Preserve Community Access at Odlin Park

I sense these fire pits are being removed for efficiency and 'the letter of the law' is being used to support their removal. But the many, many, many years of usage by residents of Lopez would seem to provide a basis for allow them to remain.

Dear Joe and Odlin Park Crew, I have been gathering around fires at Odlin since I was a babe in arms. Now 33 years on I take the same joy gathering with my family, friends and community at the only public fire spot on the island! I have been looking forward to summers at Odlin with our new baby and getting to watch her play in the sand while we enjoy a meal cooked over open flame. This is an island tradition that has been carried down for generations. I am saddened and dismayed by the decision to remove the rings with community input. I understand there were incidences that led to your decision but it is a shame to let a few ruin it for the whole. Please reconsider your actions and their impact on the community. It is an absolute necessity for our community to be able to gather, outside, during this tender time. Thank you.

Yes, please keep the fire rings for local use. There must be a better solution than ripping them out for the wonderful locals that make lopez a very special place to visit for visitors.

We are having the life of our beloved community squeezed right out of us! We must stand up for the simple pleasures and rights we humans have always held sacred and/or necessary. Fire and the need to share around it, in song, conversation, grief, council and revelry is a fundamental human need since the beginning of time. Aside from burn bans in drought situations, we should not be told we cannot have a fire at Odlin and we certainly should not have to get a reservation six months in advance! We have had all our beaches around Lopez bought-up and monitored to keep us off them, we have been told we can't make joyous sounds after 10PM at the Center. We cannot enjoy the Earth's Solstices events into the night (as people have done and continue to do all over the Earth since the beginning of time). If we are not on this Earth to dance, sing and cry-out together...we become lifeless automatons. We deserve what we do not stand up and fight for! Read the message below and let us stand up in great numbers to demand the right to make a fire at Odlin Park (at the very least)!

Please reconsider the removal of the fire pits at Odlin. I have lived here for 25+ years and this has always been an intregal part of the community of Lopez.

Keep the fire pits available for everyone!!

Fire pits bring our community together.

I live close to Odlin and enjoy bringing my family there to enjoy all amenities, including being able to build a fire.

Lopez Island needs to be for locals, first and foremost! Please please bring the fire pits back to Odlin. Put up signs with rules, ask locals to enforce them, do whatever you need to, but bring them back!

Please keep fire pits for day use for locals at Odlin. Thanks!

The pulling of the fire rings at Odlin Park in the Day Use Area dumbfounds Me . They have been an integral part of this community for decades. The absolute safest park for children to play in the water, they come out cold. The warmth of those fires is essential for them, not to mention hot dogs, burgers, smores and more. Please replace them so that WE, THE COMMUNITY can continue to be warmed at our favorite park.

Many of us who have worked in the public sector have had personal experience dealing with rude or unconscious folx in outdoor places, especially our young ones who have rebellious times. They are the minority of the community who love and appreciate being able to gather with fire in a safe way to eat and play together on the beach. Replace the fire rings and ask for our help in keeping the beach clean and the young ones educated. Thanks.

Fire has been bringing people together tor thousands of years and is vital to building community!

Please return our community fire rings at Odlin. This has long been a gathering place for the community. Odlin has hosted decades of baseball games, Easter egg hunts, local potlucks and celebrations. It belongs to the people. Let us continue gathering and enjoying a fire there.

Put the fire rings back. Locals should not have to bag for something like this. Ridiculous.

I have lived here on Lopez my whole life. Please put the fire rings back. They belong to the people of Lopez as does the park.

Lopezians need fire rings at Odlin in the day use area, please put them back.

Please reinstate the fire pits!!!

Please replace the fire rings at Odlin Park. They have been a very important part of the day use area at Odlin, one of the only places on the island where locals can gather and safely enjoy a cookout at the beach or to simply keep warm while visiting. This is a historic gathering place and fire is an essential part of that.

Possible for new firerings to be placed for community use?