San Juan County Parks and Recreation Department is now taking comments on the proposed options for the renovation of Odlin Park, which is being funded by a $150,000 grant from the state of Washington. Project information is available on the Odlin Park Project Page and in this news article. Please share your thoughts and priorities.

---

scotthoneywell Aug 11 2010 4:18PM	My family has been coming to Odlin annually since 1968. In that time not a lot has changed at Odlin. That is one of the attractions of the park. I beleive that the changes proposed would have a positive impact on Odlin and Lopez. The day use area is getting a lot more use now. Parking is definitley an issue at times. The campsites would be relativley unchanged (I don't know if we need a camp host) An additional group site would allow a few more Kayak or bike groups to enjoy this area. Realignment of the baseball field is really a minor issue and would use roughly the same area it uses now. These are issues that need to be addressed at Odlin. The proposal does this in a fairly low impact way. The water tower in town was reshingled, should that have been left as is? Maybe best of all is the county does not have to find the funds for this project.
Steve Price Jul 28 2010 8:49PM	We like the idea of moving the road away from the beach campsites. Expanded boat trailer parking is obviously needed. As long as you keep the ball field, I don't care how you orient it; but a natural backstop sounds appealing.
Jeanne Budlong Jul 26 2010 6:18PM	Just because there is money available does not mean it has to be spent. In the 1980's my husband were both actively, actively involved with County Parks and at that time there was a grand master plan for "improvements' to the park, but alas, no $. There is a tide gate that Public Works is supposed to maintain and oversee so that the swamping of the ball field does not happen, Please check on this and make sure it works.
DR Jul 26 2010 5:22PM	My wife and I have been going to odlin for many years. Now that we have small children we still enjoy the park. Our friends from the mainland have also been staying there for years, sometimes several at a time. It seems during summer weekends, the parking, when turning into the dangerous day use area, is congested at best. There are kids running around, people putting in boats, RV's and ballplaying all in this little corner. I see no reason why the small road needs to remain this way. It should be expanded. Also, the only way for campers, people that spend a great deal of money on odlin, is to attempt to get through the busy day use corner. An expansion of the road would alleviate much of this congestion. The canon appears to be a sticky subject to many Lopezians, and though I am very proud of my friends and family members who have served, historically the canon does not belong just because it was arbitrarily placed there. It is an impressive piece and one that i am fond of, but it should either be at a war memorial or brought to a more proper location. Just because kids have played there over the years, doesn't mean they should, nor does moving the canon imply a lack of respect for it or the "Memorial of the war dead". The canon height is nearly twenty feet high with sharp cement footings underneath. Does it really take a child falling and being injured to do the right thing? Because that is what my friends and family were fighting for.
hdn Jul 18 2010 8:39PM	I am a former Lopezian, with family still on Lopez, and extended family ancestry dating back to the beginning of the 1900's. Though the Parks Dept. has worked hard to present a viable revitalization plan for Odlin Park, it seems they have done so without a full understanding of how important Odlin Park is to the residents who grew up here, and who descend from some of the original pioneers who settled Lopez. Odlin Park is the people's park, and the only changes that should be made are the changes the people WANT to have made. Those who honor their ancestors, WANT the cannon to stay as the memorial it was intended to be! Unfenced, as the ancestors planned. They WANT the only remaining ball park (of the 7 that existed 100 years ago) to remain AS IS, where the ancestors built it. Changes over the years have allowed car traffic access to the beach and campsites which in turn created the 'danger' Parks is now wanting to address. It's all the CHANGES that begin to strip the Island of it's own unique personality; that which 'draws' people TO the Island! More emphasis should be placed on keeping Odlin Park 'AS IS' to preserve that which makes Lopez unique. If people want to go to a park like every other park in the state, then go to the mainland! Return the grant until such time you have a plan that keeps Odlin Park the unique piece of Lopez real estate it deserves to remain.
Rachel Jul 18 2010 5:45PM	Our family loves using the entire park. We've been here all our lives: climbing on the cannon, picnics, Easter egg hunts, baseball games, Santa Ship, walking, swimming, bbq, volleyball, etc. and have had no problems with injuries... BUT have had TONS of FUN. We love the park & would like to keep it how it is.
tammyshanter23 Jul 17 2010 7:01PM	I believe the grant money needs to be given back until such a time as our economic situation drastically improves. This is not the time to make changes in a park that has so many environmental "issues" I feel the county needs to seriously examine their "agenda" and actually pay attention to what the people of our Island are telling you!
LopezNative! Jul 15 2010 9:30PM	Odlin is a County park, not a State park. It seems best to me for the use of the park to be friendly to the residents of the county, we pay the taxes!! Nice simple campsites in Odlin South would add revenue, just keep it simple! The Cannon was brought here as a Memorial to those who served FROM THIS COUNTY, it should stay here. Preferably at Odlin, if not, then somewhere else on the island. Equipment to safely move our cannon is readily available on Lopez, and securing a site for it should not be problematic. The Baseball fields should never have been built at the School......Odlin has always been the best site for this! Odlin is a County park, please don't forget those of us who are citizens of this county when thinking of Odlin!!

< Prev

Page 1 of 4

Next >