Islanders are invited to attend a public open house tonight, Wednesday, to hear about plans to create a primitive camping area at Maury Island Marine Park.

King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks officials said Vashon Watersports proposed the camping area that will begin with a pilot six campsites in the southwest portion of the park near the beach primarily accessible by water. No vehicular traffic or fires will be allowed.

Doug Kieper, who co-owns Vashon Watersports with his wife, Erin, said the idea for low-impact, pack-in and pack-out camping came from a realization that there are not enough affordable places to stay on Vashon.

“The challenge we’re seeing is a lot of people off-island want to come enjoy nature, but can’t afford Airbnb or the Lodges,” he said. “This is just something we thought of to create an environment to enjoy the nature of the island without breaking your piggy bank.”

The watercraft rental company based out of the Jensen Point boathouse regularly leads tours of the island and surrounding areas, and Kieper said Vashon Watersports plans to partner with the county in eco-tourism opportunities. The sites will be equipped with kayak racks.

He said that one of the best ways to ensure nature is saved is to create a social or personal value around it; this is an attempt at that.

“If people experience the beauty that we live in; the mountains, the sound, the shoreline, people will be more inclined to save it,” he said.