County parks suggesting (but not paying for) acquisition of Lily Point for park

By Meg Olson

A draft plan for recreation and parks in Whatcom County is proposing some new and improved parks for Point Roberts, but isn’t suggesting the county pick up the tab.

“Cost has been the stumbling block,” county parks director Michael McFarlane said of the possible acquisition of Lily Point, number three on the plan’s list of 47 proposed projects for the next six years.

McFarlane stressed projects on the list were not ranked and that the level of future public use of Lily Point would depend on the level of local involvement, specifically the local parks and recreation district. “It is appropriate for acquisition or some kind of protection,” he said. “It doesn’t mean we’ll play a major role but it’s appropriate we do.” The plan proposes to “in association with Point Roberts parks and recreation district” acquire property formerly slated for the Seacliff development to “preserve archaeological sites and develop access and interpretive trails along the shoreline and upper bluff.” The site provides public opportunities for water access, trails, picnicking, parking and conservation.

Whether or not a pubic agency does or can acquire the property, McFarlane said that by being listed in the plan Lily Point gets a degree of protection for public uses. “If the area was to be developed we could require portions to be set aside because it’s in the plan,” he said “Those options can’t occur unless we have it in the plan.”

Other park and recreation amenities are also listed in the plan. Lighthouse Park is identified as one of the projects on the six-year plan, slated for expansion so the parking and boat ramp areas can be reorganized and more camping facilities added. The plan also proposes connecting pieces of existing multi-use trail to create a “continuous shoreline trail from Monument Park on the west shore south around Lighthouse Marine Park, east around the marina and Lily Point and north to the Maple Beach tidelands,” with trail heads at Monument Park, Lighthouse Park, Lily Point and Maple Beach.

Maple Beach tidelands are listed as public tidelands and a site for public water access but no improvements are proposed. Monument Park is also listed as a public amenity, specifically for shoreline access. The historic former schoolhouse turned community center on Gulf Road is also listed as a recreational amenity.

Tyee Drive is included on the list of six-year projects as part of a “rural road byways” project to create routes, design standards and signage to preserve scenic corridors in the county.

The parks plan will continue to be revised until it is reviewed and adopted by county council in March, McFarlane said. There will be public hearings during the planning commission review in February and during the March council review.

A final draft of the document should be available in February on the department web site or at the county parks office.