A response to Shawn Klingman’s letter from Chip Faver, Kitsap County Parks and Recreation Director

Kitsap County is sensitive to the safety of our citizens and visitors to our parks. We want people of all ages to enjoy the open-air, marine vistas and beach walks at Norwegian Point Park and are delighted that the park is well used. We also are concerned when we learn that dangerous behavior in a park setting risks injury to park visitors.

The acquisition of Norwegian Point Park was greeted with community-wide celebration and many plans for refurbishment of the old docks and buildings. Since the park dedication and opening in 2006, it has been used as an unimproved park site offering outstanding views of the Puget Sound shipping lanes and the Cascade Mountains, as well as low-bank beach access.

The docks and buildings are no longer serviceable and for that reason are closed to the public. In several places the pier decking has broken, leaving gaps to the beach or ground below. As safety cautions, the building doors and windows are boarded against trespass into the buildings, the area is lighted and the county installed a temporary guardrail on the western pier end to prevent public access. Fences forbidding public access and no trespassing signs also are prominently posted and are visible from both the land and beach sides.

Mr. Klingman’s letter and accompanying photographs have prompted further safety review to deter trespassers in posted areas. While we are striving to protect and promote the safety of Norwegian Point Park visitors with physical barriers and signs, and will continue to improve our efforts, we also encourage everyone to heed the posted warnings and to use care and caution for safe, enjoyable visits to this special place, as well as all our county parks.

Chip Faver, Director

Kitsap County Parks and Recreation

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