Land Bank preserves remain open in San Juan County

— from Tanja Williamson for San Juan County Land Bank —

Land Bank Preserves continue to remain open despite other federal and state public land closures because we believe people need access to nature close to home, especially when nothing else in life seems normal.

We islanders are fortunate enough to live in a place where we can get outside and take in fresh air while keeping our distance from others. And luckily your Conservation Land Bank is not alone in providing access locally – all our county organizations have been able to maintain their public access to open space, even though it looks a little different with social distancing guidelines in place.

In addition to Land Bank Preserves, other public properties open include:

• Lopez Island – Odlin Park (closed to camping) and the County Day Parks are open as are the SJI National Monument properties.
• Orcas Island – Orcas Island Parks and Rec’s Buck Park, as well as, the Village Green and Eastsound Waterfront Park, co-managed by County Parks.
• San Juan Island – Island Rec’s Lafarge Open Space, Eddie & Friends Dog Park, the Skate Park, and John O. Linde Community Park (restrooms and playground closed), the Port of Friday Harbor’s Jacksons Beach (restrooms and boat launch closed) and SJI Island County Park (restrooms and camping closed) as well as the County Day Parks.

Thank you to our county and public health officials for their support in keeping public trails and parks open in order to help cope with the stress and anxiety during these strange times. Thank you to our island neighbors who have been adhering to the social distancing guidelines – if you’re sick, stay home; keep a minimum distance of six feet on from others (pets too!) while on trails or in parking lots; sanitize frequently used surfaces – while enjoying the outdoors. Let’s keep “island time” intact; we are all in this together.