County parks boards passes on off-leash dog run

Almost two years ago, Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee (PRCAC) submitted a proposal to the Whatcom County Parks and Recreation (WCPR) to establish an off-leash dog enclosure at Lighthouse Marine Park. The proposal was denied in October 2021 based on opposition from county parks staff. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the commissioners were unable to visit the proposed site until recently.

Since the initial request was made, Bennett Knox was appointed as the new WCPR director in early September. Knox first visited Point Roberts for an introductory meeting in October and returned on June 15 for the WCPR commissioners’ monthly meeting, which took place at Lighthouse Marine Park. In addition to the meeting, a park tour was conducted and a public comment period was held.

Numerous community members and their dogs attended, expressing concerns about the absence of a discussion on the agenda regarding a new dog park. Knox emphasized the importance of community input in the decision-making process and mentioned the need to consider various proposals within the park’s overall context. “I’m big on planning and want to make sure when we make decisions we have a lot of community input,” said Knox. He continued, “We want to be able to examine proposals in the context of other things that could happen here at the park. With Lighthouse Park, if we can develop a plan, and it has got significant community buy-in, then that could put us on the path to implementing some of the things that have been expressed.”

Knox stated that due to project delays and a backlog of work, improvements to Lighthouse Marine Park will be delayed until 2025 when a master plan for the entire park can be developed. Possibilities include incorporating the dog park and boat launch.  

The announcement did not sit well with local dog owners in attendance. “I’ll be dead by then,” a lady called out from the crowd. “The people of Point Roberts would like to see some investment in our parks,” said Allison Calder, chair of PRCAC, “It’s a very small investment when we are talking dollars. All it needs is fencing and a trashcan. Our request is for it to be on the agenda in the next 60 days. Because you are here today, you can see the proposed location.”

The group proceeded to the site, which would be a fenced half-acre area south of the park’s entrance, designed for privacy with a berm surrounding it. It was confirmed that there are no nesting eagles that would be disturbed by the presence of dogs.

Due to staffing shortages, county parks employees in Point Roberts are struggling to keep up with maintenance tasks, including regular clearing of the boat ramp, which they aim to do on the first Friday of each month. The parks are actively seeking seasonal help to address these challenges. Applications can be found on the Whatcom County website.