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San Juan County Parks & Recreation Commission

Parks, Recreation, and Preserved Lands Plan Finalized

The plan, developed by San Juan County Parks, Land Bank, and Public Works departments has now been adopted by the County Council. You may look through the plan by clicking here.

Background

"The Mission of the San Juan County Park and Recreation Board is to provide and maintain quality parks and recreational opportunities that respond to the needs of residents and visitors, are in keeping with the natural character and beauty of the islands, are consistent with state and county statutes and which foster good stewardship of County lands."

"The objective of the Park Board is to efficiently manage County park facilities and resources, under County Council guidelines, which provide maximum recreational benefit to residents and visitors. Further, the Park Board is administrative in function and is responsible for approval of its annual budget, supervision of the Park Superintendent and the general oversight of revenues, expenditures and policy."

The San Juan County Park Board is a seven member volunteer administrative board appointed by the County Council. The Park Board is made up of two members each from San Juan, Orcas and Lopez Islands and one member from Shaw Island. Board members are asked to serve a six-year term on the basis of their interest and experience in promoting park activities in San Juan County.

The Board is responsible for County park management through its Park Superintendent. The Park Board is also responsible for the hiring and yearly evaluation of the Park Superintendent, approving the annual budget and Superintendent’s workplan, establishing rules and regulations for all county parks, revising the County's park and recreation plan; all this subject to the approval of the County Council.

Regular meetings of the Park Board are held on the third Thursday of each month in Friday Harbor, unless otherwise ordered by the Executive Committee. Alternately, meetings may be held on Orcas, Lopez, and Shaw Islands as needed.

Park Board Members

  • Gilbert Blinn, Chair, Orcas Island
  • Kyle Davies, Vice Chair, San Juan Island
  • Cloud McCauley, San Juan Island
  • Ann Palmer, Lopez Island
  • Sandy Playa, Orcas Island
  • Ed Stuhr, Lopez Island
  • Cy Field, Shaw Island

San Juan Island Trails Committee

We are pleased to announce that the San Juan Island Trails Committee is now a committee of the Park Board. For more information on the work of this committee, click here.

Current meeting agenda

You may view the current meeting agenda here (Adobe® Acrobat® file).

Parks, Recreation, and Preserved Lands Plan

Click below to open the individual chapters of interest (Adobe® Acrobat® file).

Section I: Introduction, Section II: County Parks, Land Bank, and Public Works Overview, Section III: San Juan County Profile, Section IV: Existing Resources, Section V: Analysis of Needs, Section VI: Action Plan, Section VII: Capital Improvement Plan, Appendix A: Public Meetings, Appendix B: Survey, Appendix B: Comments, Appendix C: Media Campaign, Appendix D: Public Correspondence, Appendix E: Capital Facilities Intentories Update, Appendix F: Planning documents and Web links.

Park Staff

  • Park & Recreation Director, Dona Wuthnow
  • Administrative Assistant, Kathryn Hansen
  • Department Assistant, Christina Giamalis
  • Reservations Operator, Shannon Laws (seasonal position)
  • San Juan Island Park Manager, Joe Luma
  • Lopez Island Park Manager, Jodie Snapp
  • Shaw Island Park Manager, Katie McLane

Current Projects

  • Master Plan development - Shaw Island County Park
  • Campsite realignment & landscaping - Odlin County Park
  • Long-term redesign plan & funding - Odlin County Park
  • Brann Cabin preservation - San Juan County Park
  • Building restoration/enhancement - San Juan County Park
  • New Information Kiosk - Shaw County Park
  • New Restroom and parking - Agate Beach Day Park (deferred due to lack of funding)

Past Projects

  • Custom Performance Stage - Eastsound Village Square - completed summer, 2006. Photos of finished stage are here and here (Adobe® Acrobat® files).
  • New beach stairs - San Juan County Park - completed winter, 2005. See photo here.
  • New accessible picnic area and restroom - Odlin County Park - completed September, 2005. Click here to see a photo.
  • New Boat Trailer Parking - Odlin County Park - completed September, 2005.
  • New Boater Information kiosks - Odlin County Park - completed September, 2005.
  • Update & renew "San Juan County Parks, Recreation, and Preserved Lands Plan" - completed June, 2005. Click here to review the Plan.
  • New Restroom at Boat Ramp - Odlin County Park - completed May, 2004. Click here to see a photo (photo was taken on the day of installation).