County Park on Cooper Point
Our Community Park has changed from an
Issue to a Reality!
In January 2006 Thurston County acquired land for our Park.
Photos of the New Park are on a separate page
A Map of the Park Area is at the bottom of this page
* March 10, 2006
The workshop was a great success, with about 100 attendees. There were
displays about the park property, presentations, and group discussions,
followed by "Questions & Answers". The Parks & Recreation Dept. received
lots of of ideas and input from area residents.
This was a great way for local residents to get involved with the creation
of the Cooper Point Park. Community involvement builds great public places!
* March 9, 2006 *
Community Workshop at the Olympia Country & Golf Club
Students from The Evergreen State College are planning a community forum,
to be held on March 9th at the Olympia Country and Golf Club. The meeting is
sponsored by the Thurston County Parks & Recreation Department. (www.thurston-parks.org)
The Thurston County Parks and Recreations Department is in the final
phases of the land acquisition, and intends to develop a "passive-use" park.
Passive functions include, but are not limited to, hiking trails, open
space, picnic areas, and educational facilities. The proposed park includes
two parcels, a nine acre plot with about 400 feet of beach access and a
23-acre plot near Cooper Point Road.
The objective of the meeting is to create on-going enthusiasm for the
park’s development and to have early involvement in the public process.
Participants will be able to view displays of the site, the site’s history,
and creative ideas from other parks.
The meeting will begin with a short introduction from the students,
followed by guest speakers from the professional fields. The second half
will consist of structured discussion with attendees, guests, and student
facilitators
The Evergreen students are satisfying a portion of their ten-week college
program called Public Works which began in early January. The students were
assigned real- projects that contribute to neighboring communities. They are
exercising their knowledge in community development, local government,
design, and civic engagement. The students hope to motivate residents to be
active in future public processes initiated by the county. Working in
collaboration with the Thurston County Parks and Recreation Dept, the
students have agreed to pass along all suggestions, concerns, and ideas to
influence the county’s ultimate plan.
* November 14, 2005 *
A Park on Cooper Point Park ! ! Good News ! !
Thurston County has agreed to buy land for a new park.
The property is located on the east side of Cooper
Point Road at 46th Avenue. The County has approved the parcel for "passive
recreational use", which would include walking trails and picnic areas.
"The park is a long time dream of many who have
supported the CPA. This is why I joined this group some 9 years back" said
Ed Cael, CPA Vice President, in response to the purchase announcement.
"Michael Welter called us first to give us the news,
and Commissioner Macleod called a short time later. I think this is a
terrific endorsement of our process." Eric Johnson, CPA Board Member and
past President.
At this time, the County has not allocated funds for
development of the property. The CPA looks forward to working with the
County and area residents in the future development of the park. It will be
such a pleasure for all of us to help make this park our own special place.
The property is about 30 acres, with 380 feet of
waterfront. There is older growth timber on the property, and the wildlife
includes nesting bald eagles. Waterfront access will be limited due to the
steep terrain, maintenance of the shoreline habitat and concerns for the
privacy of neighboring properties.
* April 2003 *
by Mike Ramsey, Cooper Point Assn. Spring 2003 Newsletter
We can all agree that Cooper Point is a beautiful
place to live. Residential development is growing steadily in more urbanized
areas of the Point, creating the demand for more green space throughout.
Amazingly, there is no public open space on greater Cooper Point (ie: rural
areas) to stroll on the beach, take your children to play, have a picnic, or
walk your dog.
Planning a community park on Cooper Point presents a
huge challenge, in that there is little undeveloped public land available
for this purpose. Acquisition of property with adequate space and the right
natural features is the first step. Once property is acquired, a park design
will need to be completed. Much of this work can be accomplished by
volunteers. There are many folks in our community who possess the skills
needed to complete these tasks.
We need your input and involvement to make this happen. If you have ideas
about what kind of recreational opportunities should be available, or if you
see a need for preserving open space in the form of a park or recreational
setting, please -
Contact Us and get involved!
We would love to hear from you. This is an excellent way to be involved in
the community, while helping to leave a legacy for everyone on Cooper Point
to enjoy.
| February 2006 - Park on Cooper Point |
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