September 6, 2024
Celebrating 60 Years of Skagit County Parks and Recreation: A Legacy of Growth, Community, and Adventure
On August 5, 1964, a visionary resolution was signed to create the Skagit County Parks and Recreation Department. From those humble beginnings, with Advisory Board members Dr. Jack Papritz of Anacortes, School Superintendent Lanche Crow of Similk Bay, and Bayview resident Ann Wolford leading the charge, the department has blossomed into a cornerstone of our community.
Parks and Recreation’s first flagship park, Howard Miller Steelhead Park, set the stage for a flurry of activity in the late 1970s, as parks were acquired and constructed throughout Skagit County. One of our earliest dreams—the connector trail from Deception Pass to the Anacortes Community Forest Lands—took nearly 50 years to fully realize, but with diligence and resolve, we acquired the land and made this dream a reality.
Partnerships have been key to our ongoing success. The Skagit Playfields, a testament to our enduring collaboration with Skagit Valley Community College, have served our community for half a century. Tennis courts, playfields, and a vibrant recreational complex have been nurtured by our dedicated team, ensuring generations of Skagit County residents have a place to play, compete, and connect.
We are incredibly proud of our 24 Skagit County parks, each one thriving thanks to years of grant funding and community support.
From SWISH Basketball, a program revered throughout Washington State, to the Tulip Basketball Tournament, which brings over 100 teams together in a display of March Madness that’s a slam dunk every year, we’ve built a legacy of inclusion, excellence, and fun.
As we look back on our history, we’re also looking forward with excitement. We have expanded Sharpe Park, unveiled the new Veterans Plaza at the Northern State Recreation Area (NRSA), and celebrated the reconnection of Northern State with four new bridges and several miles of trails. We have also launched several fish projects, including the alluvial fan project at NSRA and side channel habitat project at Pressentin Park.
The Skagit County Commissioners will be hosting a work session on September 10, 2024, at 9:45 a.m. in the Commissioner’s Hearing Room to celebrate this important milestone with testimonials and photos of the Parks and Recreation Department through the years. We invite the public to join us in person at 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon, or over Zoom at the link on the Commissioner’s webpage.
Over the next 18 months, we will be adding three new properties to our parks system: Studley Community Park, Filippini Falls Park, and the Yudwasta Heritage Site. Each new park is a promise of more space to explore, more memories to make, and more ways to enjoy the natural beauty of Skagit County.
The Skagit County Fairgrounds, a hub of activity with increasing events and attendance, and a self-sustaining budget, continue to be a place where community spirit thrives. As we celebrate 60 years of Skagit County Parks and Recreation, we’re not just looking back at what we’ve accomplished—we’re looking ahead to the future with a sense of excitement and pride.
Here’s to 60 years of parks, partnerships, and play! We couldn’t have done it without you, and we can’t wait to see what the next 60 years will bring.
|
