Westport Light State Park Planning

Project summary

Westport Golf, Inc. has developed a proposal to construct, operate and manage a Scottish links-style “artisanal” golf course and a 30- to 40-room inn at Westport Light State Park near Westport.  Given the potential impacts of the proposed project, an extensive environmental review process is needed before the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will formally consider the proposal.

Project information

In 2019, Westport Golf, Inc. approached State Parks to propose a Scottish links-style golf course within the boundaries of Westport Light State Park. This proposal includes the development of a long-term concession agreement with Parks that would allow Westport Golf, Inc. to develop, operate and maintain the golf course and associated facilities.

In 2023, the City of Westport and Westport Golf, Inc. hired a consultant to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as part of the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process. The EIS will outline the potential environmental impacts of the project. The Draft EIS is expected to be released in early 2025. Completion of the EIS process is required before any decision will be made.

Development of Westport Light State Park outside the proposal

Many users come to Westport Light State Park to enjoy its beautiful beach and the mighty Pacific Ocean. As a coastal park, natural forces like high tides and erosion dramatically impact the beach and dune from year to year. This dynamic environment makes long-term beach access a challenge.

The park currently has a safe signed beach access for visitors to use to reach the beach and water. State Parks will continue to maintain this access for its visitors. When possible, Parks will make changes or improvements to the current access.

State Parks will not look at other major planning or development efforts at the park until after the Commission decides on the Westport Golf proposal.

State Parks will accept comments or feedback at planning@parks.wa.gov to help inform future planning efforts.

Project milestones

March 2023

State Parks and The City of Westport entered into a Lead Agency Agreement identifying The City as the SEPA Lead Agency for the Westport Light Golf Links proposal.

The City will be overseeing the EIS process in close collaboration with State Parks.  Once the EIS is complete Westport Light Golf Links will move forward to procure any environmental regulatory compliance required for the project. Once the project proponent has secured the necessary required permits to move forward with the proposed development, the proposal will be brought to the Commission for consideration. 

Learn more from the City here.

Aug. 7, 2020

Washington State Parks and Westport Golf, Inc. entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) outlining the process steps — or milestones — that must be taken for the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission to consider this request. The milestones include:

  • Pre-scoping (conducting ecological and environmental studies)
  • Analyzing of site opportunities and constraints based on what was learned in the pre-scoping milestone

Community participation

Previous public meetings

May 2, 2023

The City of Westport and Parks co-hosted an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Scoping open house.

Dec. 8, 2022

Public meeting updated the public on the progress and status of the ongoing master planning effort at Westport Light State Park to consider a Scottish-style links golf course. The presentation provided a summary of findings of the environmental and economic site analysis conducted, introduce the golf course conceptual design, and discuss next steps in the planning process.

Listen to the meeting’s audio here.

Oct. 8, 2019

Washington State Parks, Westport Golf, Inc. and City of Westport staff held a community meeting. The Westport South Beach Historical Society recorded this meeting and posted it to their YouTube page here.

Documents

Environmental Reports (note: some file sizes are large)

Documents

Westport Light Comment April 2024 to January 2025

Contact Us

Department Planning & Real Estate Program
Email planning@parks.wa.gov