Blake Island Marine State Park Master Planning
Project summary
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is undertaking a planning process to develop a Master Plan for the future of Blake Island Marine State Park.
- Location: Blake Island Marine State Park
- Estimated start date: Fall 2024
- Estimated end date: Summer 2026
The new Master Plan will consider:
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A new vision for the park and its future;
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The Tillicum Village Concession Buildings and their viability for future use;
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Alternatives to Tillicum Village concession and other possible facilities;
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Interpretive Planning;
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A trail reroute on the exterior of the island as an adaptive measure for sea level rise;
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Transportation to the island for the public
The Blake Island Master Plan will be created with input from Parks staff, Tribal governments, and the public to guide future investments and management decisions at Blake Island. State Parks operated, through concessionaires, the facilities, tours, and experiences known as Tillicum Village at Blake Island for over forty years. Argosy Tours took over the management of the concession in 2009 and ended their concession agreement in 2021. Since then, there has been no commercial marine access or programming at the site. This Master Plan seeks to use input from the public to develop a new vision for the park’s future.
The Master Plan will include exploring the following elements as we develop a new vision and site plan for the park:
Site Evaluation
This planning process allows for the review and assessment of existing infrastructure that may require replacement or updates depending on vision for site and its level of development.
Existing Building Conditions
The buildings associated with Tillicum Village have deficiencies that need to be addressed if they are to be rehabilitated.
Opportunities and Constraints Analysis
The Opportunities and Constraints Analysis seeks to explore the potential and limitations of the site, using existing scientific data on environmental, cultural, and historical resources, to meet our obligation to be stewards of the land. We will also use emerging data regarding sea level rise and coastal erosion when considering long-term plans for the park in the face of climate change.
Tribal Consultation
Outreach to associated Tribes is an important facet of this project. We are hoping that the Tribes, through the consultation process, will help us create a vision for the park that reflects the wishes of the indigenous communities that have traditionally occupied this area.
Agency Values
State Parks has a Mission, Vision, Strategic Plan, and Commission priorities that describe the overarching goals of the agency. This planning process will seek to actualize these goals through development of alternatives that will lead to the eventual site designs. These may include Tribal Partnership, DEI Objectives, Youth Engagement, Stewardship, Overnight Facility Expansion, or other key concepts.
Land Management
Planning is needed to address public access, as currently the island is only able to be visited by those with private boats. We will consider user interests in a variety of recreational activities, as well as restoration and conservation needs. Staff input will support strategies for effective management of the site.
Operational Needs
We will consider the needs of Operational staff throughout the planning process, including the need for a centrally located site for a Parks Office and store. We may also consider the potential for additional staff housing and will center visitor experience as central to our development of site plans at the park.
Mapping
Through the Master Plan process, we will build off the work done in CAMP and will create mapping that includes existing site conditions, opportunities and constraints to ascertain lands most and least appropriate for development based on scientific surveys and data, and will create as final products detailed site designs and mapping of a realized vision at the site.
Public Input
Public engagement will inform the visioning and design aspects of the master plan and will provide input on recreational needs and user priorities for the site. We anticipate a Three-Phased Public Outreach process that will include Hopes and Concerns, Alternatives, and a Final Staff Recommendation that will be developed in conjunction with the public. We will also explore ways in which we can reach underrepresented voices through surveying, targeted outreach, and organizations that can provide DEI perspectives.
Community participation
You can provide written public comment on Blake Island using the online public comment form.
The Blake Island Master Planning Process will be composed of four phases. The first three phases will involve a multi-pronged effort of community outreach, to include:
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An in-person Public Meeting or Workshop
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Meetings with Stakeholder Groups
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An online video with a presentation on the project
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An online survey
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Opportunity for public comment
Project history
Stage One - Identify Issues and Concerns
The purpose of this stage is to understand what is important to the park community and provides a sense of the issues that need to be considered through the planning process.
Stage One Public engagement will occur in Winter 2025 to get initial input from the public on their ideas of the future for the park.
Stage Two - Exploring Alternative Approaches
At this stage, the planning team suggests potential alternative approaches to address the various issues and concerns raised by people in stage one. No preferred alternative is established; rather this is an opportunity to understand the range of possibilities. We anticipate Stage Two outreach to occur during Spring of 2025.
Stage Three - Preparing Preliminary Recommendations
The best ideas from the alternative approaches developed in stage two are combined into a preliminary plan in this stage. The plan includes recommendations for use and development of land, changes to property boundaries and ways to address issues raised during the planning process. Another important document completed at this stage is the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) checklist that describes environmental impacts of the recommendations. Stage Three outreach will likely begin in Fall of 2025.
Stage Four - Preparing Final Recommendations
At stage four, final adjustments are made to recommendations and the Master Plan document will be written. Once complete, the final plan will be submitted to the seven-member Parks and Recreation Commission for approval. The public is encouraged to attend the Commission meeting and provide testimony or to provide written comment. We anticipate the final Master Plan going to the Commission in 2026.