To help clarify the misunderstanding about who would prefer a park beside Coupeville’s Big Rock, I would like to cite the following excerpts from the Town of Coupeville Park and Recreation Commission minutes of June 3, 1997:

“The meeting was called to order at 10 a.m. by chairman Lyla Snover. Present were commissioners Betty Gewald, Dorothy Keefe, Rowena Williamson, Anne Hesselgrave, and Town Planner Larry Cort. There was a quorum present.”

“Discussion was held on acquiring park property. Anne Hesselgrave moved that the park and recreation commission recommend the purchase of the Big Rock property with Conservation Future Funds and that they seriously consider this and make application for this purpose. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously.”

That was six years ago. To my knowledge, none of the people named above were then or are now members of the Coupevile group known as the “Oh-Oh,” a group that also believes that the property in question would be better used as a passive park for the benefit of the public. We are, however, citizens who give a lot of time and energy toward keeping our town the place in which you and I love to live.

The reason funds have not been applied for with which to acquire the property adjacent to Big Rock is because the Island County Commissioners have voted to make the entire Central Whidbey School District a part of South Whidbey where this fund is concerned, and Conservation Future Funds will not be allowed to be spent in this area until more money has been spent in Camano and North Whidbey. This was in effect in 1997 and is still in effect at this time. Had we known the property was for sale before the rezone was applied for, we would have been seriously looking for methods by which to raise funds for the property’s purchase.

Lyla Snover

Coupeville