Plans for extending a walking/bicycle riding trail from downtown to the
WSF ferry terminal are included in the proposed city Parks &
Recreation comprehensive plan. Plans for
development of Heart Lake are included in the companion Anacortes
Community Forest Lands Comprehensive Plan, also up for public review.
While the 2 comprehensive plans lay out a long-term vision for
recreation facilities in Anacortes, there aren’t any major surprisea.
The Parks & Recreation mission statement says the city “seeks to
preserve and enhance the quality of life that our residents enjoy by
providing quality recreational facilities and opportunities to our
residents”
The plan for the 2,800 acre ACFL says “The recommendations for
management of these lands will be presented with the fewest possible
restrictions on user groups and yet consistent with protection of the
forest against damage.”
Two areas stand out in the two plans.
Guemes Channel Trail - A multi-use trail along Guemes Channel
should be a high priority project as identified by our telephone survey
and the City of Anacortes 2007 Comprehensive Plan. This should connect
to the Thompson Trail. This is a long term project that will be done in
phases. Phase one will add a trail from the cul de sac at Edwards Way
east for approximately .5 mile. Other phases will be constructed as
planning is completed and as funding and land and/or easements are
acquired.
Heart Lake Area -
The plan for the 436-acre Heart Lake Area includes moving the boat
launch to the east. “Relocating the boat launch would better separate
boaters from other users at the shoreline,” the plan says. Meanwhile,
the plan says “A floating dock adjacent to the Recreation Area for
non-commercial recreational use is approved provisionally with need for
future discussion on location and style of dock. Consideration on the
style of dock should be given to those having minimal environmental
impact. The Heart Lake plan includes “a rustic type of amphitheater in
the parking lot area that could seat up to 30 people.
The Parks & Recreation comp plan’s intro says “Through visionary
efforts, the early citizens of Anacortes gave residents and visitors to
the community a wonderful gift. Their forethought preserved many
hundreds of acres of native woodland. This landscape creates a powerful
legacy of respect for the natural environment and also serves as a
commitment of stewardship to the environment and to the community.”
The Parks & Recreation comp plan proposes committing the city to
encouraging walking and bicycing in town. “The Parks Department should
work closely with other City Departments to do all it can to secure
walking paths and connecting corridors within the City and around the
County. The Parks Department should also work to get bike racks
installed where appropriate to assist those interested in non-motorized
forms of transportation.”
How to pay for new improvements. The Parks & Rec plan says “There
are many options and alternatives for funding park land acquisition and
development. These include a variety of bond and levy measures, state
and federal grants, utility taxes and user fees, private donations and
volunteer efforts, impact assessment fees or any other creative
solution.”
Copies of both the Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Plan and the
Anacortes Community Forest Lands Comprehensive Plan are available at
city hall and online on the city’s Web site.The City Council meets at 7:30 Tuesday night at City Hall.