The Skeeter Daddle Diaries

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In 2007 the County and Friends of Camano Island Parks asked the South End String Band if we would be willing to take on the role of caretakers for little Hutchison Park, a 5 acre parcel once the playground for juvenile delinquents, drug transactions and the occasional late night sex. Since it was the only county park on the South End and we were, after all, the South End house band, we said, yah shure, u betcha. In the beginning the band threw in whole heartedly, cleaned up the area and mowed the lawns. FOCIP brought a few volunteers in to widen the trails and put up signage. So what if they misspelled Hutchison, the guy’s name who donated the land.

Course, after the initial flurry of philanthropic excitement the Band sort of lost interest, not only in the Park but the band and the music too. Basically the way of bands. Probably the way of volunteers as well. So for the past 16 years the de facto role of park ranger fell to the banjo player, last guy standing, me and the fiddler who, unfortunately had moved off island and far from the idyllic South End. In that time more than a couple of lawnmowers have given their lives, one or two chainsaws have bit the dust, the caretaker has grown old and gnarly like a few of the second growth firs in the park, sculpture has been placed (and most stolen), a little library has been installed in the 1960’s phone booth that mysteriously appeared one year and trees, shrubs and flowers have been planted.

Admittedly, not many people use the Park, mostly dog walkers, midnight lovers and pharmaceutical salespeople. Rarely are the barbecue grills used. Grill, actually, since the second one was stolen the first week and never replaced by the county. Occasionally bikers rest there, once or twice picnickers. It’s a lonely place but it’s my place. This week I went on the FOCIP website looking at their list of county parks we maintain gratis for Island County. Hutchison was not one of them. So I went to Island County Parks looking for a map or a mention. Nada. Zip. Zilch. My park has been stolen from the records!! Happens all the time on the South End, you’re thinking. And me too.

What I can only assume is this: the County has abdicated its little park down here. For what reason, who can say? But I want to say this, being the ranger there for the past decade and a half, I’m publicly declaring the park mine by right of county abdication as well as adverse possession by yours truly. Skeeter Daddle Park. Nice ring to it, don’tcha think? Who’d have ever guessed volunteerism would have more than its own reward.

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