South Whidbey Parks And Recreation District To Hear Campground Ideas

The South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District has finalized a location for its first public meeting about campground development on 35 acres of land adjacent to Community Park.

Director Doug Coutts said the meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 10 at South Whidbey High School in the new commons. People can ask Coutts, parks commissioners and the Seattle-based consulting firm tasked with designing the campground questions.

The district purchased the $390,000 property adjacent to the high school and Community Park in October. Doing so, district leaders said, would fill a void for overnight camping on South Whidbey. In 2015, tree rot and disease forced the closure of overnight stays at South Whidbey State Park in Freeland for safety concerns.

Early concept drawings or maps from J.A. Brennan Associates Landscape Architects & Planners may be presented at the meeting, as well as options for the campground’s features and amenities.

The meeting will be preceded by a stakeholder meeting at 3 p.m. in the same location. The district invited nearly 30 different organizations on South Whidbey to attend, including the South Whidbey School District, South Whidbey Fire/EMS, the City of Langley, Freeland Chamber of Commerce and the Langley Chamber of Commerce.