Cooper Point Appreciative Inquiry Project
Interview with an
Anonymous CP Resident
Conducted by Kim Crisler
February 24, 2006
1. One family, who has been long-time residents of Cooper Point, still
enjoys watching and listening to the local wildlife. Some of what they
treasure is viewing the roaming deer, seeing the flying and nesting birds
and watching the seals swimming or sunning themselves on the beach. They
also enjoy watching falling stars or going clamming whenever possible. This
family is happy to be involved with land preservation as a way to help
protect the wildlife that has provided them with so much joy.
2. This resident has a ready smile as she recalls the early years of the
Cooper Point Association and her family’s involvement in helping to
establish it. She appreciates “citizen activism” and their goal of helping
to keep Cooper Point as rural as possible. One important lesson that she
learned during this time is, “You never completely win a battle; constant
vigilance is necessary”.
3. This resident cherishes the forest-type setting of Cooper Point. She
sees flaws in the current tree-cutting ordinances currently in place on
Cooper Point and wishes that more people understood that the trees are
essential to the local ecosystem and a beautiful part of the view—instead of
removing or topping them in order to see Puget Sound. She also wishes more
people understood the concept of “light pollution” and appreciate that rural
settings are supposed to be dark.
4. Working against sewer lines being extended to the Tamoshan area on
Cooper Point was an empowering experience for this resident who thoroughly
enjoyed adding her personal strengths and talents to the fight. The city of
Olympia’s decision to extend the sewer line did not meet County criteria and
would likely have lead to annexation, which would erode the rural setting
that most Cooper Point residents cherish. Various groups united, fought, and
won all the way to the Washington State Supreme Court.
|
