FREELAND – Even in 1977, finding a shady grove of old firs, cedars and spruce on Whidbey Island was rare.
When the state Department of Natural Resources proposed clear-cutting 250 acres of remnant old growth forest located next to South Whidbey Island State Park, a local group of activists sprang up to save it.
In 1992, after 15 years of fighting, the parcel of land known as Classic U was officially added to the park. It took the name from a nearby road and from being owned by the University of Washington.
Now, 30 years after the fight started, the members of Save The Trees are again being asked to save Classic U.
At least part of it.
On July 14, hikers on the park’s popular Wilbert Trail were greeted with a “for sale” sign.
The sign is only a stone’s throw from the “ancient cedar,” a favorite, massive tree that those fighting to save the forest rallied around.
Somehow a key 7-acre piece of the grove had fallen through the cracks, and wasn’t protected. No one ever realized it, but the land was private property.
April Sanders was 17 when the fight started.
“I’m trying to at least fill one of my dad’s shoes,” said Sanders, whose father, Jerry Sanders, was one of the group’s first leaders.
She’s among those scrambling to find a way to buy and protect the piece of land, which last had a $383,000 price tag.
The State Parks Department has been trying to find a way to buy the land for two years, but was getting nowhere until the “for sale” sign went up, said Bill Koss, the planning program manager for state parks.
“We didn’t have that kind of money. We still don’t have that kind of money,” Koss said. “But with the notoriety this property has received since the sign went up, we’re optimistic that we can find funding to obtain the property.”
The state can use grant money to foot half the bill, Koss said. The rest of the money would have come from donors.
Pat Powell believes she has a line on landing that other half.
“It is now out of circulation. An offer has been made,” said Powell, executive director of the Whidbey Camano Land Trust.
A benefactor has put up some money just to hold the property for two more weeks. The group now had some breathing room to come up with its half.
“At this point, I’ve got something in the works,” she said.
Property owner Paula Carroll wants the property to be added to the park, said her listing agent, Ron Admiral.
“The reason she said she is selling it is she can’t pay the taxes anymore,” Admiral said.
She worked quietly for two years to get state parks to buy it, but decided to sell when it fell off of a priority list for acquisition, Admiral said. He said her father was actively involved in protecting the Classic U property.
Carroll couldn’t be reached for comment Monday.
If the 7-acre parcel is cut and developed, it would expose much of the old grove to strong windstorms that blow in off Admiralty Inlet, said Elliott Menashe, an environmental consultant from Clinton.
He said the seven acres are a buffer that protects the massive cedar tree and hundreds of others from blowing over during the island’s frequent windstorms.
“It’s a small but mighty piece,” Menashe said.
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