Sather Park

General Location

Corner of Foster and Adams Streets.

General Description

An urban forest of mature native trees including Douglas Fir and Madrona that provide a green buffer in the midst of a densely populated neighborhood.

History

The 6.72 acres now known as Sather Park on Morgan Hill include the site of a failed vision of grandeur started during Port Townsend’s 19th century boom years. An elegant three story hotel called the Mountain View was begun in 1886 by Captain H.E. Morgan as a part of the platted Mountain View Addition but it was never finished. The building was abandoned and blew down in a windstorm in 1916. The site became Sather Park when Jefferson County sold it to the City for $50 in 1925. The park was named after Mayor Floyd Sather, who arranged the sale and dedicated the land for park use. The area where the hotel stood is now a clearing in the center of the park.

In 1974, Park Board discussions considered development of nature trails and ponds fed from the (then) nearby City reservoir. In the 1975 Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan, Sather was still described as a ‘proposed’ park and recommended for development with volunteer effort into a nature park with a defined budget and timeline. Recommendations included planting only native species and retaining the natural character. In 1994, Jefferson County deeded a block of property to the east of Sather Park’s entrance to the City on condition that it be used for an informal play field for the immediate neighborhood.

A lack of communication in 2006 led to an effort to turn the informal play field into a dog park without adequate public process. After neighborhood protest, the designation as a dog park was suspended by unanimous City Council vote on 7 August 2006. On 4 February 2008, Council unanimously tasked the Park Board to consider appropriate places for additional off-leash dog parks in the work plan. See more information with regard to this task in the Implementation section.

Opportunities

Mix of open field and forest.

Total Acreage

6.72 acres