Local parks officials have been working with consultants to update a Master Plan for the Dungeness Recreation Area (DRA) in Sequim. This area is close to my heart. It’s also close to my house. It’s the reason we live where we do. If I can I walk here five to seven days a week. It is a gem.
We have attended two public meetings to discuss the Master Plan and its process. Parks staff solicited input from the public at a meeting last November attended by a handful of locals. Last week an update was presented. Attendance was better after a neighbor emailed residents of the adjacent Blue Ribbon Property Owners Association. However, very few locals had been aware of the process or the meetings. Many of us are concerned about the increased development. Because of this I will be giving a pictorial summary in the coming days to inform more neighbors and park users. My hope is that more can comment on the plan.
The DRA is 216 acres of combined open space with hiking trails, two camping loops of 66 sites, and a group camp area. Its western boundary is perched on bluffs that overlook the Strait of Juan de Fuca with views to the Pacific Ocean to the far west and Vancouver Island and the San Juan Islands to the north. The park abuts the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge and one of the world’s longest natural sand spits. While the park is popular with summer campers and the wildlife refuge draws tourists and birders, DRA is popular with locals who regularly come from throughout the region.
Locals from the neighborhood walk into the DRA through several entrance points but many locals drive here. On a sunny day the DRA is especially popular.
Some of the key features of the new Master Plan include creation of a new 45 site recreational vehicle camp loop, access road realignment, a new pullout lane at the entrance, and new trails. I will highlight some of the key features here over the coming days. To see conceptual maps click here and here (be patient; they make take some time to load). The Master Plan comment period has been extended to March 23. Click here for information on how to comment.
To my blog followers from out of the area, please bear with me. I’ll be back to my briefer posts in about a week.
It’s always exciting to see good things happening in a community so I will follow these posts with great interest. The DRA offers so much for the people and the views overlooking the water must be magnificent. Best wishes for the best outcome possible!
You do what you have to Kay. I can tell this area is very dear to you. Are you happy with the upgrade plans?
It looks like a beautiful place to be spending time in!
It does look like a beautiful place to live near and have access to. The more people you can make aware, the more dialogue you all will have. Good luck with informing more people with your pictorial summary.
It certainly looks like a great spot on Google. We’ve had our own problems here a few years back – developers just don’t seem to understand or appreciate that “park” means “park”, and you don’t plunk a building into it.
I have read your seven posts about the master plan but only comment on this one and the last. I admire your work to inform your neighbors.