‘Crunch’ drowns out bird songs

I am a citizen of Oak Harbor, and I love the state parks most of all, I spend every chance I get walking the lovely wooded trails, listening to the birds sing, enjoying the delicious scent of the dirt trails, the quiet softness of walking on them, and I walk my little dog and she enjoys it as much as I.

Suddenly, to my dismay and overwhelming disappointment, I walked in Joseph Whidbey yesterday and the whole trail has been graveled!

Why, oh why, did they do this? This completely ruins the atmosphere in the woods. Instead of hearing bird song echoing through the trees, you hear only “crunch, crunch, crunch” of gravel. Not only that but the scent of the trail is gone. Not only that but the gravel hurts the dog’s feet! Every other walker I’ve encountered out there feels the same, they shake their head in disbelief that anyone would destroy this beautiful nature walk this way!

In my opinion, Joseph Whidbey State Park has been ruined.

It was the one place I could take a lunch break walk and enjoy the refreshment of being in nature. Now it’s been taken away, ruined.

I felt the same way when they started graveling the wonderful soft grassy trail around the meadow adjacent to Joseph Whidbey. The gravel ruins the walking! Please don’t gravel the second half! Please leave it soft, pleasant, quiet, and natural!

Furthermore, please do not allow Fort Ebey’s countless wonderful trails to be ruined in the same way. These parks have existed for years in wonderful natural condition. I asked at the state level, and they said it is not a state-wide policy. They said to address the park manager.

Please stop the graveling!

Michele Sladko

Oak Harbor

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