Camano Island State Park
Camano Island State Park became a functional park in 1949 after the South Camano Grange successfully got the Department of Natural Resources to make property available for a park. Initial park improvements were provided by 900 volunteers in one day, when they constructed a small picnic area still in existence today. Since then, this 134-acre park has constructed 3 miles of trails, 88 campsites, and a popular 200-person group camp and amphitheater. With over 100 picnic sites, boat launch, fishing access, and picnic shelters, more than 200,000 visitors a year visit this beautiful park.
A Classification and Management Plan was adopted by the State Parks and Recreation Commission in November 2013 that reports on Camano Island State Park's recreational, natural and cultural resources and long-term boundary.
Stage 1 - Identify Issues & Concerns
The purpose of this stage is to understand what is important to the park community, what to change or save in the state park. This helps get a sense of the range and type of issues that need to be considered through the planning process.
Stage 2 - Exploring Alternative Approaches
At this stage, the planning team suggests potential alternative approaches to address the various issues and concerns raised by people in stage one. No preferred alternative is established, rather this is an opportunity to understand the range of possibilities.
Stage 3 - Preparing Preliminary Recommendations
The best ideas from the alternative approaches developed in stage two are combined into a preliminary plan in this stage. The plan includes recommendations for use and development of land, changes to property boundaries, and ways to address issues raised during the planning process. Another important document completed at this stage is the SEPA checklist that describes environmental impacts of the recommendations, available for public review upon request.
Stage 4 - Preparing Final Recommendations
At stage four, final adjustments are made to recommendations and submitted to the seven-member Parks and Recreation Commission for approval. The public is encouraged to attend the commission meeting and provide testimony or to provide written comment.