PDA board votes to request dissolution

OLYMPIA – Today at a special meeting, the Fort Worden Public Development Authority’s (PDA) Board of Directors voted to request a dissolution of the organization by the City of Port Townsend (City).  

The vote by the PDA initiates the process of dissolving the PDA organization and ending its 50-year lease with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) to operate the Lifelong Learning Center at Fort Worden State Park. 

At their next regular business meeting on August 5, the Port Towsend City Council will discuss setting a public hearing in 60 days, per city code, to consider dissolution of the PDA.    

When the lease ends, Parks will resume operating the Lifelong Learning Center at Fort Worden. Parks is working with the PDA and each of the current tenants to coordinate a transition that minimizes disruption on campus.  

Parks will engage with the Tribes separately to get an understanding of how they want to participate in future planning. 

The PDA, City, and Parks will hold a public open house next week to meet with the public and answer questions about what to expect next.  

• What: Public open house to share near term changes at Fort Worden and answer questions 
• When: Tues., Aug. 6, 2024, from 4:30 – 6 p.m. 
• Where: Fort Worden Commons, Room A 

PDA and Parks officials will join City Manager John Mauro today from 12:30-1p.m. on his weekly Brewocracy Now! radio show on 91.9 KPTZ to discuss today’s action and what’s next for Fort Worden.  Listeners can tune into 91.9 locally, livestream at www.kptz.org, or visit the KPTZ homepage afterward for a replay of the broadcast. 

You can find more information about the changes at Fort Worden on the State Parks website. This page will be updated as more information is available.