County buys land in Dockton

King County purchased 15 acres at Dockton Forest last month, bringing the total public ownership at the popular recreational site to more than 120 acres.

The purchase also included nearly an acre of waterfront in two separate parcels just south of the popular Dockton Park.

The $705,000 purchase from Dockton Heights LLC was made with funds from the Maury Island Conservation Initiative, a $3.4 million fund established five years ago during a concerted effort by public officials and conservationists to buy Glacier Northwest’s 240-acre gravel mine. When Glacier walked away from the bargaining table, county officials redirected those funds to the purchase of other lands that they say will help to protect Maury’s ecologically important shoreline and adjacent forestland.

Tom Dean, executive director of the Vashon-Maury Land Trust, said the purchase — 16.6 acres, all told — brings into public ownership important parcels of land.

The waterfront parcels include a piece of Vashon’s history, he said. Dockton was once home to the largest dry dock north of San Francisco, and what appear to be remnants of it — an old pier and a flywheel that was used to pull boats out of the water — can be found at the just-purchased site. The area is also a historic marsh that the land trust hopes to restore, he said.

And the forested portion of the purchase, Dean said, adds a significant piece to Dockton Forest, a site with an extensive trail network that is popular among both horseback riders and walkers.

“There are trails all through these properties,” Dean said. “It’s a lot like Island Center Forest, where you have just a network of trails.”

The purchase was negotiated by Cascade Land Conservancy, and the land trust did some of the planning work, Dean said.

— Leslie Brown

Park district awards grants

Vashon Park District has divvied up $10,000 among eight Island nonprofits, which will use the money for projects, festivals, theatrical events and sports equipment.

The park district awarded Vashon Youth Pirate Football $1,200; the organization will use this money to purchase a portable goal post for use on various fields for youth football games.

Vashon Community Care Center will transport six of its residents to and from pools with the $500 the park district awarded it.

Vashon Island Growers Ass-ociation will be able to pay the musicians who play at Saturday farmers markets in 2008, thanks to the $800 award the park district approved for them.

UMO Ensemble is planning a theatrical event titled “First Vote,” designed to encourage youth voting and show off young people’s attitudes to voting. The park district gave $1,000 towards this endeavor.

The park district also will chip in $1,500 to Vashon Allied Arts’ August 2008 World Music Festival, held in the Burton Amphitheater.

The Vashon Youth Council received $1,000 to fund envirofairs in various Vashon parks, with the theme, “Enjoy Vashon Parks.”

Tavi Black of the youth council said the council would like to host a fair at Agren Park emphasizing the importance of environmental stewardship.

She said the teens on the council would lead tours and provide live entertainment. The family-friendly envirofairs would also have crafts and sporting events, she said.

Voice of Vashon will fund a pilot radio theater program to be recorded live at Ober Park with the $2,000 the park district awarded it. It will be aired on VoV radio and television.

And finally, Vashon Outdoor Films, with a budget of $2,000, will be able to purchase a screen and play outdoor movies this summer.

— Amelia Heagerty

Kayak rental to open soon

The Vashon Island Kayak Center is under the auspices of the Vashon Park District for the first time this summer, thanks to a $20,000 donation from Islander and kayaker Melodie Woods.

Kayaks will be available for rental out of the Jensen Point Boathouse on the Burton Peninsula all summer long, beginning May 24.

To celebrate the kayak center’s opening, the park district will hold a gala celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Memorial Day, Monday, May 24. There will be free kayaking all day and live music from 1 to 4 p.m. by Island country rock band 5:01. Bring your own picnic to enjoy at the beach.

— Amelia Heagerty