Kopachuck State Park

Kopachuck State Park is a publicly owned recreation area situated on Henderson Bay in Puget Sound, about 6 miles (9.7 km) west of the city of Gig Harbor, Washington. The state park's 109 acres (44 ha) encompass over a mile of saltwater shoreline. The park provides sweeping views of sunsets, the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound.[2] Cutts Island, known locally as "Deadman's Island," which lies about a half-mile from the park shore, is reachable by boat.[3] Both Kopachuck and Cutts Island are administered by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

Kopachuck State Park
Map showing the location of Kopachuck State Park
Map showing the location of Kopachuck State Park
Location in the state of Washington
Map showing the location of Kopachuck State Park
Map showing the location of Kopachuck State Park
Kopachuck State Park (the United States)
LocationPierce, Washington, United States
Coordinates47°18′59″N 122°40′42″W[1]
Area109 acres (44 ha)
Elevation52 ft (16 m)[1]
EstablishedUnspecified
OperatorWashington State Parks and Recreation Commission
WebsiteKopachuck State Park

History

The park bears a name whose origin derives from the language of the Chinook Tribe, a band of Pacific Coastal Indians. Kopachuck is a blend of two words: "kopa" meaning "at" and "chuck" meaning "water." The Puyallup and Nisqually Indian Tribes used the area around the park for seasonal fishing and clam gatherings.[2]

2009 proposed closure

Kopachuck was tagged for closure in 2009 by Washington Governor Chris Gregoire as part of budget cutbacks in the wake of hard economic times, prompting neighbors to rally to save the park.[4]

Diseased trees

In 2011, it was found that many of the park's Douglas firs were diseased with laminated tree rot, one of the deadliest diseases a fir tree can contract.[5] The campground was closed by park rangers soon after; the closure became permanent in 2014.[6] In September 2011, many of the diseased trees were cut down due to increasingly urgent safety issues. In response, local artists created "Intertwined — Requiem for the Trees," which the artists said was to record the trees before their death. The piece was displayed in the Gig Harbor History Museum for a short time that fall.[7]

Activities and amenities

Recreational activities include swimming and kayaking. The normally steep rocky beach becomes a level sandbar at low tide and is a popular place for kids to play in the sand. The park offers kitchen shelters, 16 sheltered and 76 unsheltered picnic tables, and two miles of hiking trails. The campground has been permanently closed.[2]

360° Panorama of Kopachuck State Park in late July on a sunny afternoon. Beachgoers play in the tide and on the beach while off in the distance are sights of the Olympic Mountains and Cutts Island.

References
  1. "Kopachuck State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. "Kopachuck State Park". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  3. "Cutts Island State Park". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  4. Roberts, C.R. (March 2, 2009). "Crowd rallies to save Kopachuck State Park". Tacoma News Tribune. Archived from the original on April 18, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2009.
  5. Johnson, Bryan (May 24, 2011). "Kopachuck State Park closed to campers due to ailing trees". KOMO News. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  6. Baurick, Tristan (February 14, 2014). "Camping dangers shift Kopachuck State Park's focus". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  7. Glock-Jackson, Charlee (September 1, 2011). "Local artists gather to create paintings of doomed trees at Kopachuck State Park". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
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