The T’s were crossed and the I’s dotted Tuesday on the sale of the 7.3 acres of property that abuts the Wilbert Trail at South Whidbey State Park.

Thanks to some 40 private donors who closed a $26,000 funding gap, the 7.3 acres of land that includes the Wilbert Trail will be sold to Washington State Parks for $394,000, plus closing costs.

The state funded $181,000 and Island County paid $187,000.

On Monday, county commissioners and members of local conservation groups were on hand to take down the “For sale” sign that was posted on the site in July.

The purchase will help protect the ancient cedar grove near the just-purchased property and secure the park’s popular Wilbert Trail.

The trail had crossed property owned by the Carroll family, and the drive to save the land started after the property was listed for sale in July for $383,000.

With shovel in hand Monday, County Commissioner Mike Shelton ceremoniously buried the “For sale” sign and installed the new boundary sign for the park.

“People say the wheels of government move slowly, but when an issue like this emerges that requires quick action, I think we demonstrated that we can move fast to help solve the problem,” Shelton said.

“This is a wonderful example of cooperation between the community, the county and State Parks to preserve a piece of property that is so valuable to the community,” he said.

Saving the property from logging or development has been a three-month campaign of Save The Trees, the county, the Whidbey Camano Land Trust and Washington State Parks.

But while the state and county stepped in with most of the purchase price, supporters had less than a month to raise the final $26,000 needed to buy the property.

“This effort has been a shining example of how citizens, non-profits and government can cooperate effectively. The Wilbert Trail now has one more legacy attached to it,” said Sue Ellen White of Save The Trees.

Save The Trees sprang into action in July when a real estate sign went up next to the Wilbert Trail.

Within days, an anonymous buyer signed a purchase option. That gave the Whidbey Camano Land Trust time to work on buying the property for permanent protection.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission approved paying for half the appraised value of the property, and Island County stepped up by devoting $187,000 in Conservation Futures funding.

That left the Whidbey Camano Land Trust just three weeks to raise the money needed to close the funding gap in time to meet the Oct. 31 closing deadline.

“We’re so appreciative of the more than 40 donors who contributed to close the gap. They are real heroes” said Patricia Powell, executive director of the Whidbey Camano Land Trust.

“The Land Trust couldn’t have done what we did without the great community support and the incredible partnership of Island County and State Parks,” she said.

The parcel will become part of South Whidbey State Park. Island County will hold a conservation easement on the property and it will be owned and managed by State Parks.

“The citizens of Washington are a big ‘hiking step’ closer to a healthy future, thanks to the support of Save The Trees, the Whidbey Camano Land Trust and Island County. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is fortunate and grateful to partner in saving the Wilbert Trail,” said Rex Derr, State Parks director. “What a joy to steward our islands together like this.”

Save The Trees is planning a celebration sometime soon.

The group was formed in 1977 to preserve the largest remaining old-growth forest on South Whidbey, which was owned by the University of Washington and scheduled for clearcutting.

Gayle Saran can be reached at 221-5300 or gsaran@southwhidbeyrecord.com.