PORT TOWNSEND — While Port of Port Townsend officials face a fast-approaching deadline to explain to Washington State Parks officials the port’s intent in taking over the operation of Old Fort Townsend State Park, Friends of Fort Flagler are hoping an “opt-out” proposal will get legislative approval to generate enough revenues to keep that park open.

Both 614-acre Old Fort Townsend and 784-acre Fort Flagler state parks are on cash-strapped State Park’s list of 36 parks proposed to be closed or transferred to local government ownership.

The cuts are intended save the state $23 million of its $100 million biennial parks budget in the face of a $9 billion state budget deficit.

Also on the list are Bogachiel State Park in Forks, Camp Casey State Park at Keystone on Whidbey Island and Fort Ebey near Coupeville.

“We’re still writing letters and calling the legislative hot line,” said Bob Suther, president of Friends of Fort Flagler, a volunteer group on Marrowstone Island that augments the maintenance crew for the park.

Fort Flagler, which contains historic buildings that are remnants of the fort established in the 19th century, is used as a retreat center.

“It seems like the state Legislature is buying into the opt-out,” Suther said.

The opt-out proposal would give motorists the option of paying a $5 fee if they want to use state parks, or not, when they renew their annual license fee.

Opt-out doubts

However, Suther said State Parks Superintendent Rex Derr said in an analysis released Thursday that he doubts the opt-out donation would bring enough revenue to financially sustain the park system.

“Opt-out will not save State Parks from making reductions,” Derr said, adding that such cuts will be necessary “because of details and nuances” in the House and Senate budget proposals.

Not covered in either proposal are inflation and other traditionally under-funded items such as fuel and utilities, he said.

Derr also is skeptical about proponents’ assumption that 50 percent of citizens will participate, saying the opt-out donation program has no track record.

Meanwhile, Port of Port Townsend Executive Director Larry Crockett said he will meet with Kate Burke, who oversees management of Old Fort Townsend State Park, and the Friends of Old Fort Townsend representatives on Tuesday before port commissioners meet on Wednesday.

“I think some of them want to know what our intentions are,” Crockett said.

“I would say our intent now is to maintain and operate [the park] in exactly the same way the state has.”

Port commissioners will consider directing that a letter of intent be sent to Derr when they meet Wednesday at a workshop at 9:30 a.m. and in their regular meeting at 1 p.m. Both meetings will be in their chambers at 375 Hudson St., Port Townsend.

The deadline for a letter of intent is April 15.

“A letter of intent doesn’t legally bind us,” Crockett said.

The port has to say what it envisions for the nature and heritage site.

RV park

One concern that has arisen, Crockett said, is whether upgrading up to 50 recreational-vehicle sites at Old Fort Townsend would require running a power line into the park, a potentially expensive project.

The port commissioners have voiced support for upgrading Old Fort Townsend’s two RV camp sites with power and water hookups, so they could justify higher camp fees and generate additional revenue needed to operate and maintain the park.

Puget Sound Energy is surveying the power facilities into the park, Crockett said, to determine if they would have to be upgraded to accommodate power to RVs.

Crockett said other possible improvements, such as a boat ramp at a site accessible via a Port Townsend Paper mill road, were not likely at this time because of issues with shallow shoreline water at the prospective ramp site near the mill.

“I think the only revenue generator will be the RV capacity,” he said.

Another consideration, he said, is moving “rustic cabins” to the park, which has room for about 24, he said.

“They’re very popular because they bring a whole new segment” to the park, he said, such as families with children.

“I think anything to increase the revenue is going to take a five- to six-year plan,” he said.

“As much as we love the forest and its natural condition, at the end of the day, we need revenue to run it.”

Old Fort Townsend, which became a state park in 1958, now has 40 standard camp sites, 43 picnic sites, a kitchen, shelters and a group camping area, as well as moorage buoys, an amphitheater, new pavilion for wedding receptions and other uses, and approximately 7 miles of trails.

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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.