Clark County’s Conservation Futures Program supplies matching funds necessary to apply for state and federal funds. Combined, these funds buy lands for county parks, trails and locations of statewide significance that should never be developed. The county’s Legacy Lands program protects these lands. Legacy lands contain a characteristic unique for Washington and are purchased in part with state funds that dedicate the lands in perpetuity for all the people of Washington state.
Friends of Clark County thanks Councilor Jeanne Stewart for her vote against a process to carve out and sell 20 acres of legacy lands near Paradise Point State Park, with an estimated value of $605,000. County staff reported that the process will demand about $50,000 in contracted professional services and 275 hours of county staff time.
To declare a legacy land surplus, the county must show it is unneeded for the original statewide purpose and also must find and purchase land of equivalent value in both cost and unique character.
Councilors David Madore and Tom Mielke argue that sale of the land would purchase other land to connect trails. We agree that connecting trails is very important, but not at the expense of a territorial view portion of a large legacy land, which both accesses and protects the unique asset below.
Sydney Reisbick
Ridgefield