Visitors to the Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park may find it looked after by its own caretaker within the next month, if all goes according to the City of Port Townsend’s plans.

Michael Todd, facilities and parks manager for the city, is leading efforts to search for and install a volunteer caretaker to reside at the park. The selected candidate will hold an unpaid volunteer position with the city, and will live onsite at the park, with RV site expenses such as utilities covered by the city.

Todd worked on the application for the new caretaker position, posted on the city’s website at cityofpt.us/parksrec online.

“It’s super exciting to be moving forward with this,” Todd told The Leader. “It’s been more than two years in the making.”

Although the caretaker concept is a new one for Port Townsend, Jefferson County has already installed a caretaker at H.J. Carroll Park in Chimacum.

Todd said the recruitment plan includes using the city’s social media platforms, newsletter, and other local advertising to spread the word to the community. Applications will be reviewed, and interviews will be scheduled with qualifying candidates through the coming month.

“I hope to have someone onsite by the end of February, at the latest,” Todd said.

According to Todd, what the city seeks in a prospective Kah Tai Park caretaker is an individual who “best represents the city, by providing safe, equitable and inclusive access to parks, recreation and city facilities, to foster healthy living and strengthen the bonds of the community.”

Todd elaborated that the city’s intention is to bring a stronger Parks Department presence to Kah Tai, adding more visibility and security to the park, while also addressing the Port Townsend community’s need for housing.

“I know this is only one spot, but we’re hoping that we can help this one person’s current living situation by providing them with water, sewer and electrical utilities, in exchange for a designated amount of working hours at the park,” Todd said. “We also want to make sure we select the right applicant, in terms of someone who’s also comfortable with public interaction, as this position will also be utilized for educational purposes as well.”

Shelly Leavens, director of communications and marketing with the City of Port Townsend, emphasized that this position is not meant to replace “our amazing and dedicated volunteers,” such as those associated with Admiralty Audubon, who already serve the park in many ways.

“Rather, we hope this will add to their efforts with an ongoing, welcoming presence in the space,” Leavens said. “We want more people, families, visitors to town, and everyone else in the community to feel a connection to this critical wetland, with its abundant wildlife and native plant habitat. The Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park is a gem.”