner Darcie Nielsen, Port of Friday Harbor, Land Bank, County Public Works, Island Rec and community members at large collaborated on the vision and effort to achieve the donation of this land for a public park. Since that time, the School District and Friday Harbor Athletic Association have made plans to build youth athletic fields on School District property on Carter Street.

Although the need for ball fields is being addressed by the School District, present Island Rec Commissioners unanimously agree that accepting this donated land is of benefit to current and future residents of San Juan Island. "We do not have a development plan for this property at this time. Our intention is to hold this land in public trust until the community decides on a design and development plan for this property. This may happen next year or it may happen in 20 years'' stated Bill Cumming, Chair of Island Rec.

Development of this property will be a public process. This fall Island Rec will begin the process of updating the agency's 6-year plan. The outcomes of this process will in part determine the uses of this land.

The land is currently in the re-vegetation stage of reclamation and it is being monitored by the Department of Natural Resources. Grasses and trees were planted this Spring and it is expected that it may take a couple of years before the new vegetation matures to a point where the land can be used actively.