The South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District has powerful supporters in their arsenal for their proposed campground plans, and the district used that to their advantage during its presentation to score grant money from the capitol.

State Rep. Norma Smith, R-Clinton, and Rep. Dave Hayes, R-Camano, penned their support for the parks district’s plans to build campground sites in Community Park with a letter of support signed by the two. Parks Director Doug Coutts included the letter in his presentation to the Recreation and Conservation Office, which decides where to disperse state grant monies to. The presentation for $516,621 in grant monies was earlier this month.

Coutts said the letter helped the district’s all around presentation, since the district was able to prove they had not only been in discussion with state reps over the plans, but received a thumbs up from them.

Coutts said the letter touched upon how the campgrounds would boost the local economy and provide more lodging options. As it stands, campers can only pitch a tent at the county fairgrounds since camping at South Whidbey State Park is closed due to tree rot.