Whatcom County parks and recreation commissioners have decided not to move forward with a proposed off-leash area at Lighthouse Marine Park, based on opposition from county parks staff.
Members of the Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee (PRCAC), who put the proposal forward at the request of community members and the Point Roberts Taxpayers Association, attended the October 21 meeting.
“We’re not giving up,” said PRCAC chair Allison Calder.
Calder said Whatcom County parks director Michael McFarlane told commissioners the proposed off-leash area would impact views and trail use. “We wanted to show pictures but they didn’t want to see them,” she said. “There is a berm at the proposed location so there is no view to impact!” She said McFarlane also suggested there had been negative comments received about the proposal from the community. “We submitted over 100 comments we received and of those only three or four were negative.”
The proposal is for a fenced half-acre area to the south of the entrance to the parking lot at Lighthouse Marine Park. The area was selected following exploration of numerous options on the Point by members of PRCAC and the taxpayers association.
“A small and unobtrusive, but open and accessible area at Lighthouse Marine Park – the one Point Roberts Park that has parking, drinking water and year-round restrooms, but does not have nesting eagles or other species of special concern utilizing the inland and upland areas – Lighthouse Marine Park is our single and best option,” the proposal stated.
McFarlane suggested Lighthouse Marine Park was not appropriate for an off-leash area and suggested a park operated by the Point Roberts parks and recreation department be considered instead. An off-leash program at designated times at Baker Field was discontinued because of conflicts with use by the adjacent primary school.
Calder said once the border was open one of the commissioners suggested they might revisit the proposal when a site visit was possible.
In the meantime, PRCAC members are approaching county executive Satpal Sidhu about the need for an off-leash area in Point Roberts.
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