New county parks director does a ‘meet & greet’ in Point Roberts

Around 60 people showed up yesterday to meet the newly appointed county parks director, Bennett Knox, at the Gulf Road community center. Knox was accompanied by county executive Satpal Sidhu and other county personnel. Sidhu introduced Knox, commenting that it was nice that the community could finally get together in person. “I’m very much aware of what Point Roberts went through during the pandemic,” he said. According to the executive, Knox was chosen from over 25 people who had applied for the position.

Knox told the crowd that he was excited to be coming from Kentucky to oversee the county parks system. “My goal today is to hear from as many of you all who want to speak,” he said, adding that he knew there were a lot of challenges for the parks department on the Point.

Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce president Brian Calder told Knox that he hoped the Point would have a better relationship with him than it did with his predecessor, Michael McFarlane. “I wish you had come eight years ago – we might still have a dock and boat launch” at Lighthouse Marine Park, Calder said and proceeded to give Knox a history of the dock and its demise. Heidi Baxter chimed in on the dock issue, telling Knox that the marina would be the best location for a small boat dock, due to its protection from the breakwater. Point Roberts Taxpayer Association president Mark Robbins wasn’t against the idea of a dock at the marina but advocated for a dock at Lighthouse Park. “I really hate to see Lighthouse Park, which is a major tourist attraction, lose a boat launch,” he said, pointing out that the park had a campground, trailer parking and other infrastructure. “It benefits visitors as well as residents.”

Michael Rosser promoted the idea of a beach loop trail at Lily Point. Currently, there is only one access trail down to the beach at the park which is located at the south end. Rosser suggested that a trail going down to the beach from the now-closed park entrance on Cedar Point Avenue would allow people to do an uplands and beach loop walk. He suggested that the water erosion creating the canyon at the north end could be easily mitigated by installing tightlines down to the beach. “It would be an inexpensive fix,” he said.

Another issue raised by more than one attendee was the creation of an off-leash dog park at Lighthouse Park. “I think what we’re asking for, is just to be thrown a bone,” said Katherine Smith, a former PRCAC member. Saying she had written up “a conservative proposal for a dog park,” she believed it would cost about $30,000 to construct and had a lot of community support behind the proposal. “This is the most ideal location. We are looking for a half-acre – it’s a ready-to-build project and is a small thing that we could do quickly.”

Knox, who spent well over an hour listening to the audience, asked people to provide their email addresses and told them that their comments would be taken into consideration as the county updated its park and facility plan, something that is currently overdue.