The news earlier this year that the Tramp Harbor dock is in such bad shape that it might be closed to the public was met with dismay on Vashon. So many people spoke out that the park district decided to place warning signs at the dock rather than close it entirely. The need for repairs at the dock at Dockton hasn’t been as highly publicized, as there’s been no threat of closure, but it is also concerning.

The Tramp Harbor dock is an icon on Vashon, and the dock at Dockton Park is another staple of recreation here. Together, they amount to the only two public docks on the island. They’re used heavily by boaters, fishers and birders. For some people, these are some of the only places to do the activities they love. But these docks are also getting old, and time has taken its toll. Not only do they need repairs to keep standing, but they eventually need to be upgraded to meet current environmental codes.

With budgets tight at both the Vashon Park District, which manages the Tramp Harbor dock, and King County, which owns Dockton Park, it will be difficult to find a way to upgrade these two docks. But the upgrades are also necessary. These places are too important to let them molder away.

The good news is that so far, everyone appears to be on the same page when it comes to maintaining these docks. Since the park district and county learned of the issue, officials have been diligently looking for solutions and asking the state to be patient and flexible in enforcing its codes. The state Department of Natural Resources, in turn, has suggested that it will give these agencies plenty of time to create a plan and might help them find funding. And it should. Environmental codes should be enforced, but not at the cost of ending public access to recreation while plenty of unused creosote structures still fill the Puget Sound.

It’s encouraging that King County and the Vashon Park District partnered to solicit information and opinions about the docks, and it’s telling that more than 700 people took their survey. It’s even more encouraging that state officials are joining them at not one but two public meetings on Vashon to give information about this complex issue and solicit further public feedback. Agencies that might be at odds with each other in this situation appear to be working together and committed to finding solutions to keep these docks standing. And islanders who believe these places are important on Vashon should mark their calendars for these two public meetings.