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HomeMy WebLinkAboutChimacum Shelter Status Report by Tim Rensema 012822Memorandum for the Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, ATTN Chimacum Park Committee. Prepared by Tim Rensema on 1/28/22. 1. Vern, Marianne and Tim initiated an investigation into the possibility of “saving” the Chimacum Park Picnic Shelter. Matt essentially gave us until March to come up with a plan with estimates for restoration, possible non-profits interested, and possible contractors. We contracted (and personally paid for) an assessment by a structural engineer to look at the shelter for possible restoration. We also communicated with some members of the local community for support/interaction. 2. The engineer’s report was that some of the beams of the shelter were extensively insect damaged and that further investigation should be done by a qualified company. The engineer referred us to Peninsular Environmental Group to do a full assessment of the structure. The key outcome that we wished for was what portion of the structure could be saved to reduce the permit burden (restorations are easier to permit than new construction). Peninsula Environmental’s estimate for the assessment was $1500 which was much more than we had available after the $300 we had already paid for the engineering services. Given the possible outcome that we would not be able to restore the structure and the cost of the estimate, we decided to terminate the investigation and agree that the structure should be demolished. 3. However, our attempts at forming a non-profit have evolved into a very interested group called Chimacum Center, which would support the construction of a new shelter. They are an umbrella non-profit under the 501c3 IRS coverage under Social Good Fund. They are interested in seeing Chimacum Park supporting overnight camping in the future and would like to be involved in the development of this plan. There are also indigenous tribes interested in the development of this park. One of the key persons who has participated in this discussion is Nancy McDaniel, who is not only a Chimacum resident and a descendent of many pioneer families of Jefferson County, but also a member of the Snohomish tribe. So a major link has been created with a non-profit interested assisting in the development of Chimacum Park. 4. While this venture into saving the shelter from demolition has failed, the goal of identifying and working with a non-profit specific to Chimacum Park has been accomplished. 5. The next step: members of the Chimacum Park Committee of the JCPRAB work with Chimacum Center and Nancy McDaniel to develop a plan that incorporates not only the objectives of the PROS plan, but also the desires of the community, as represented by the Chimacum Center. This would include developing strategies for fund raising to eventually construct a shelter that everyone in the community would appreciate.