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Park board cuts Blacktail peninsula campsites to five after resident concerns
Summary
The Park Board voted unanimously to reduce campsites on the Blacktail peninsula from 10 to 5, move the shower house and convert former RV sites to parking after hearing resident concerns about crowding, access and trash; seasonal premium sites and a full day‑use option were discussed but not adopted.
The Park Board voted to reduce campsites on the Blacktail peninsula to five and to convert the removed RV sites to parking, moving the shower house farther south to increase separation from a neighboring property. The board approved the change unanimously during its meeting; roll call showed all members voting in favor.
Board members said the decision aims to limit crowding and reduce impacts on an adjacent homeowner who had been effectively landlocked by the earlier design. Park staff presented two options: retain five campsites concentrated south of the beach with expanded parking and a relocated shower house, or eliminate all campsites and convert the peninsula to day use with rentable shelters.
The board’s majority backed the five‑site plan, which staff said would include a beach, a shelter, a playground and parking. Park staff said the five sites could be used as premium or seasonal sites — rented for the summer — though the board did not adopt specific seasonal permit rules in the motion.
Park staff described how the previous plan placed about 10 sites tightly around the peninsula and noted complaints from a nearby property owner about access and noise. One board member suggested designating the five remaining sites as “premium” seasonal sites so occupants would take more responsibility for upkeep; another member said a full day‑use conversion had merit but raised concerns about reducing general public access.
The motion to “adjust the peninsula down to 5 spots, moving the shower house and removing the other RV spots and making them parking” was moved and seconded on the record. A roll call vote followed, with board members voting yes. The change is to be implemented as the staff advances final site layout and accessibility details.
Board members and staff emphasized the change is a design decision at this stage; operational details such as seasonal permit terms, fee levels, and maintenance responsibilities will be determined later. No ordinance or code change was required for this design decision and no formal date for implementation was set.
The board discussion also noted enforcement and nuisance concerns at nearby sites and suggested that premium or seasonal leasing could reduce problems by creating identifiable, accountable users. The option to convert the peninsula entirely to day use remained on the table as a long‑term alternative but was not approved.
