The state will help buy 7.3 acres of property near Wilbert Trail at South Whidbey State Park.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission met Thursday in Chelan and unanimously agreed to chip in half of the money needed to buy the land.

The state will now devote $205,000 toward the property purchase; the total price tag for the land is $383,000.

After hearing from four members of the local group Save The Trees, the seven-member commission said they favored the purchase. The panel thanked the Whidbey Camano Land Trust, Save The Trees and community members who pressed the state to take action to save the forested land from development.

April Sanders, president of Save The Trees, said she was pleased with the decision.

“It’s good news,” she said during a telephone call from Chelan.

“This will ensure protection for the Wilbert Trail, the ancient cedar and the old-growth forest,” she said.

Sanders and three others from Save The Trees testified at the commission’s meeting. The group also presented 60 letters, 1,200 petition signatures and a resolution from the City of Langley in favor of the purchase.

Commissioners asked about the appraisal of the property before agreeing to help out with funding. They also indicated that the property could be used as state park land.

The 7.3-acre property that abuts South Whidbey State Park went on the real estate market in mid-July.

The park’s popular Wilbert Trail, however, crosses the private property as it leads to an ancient cedar tree that’s within a protected old growth forest inside the state park. Many were worried that if the private parcel was developed or clear-cut that it would compromise the trail and threaten the old-growth forest.

After the property was put on the market, Save The Trees and the Whidbey Camano Land Trust sprang into action, spurring local citizens to save the trail and parcel.

If Island County comes through with the rest of the money needed for the purchase, it’s unlikely that there will be any immediate changes to the land.

“We were told nothing would be done with the site until after (State) Parks completes its comprehensive planning process in the 2111-13 biennium,” said Sue Ellen White, vice-president of Save The Trees.

“At that point, our hope is they will involve the community again in determining the property’s future as part of the state park,” she said.

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