Skagit County holds three park fee hearings; proposed campground, playfield and picnic-shelter rate changes to reach consent agenda

Skagit County Parks and Recreation presented a package of proposed fee schedule revisions at three consecutive public hearings Aug. 19 that would affect Howard Miller Steelhead Park, Grady Lake and Sauk Park campgrounds, county playfields including the Skagit Valley playfield complex, and county picnic shelters.

Bridal Adams, director of Skagit County Parks and Recreation, and Marie Henry, the department’s admin and projects manager, told commissioners the proposed changes were developed after comparing local providers and state rates. Adams said the department aims to remain competitive while recovering rising costs for software, maintenance and capital upgrades.

Highlights include a winter camping discount at Howard Miller (winter defined as Nov. 1–Feb. 28), time-limited RV stays (21 days at a time), and the department’s plan to pass some credit-card transaction fees to customers after implementing new reservation software. Adams said next-year reservations begin Jan. 1 and the department expects most bookings to move online over time while continuing to accommodate phone or in-person help for callers with language or access needs.

For playfields, Adams described a new rental approach for the Skagit Valley playfield complex — a large turf area adjacent to the 911 center and colleges — proposing three-month rentals to leagues to reduce staff scheduling burden. The department said the site could be laid out as multiple soccer fields depending on league needs and that preliminary conversations have occurred with local organizations including Northwest United, LaLiga and Mount Vernon Soccer Association; Adams said the arrangement would evolve with demand and use patterns.

For picnic shelters, the department proposed a consistent fee (for example, $175 for full-service shelters with power/water and restrooms) and the ability to reserve primitive shelters; reserved sites would be posted at the site in advance so day users know when a shelter is held. Adams said the department will continue routine site posting and cleaning and expects busy summer months and event weekends to generate most shelter reservations.

No public speakers participated in any of the three hearings in the room or online. Each hearing was closed by motion; commissioners and staff said the resolutions approving the revised fee schedules will be placed on next week’s consent agenda for formal adoption.