Everett, Wash.
Published: Thursday, March 5, 2009

WENBERG STATE PARK

A public gem worth saving

 The thought of closing Wenberg State Park, truly one of Snohomish County's recreational jewels, seems absurd on its face. Nearly 400,000 campers, boaters, water skiers, anglers and just plain fun seekers visited the 46-acre park along Lake Goodwin last year. We won't even try to picture such a fabulous public asset shut down, its gates locked, its buildings boarded up. It's too depressing.

Instead, we choose to imagine the facility's usual bustling summer scene, with one important change: signs that read "Wenberg County Park."

In the midst of a budget crisis, the state Parks Commission has proposed closing Wenberg and several other parks to save money. Wenberg is on the closure list despite its popularity because it is seen as serving a local need more than a regional one. The state has told the county that if it's willing to assume ownership, it can have the park for free. That's an offer the county should try hard to accept, and County Councilman John Koster, whose district includes the park, is pushing to make it happen.

It won't come without cost. Maintenance isn't cheap, and the county is dealing with its own budget problems. The county's parks staff is analyzing potential costs and revenues so the County Council can decide whether a takeover is feasible. It will take some changes -- the state has spent almost $200,000 a year on the park, once revenues from camping and boat-launch fees are figured in. The county would have to find ways to cut costs or increase revenues, or both.

It could institute a $5 day-use fee, which it currently charges at some of its parks. It could consider whether adding yurts -- huts for overnight rental that are currently available at Kayak Point and River Meadows parks -- makes sense. It could seek volunteer help for park maintenance.

Perhaps the park could even turn a profit. But even if it requires a modest county subsidy at first, the alternative could prove more costly to the county. A shuttered park might become a magnet for vandalism and police calls -- calls that would likely go to the County Sheriff's Office, not the State Patrol.

The closure of Wenberg State Park is unthinkable, especially to the thousands who use it. Parks for families to enjoy are scarce enough. Even in tough budget times, keeping this one open should be a high county priority.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA