Kayak Point County Park

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Coordinates: 48°08′06″N 122°22′05″W / 48.135°N 122.368°W / 48.135; -122.368
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Kayak Point County Park
The beach at Kayak Point County Park, pictured in 2017
Map showing the location of Kayak Point County Park
Map showing the location of Kayak Point County Park
Location in Washington
Map showing the location of Kayak Point County Park
Map showing the location of Kayak Point County Park
Kayak Point County Park (the United States)
LocationSnohomish County, Washington, U.S.
Coordinates48°08′06″N 122°22′05″W / 48.135°N 122.368°W / 48.135; -122.368[1]
Area670 acres (270 ha)
Elevation3 ft (0.9 m)[1]
Established1972
Governing bodySnohomish County Parks and Recreation
WebsiteKayak Point Regional County Park

Kayak Point County Park is a county

crabbing, and birdwatching
.

Kayak Point was home to a private, locally-run

master-planned
residential community in the 1970s, but failed to receive county approval due to a lack of good roads and sewers. The county park was established in 1972, using waterfront property bought by the county government from Atlantic Richfield.

History

Originally part of the ancestral territory of the

King Island, Alaska, and displayed in front of the resort store.[3]

Atlantic Richfield proposals

The

pipeline.[9][10] The $100 million (equivalent to $697 million in 2023 dollars)[2] refinery would employ 400 workers and create an additional 800 jobs in supporting industries.[11]

The plans angered local residents, who organized the Save Port Susan Committee and testified against the zoning exception during a

comprehensive plan to rezone Kayak Point for the oil refinery.[14][15] As part of the rezoning plan, Atlantic Richfield agreed to allocate 240 acres (97 ha) to public recreation, as well as clean up any oil spills in the area regardless of fault. Opponents of the oil refinery, while pleased with the spill provision, sought penalties and damages in the event of a spill and feared that further petrochemical development could follow the refinery's opening.[16]

In response to the rezoning, 19 members of the Save Port Susan Bay Committee filed a lawsuit against the county commissioners and planning commission on June 24, 1968.

Union Oil for a nearby site on Port Susan was defeated by the county planning commission in 1971, despite support from the Tulalip Tribes.[20]

The Save Port Susan Bay Committee nonetheless continued its legal challenge, seeking to revert the rezoning decision and return the area to low-density residential zoning.[21] After denying Atlantic Richfield's motion to dismiss the lawsuit,[22] a visiting judge from the King County Superior Court ruled that the county's rezone be held void over the denial of due process for local residents.[23] The case was taken to the Washington Supreme Court, who ruled that the county's use of "spot zoning" was not in the area's best interest and thus void.[3][8]

Atlantic Richfield, left with 1,200 acres (490 ha) of remaining Kayak Point property, began design work for a

master-planned community in the early 1970s.[24] The planned development, consisting of 4,720 residential units housing nearly 15,000 people, hinged on the improvement on nearby roads.[25] In 1979, the Snohomish County planning commission voted against the first phase of development, consisting of 109 homes, due to the inadequate states of local roads and sewer service.[26] Atlantic Richfield decided to abandon its Kayak Point plans after the rejection and ultimately left its holdings undeveloped.[27][28]

County park

The Snohomish County government began purchasing waterfront property near Kayak Point in 1968, intending to establish the county's first saltwater park.[29] After Atlantic Richfield pulled its plans for a Kayak Point oil refinery, the county began negotiating a buyout of the company's waterfront property.[30] The county purchased 670 acres (270 ha) from Atlantic Richfield in 1972 for $1.4 million (equivalent to $8 million in 2023 dollars),[2] using federal and state funds;[31] Atlantic Richfield also donated $250,000 towards development of the $3.3 million (equivalent to $17 million in 2023 dollars)[2] county park and golf course.[32] Kayak Point County Park was dedicated in 1976 by Art Kilian, the former owner of the resort.[3]

In the late 2010s, the county began preparing for future renovations to Kayak Point County Park to support new developed areas and replace aging equipment. Proposals for the beachside area include additional camping areas, a community center, and environmental education exhibits; upland areas could receive new camping yurts, permanent cabins, and a ranger station.[33][34] The renovation project, estimated to cost $20 million, was approved by the county council in June 2023 and is planned to include a new boat launch, removal of the seawall, and a new berm. The park closed on July 5, 2023, with work originally scheduled to be completed before a fish window that begins October 15.[35] The reopening was later delayed to mid-2024 after work on the fishing pier was unable to be completed before the fish window closed.[36]

Facilities and activities

Kayak Point is a

crabbing, windsurfing, hiking, and birdwatching.[38][41]

To the east of Kayak Point County Park was an 18-hole public golf course that occupied 250 acres (100 ha) of the county park's lands.[42] The golf course was designed by Ronald Fream and opened in 1977.[28][43] It closed in October 2018 due to declining revenues and was replaced with a disc golf course that opened in February 2020.[44][45] The course hosted the Kayak Point Open, an event sanctioned by the Professional Disc Golf Association, in 2021.[46]

References

  1. ^ a b "Kayak Point". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. September 12, 1979. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  2. ^
    Gross Domestic Product deflator
    figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
  3. ^ a b c d Borell, Karen L. (2015). "Kayak Point". Snohomish County Parks and Recreation. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  4. ^ McDonald, Cathy (June 24, 2004). "Walkabout: Kayak Point Regional Park". The Seattle Times. p. G4. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  5. ^ "$50,000,000 Refinery In Future for Everett". The Seattle Times. May 7, 1957. p. 4.
  6. ^ "Tacoman Leases Resort Site". The Seattle Times. April 5, 1959. p. 70.
  7. ^ Lane, Bob (June 23, 1967). "$100 Million Oil Refinery Planned for Kayak Point". The Seattle Times. p. 1.
  8. ^ a b Chrobuck v. Snohomish County, 78 Wn.2d 858 (Washington Supreme Court February 4, 1979).
  9. ^ Lane, Bob (November 30, 1967). "Kayak Point Only Site for Refinery, Says Richfield Co". The Seattle Times. p. 14.
  10. ^ "This week in history". Marysville Globe. August 28, 2008. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  11. ^ Lane, Bob (December 1, 1967). "Richfield Refinery Would Create 1,200 New Jobs, Says Consultant". The Seattle Times. p. 56.
  12. ^ Woodward, Walt (October 29, 1967). "Beach Residents, Oil Firm Square Off for Battle". The Seattle Times. p. 11.
  13. ^ Lane, Bob (December 2, 1967). "Snohomish Planners Sift Oil Testimony". The Seattle Times. p. 8.
  14. ^ Loken, Marty (January 9, 1968). "Planners Endorse Kayak Point Refinery". The Seattle Times. p. 1.
  15. ^ "Refinery Backers Win Round Over Kayak Point Site". The Seattle Times. February 5, 1968. p. 43.
  16. ^ Lane, Bob (May 19, 1968). "Snohomish County Refinery Agreement First of Its Kind". The Seattle Times. p. 20.
  17. ^ "Kayak Point Refinery Battle Moved to Court". The Seattle Times. June 25, 1968. p. 25.
  18. ^ Lane, Bob (September 23, 1968). "Richfield Refinery Faces New Battle". The Seattle Times. p. 6.
  19. ^ "Atlantic Richfield Drops Plan For Refinery at Kayak Point". The Seattle Times. October 28, 1968. p. 1.
  20. ^ Lane, Bob (November 10, 1971). "Plan knocks props from under proposed refinery". The Seattle Times. p. H3.
  21. ^ "Rezoning Suit Against Atlantic Richfield Is Continued". The Seattle Times. December 10, 1968. p. 3.
  22. ^ Aweeka, Charles (April 22, 1969). "Dismissal Denied In Rezoning Case". The Seattle Times. p. 8.
  23. ^ Aweeka, Charles (April 23, 1969). "Judge Voids Snohomish-Tract Rezoning for Oil Refinery". The Seattle Times. p. 35.
  24. ^ Lane, Polly (September 1, 1978). "ARCO to begin selling lots for Kayak Point project". The Seattle Times. p. E7.
  25. ^ Lane, Polly (January 7, 1979). "Kayak Point proposal to be aired at hearing". The Seattle Times. p. D2.
  26. ^ "ARCO rejected on Kayak Point plans". The Seattle Times. January 10, 1979. p. B6.
  27. ^ Lane, Polly (April 12, 1979). "Arco tract up in the air after refusal". The Seattle Times. p. B3.
  28. ^ a b Newnham, Blaine (May 31, 2001). "Kayak Point offers quintessential Northwest golf experience". The Seattle Times. p. D11. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  29. ^ "Kayak Point Land Bought For Park". The Seattle Times. July 28, 1968. p. 35.
  30. ^ "Outlook brighter for park proposals". The Seattle Times. May 26, 1971. p. E14.
  31. ^ "Committee OK's $366,553 for central-waterfront park". The Seattle Times. May 24, 1972. p. A10.
  32. ^ "Oil firm's gift: $250,000 for Kayak Pt. park". The Seattle Times. March 2, 1973. p. B1.
  33. ^ a b Bray, Kari (March 8, 2017). "County seeks input on upgrades at popular Kayak Point Park". The Everett Herald. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  34. Stanwood-Camano News
    . Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  35. ^ Hansen, Jordan; Dunn, Kayla J. (June 15, 2023). "Kayak Point to close this summer for $20M park renovation". The Everett Herald. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  36. ^ Van Sistine, Ta'Leah (January 21, 2024). "Snohomish County hopes to reopen popular Kayak Point by summer". The Everett Herald. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  37. ^ Johannessen, Jim; MacLennan, Andrewa (April 15, 2008). Kayak Point Restoration Feasibility and Design Phase 2 (with Sea Level Rise Assessment) (PDF) (Report). Snohomish County Parks and Recreation. p. 8. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  38. ^ a b Beers, Carole (April 24, 1991). "Kayak Point Park presents 660 acres for picnicking, overnight camping, hiking". The Seattle Times. p. F3.
  39. ^ "Kayak Point County Park". Snohomish County Parks and Recreation. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  40. ^ O'Harran, Kristi (November 4, 2004). "Kayak Point cabin makes a cozy retreat". The Everett Herald. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  41. ^ "Kayak Point Regional County Park". Snohomish County Parks and Recreation. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  42. ^ "Kayak Point Golf Course". Snohomish County Parks and Recreation. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  43. ^ Smith, Craig (July 29, 1998). "Golf Notebook: Kayak Point operator eyes deal with Palmer". The Seattle Times. p. C6.
  44. ^ Caldwell, Evan (February 25, 2020). "Local group proposes reopening Kayak Point Golf Course as new disc golf operation starts". Stanwood Camano News. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  45. ^ Davis-Leonard, Ian (July 8, 2019). "County requesting plans to reimagine Kayak Point Golf Course". The Everett Herald. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  46. ^ Patterson, Nick (June 25, 2021). "Kayak Point becomes destination for disc golf". The Everett Herald. Retrieved June 25, 2021.

External links

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