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.
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.
^ abc"Kopachuck State Park". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
^"Cutts Island State Park". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
^Roberts, C.R. (March 2, 2009). . Tacoma News Tribune. Archived from the original on April 18, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2009.
^Johnson, Bryan (May 24, 2011). . KOMO News. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
^Baurick, Tristan (February 14, 2014). "Camping dangers shift Kopachuck State Park's focus". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
^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.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kopachuck State Park.
Kopachuck State Park Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
January 20, 2023
kopachuck, state, park, publicly, owned, recreation, area, situated, henderson, puget, sound, about, miles, west, city, harbor, washington, state, park, acres, encompass, over, mile, saltwater, shoreline, park, provides, sweeping, views, sunsets, olympic, moun. 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 ParkLocation in the state of WashingtonShow map of Washington state Kopachuck State Park the United States Show map of the United StatesLocationPierce Washington United StatesCoordinates47 18 59 N 122 40 42 W 47 31639 N 122 67833 W 47 31639 122 67833 Coordinates 47 18 59 N 122 40 42 W 47 31639 N 122 67833 W 47 31639 122 67833 1 Area109 acres 44 ha Elevation52 ft 16 m 1 EstablishedUnspecifiedOperatorWashington State Parks and Recreation CommissionWebsiteKopachuck State Park Contents 1 History 2 Activities and amenities 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditThe 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 closureKopachuck 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 treesIn 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 EditRecreational 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 Edit a b Kopachuck State Park Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey United States Department of the Interior a b c Kopachuck State Park Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Retrieved February 16 2016 Cutts Island State Park Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Retrieved February 16 2016 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 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 Baurick Tristan February 14 2014 Camping dangers shift Kopachuck State Park s focus Kitsap Sun Retrieved February 16 2016 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 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kopachuck State Park Kopachuck State Park Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Kopachuck State Park Map Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kopachuck State Park amp oldid 1085870192, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
