New director swings into the Vashon Park District

Vashon Park District Executive Director Tim Stapleton began his new role with a whirlwind introduction to Vashon landmarks: Park District and community members gave him a map of the island adorned with Post-it notes marking beloved Vashon spots of the past and present — the K2 factory, Lande’s Corner, the exercise bikes at Portage — that wouldn’t necessarily appear on Google Maps.

Since his first day on April 9, Stapleton has made it his goal to learn about Vashon not only through the parks managed by the district, but by the colloquial names and places that shape life on the island.

Originally from Worthington, Kentucky, Stapleton first came to Washington for a job with the state Department of Natural Resources, where he managed the Public Access and Conservation Programs. He later moved on to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. That work, he says, gave him relevant experience in land use and navigating public funding systems.

He and his wife first visited the island several years ago and had what he described as a classic “new-to-the-island” experience, striking up conversations with about a dozen strangers at Vashon Pharmacy and The Hardware Store Restaurant. The couple kept visiting and eventually purchased a parcel of land on which to build a house — personally acquainting them with King County’s long permitting process. They are now finishing up their home.

“It was an easy place to make home,” Stapleton said. “Folks are really opening their arms to me in this position.”

Stapleton appreciates the relatively slow-pace of island life and its trails. “I like to be able to go out in a pair of corduroys and sneakers and get my hike done,” he said.

On a walk through the woods, he finds himself identifying incursions of invasive species and diversions of rogue trails, as a parks worker and in his personal time.

“Stewardship and sustainability and making sure that these places that folks experience are there for generations to come means the world to me,” Stapleton said. “I think I’m fortunate that I get to do work that I feel kind of called to do, that it’s a part of who I am and so it’s always with me.”

He says the park currently closest to his heart is Lisabeula. He’s also fond of Point Robinson, where his two- and four-year-old children are mesmerized by the lighthouse and the distant Mount Rainier.

In his first several weeks, Stapleton has worked under the tutelage of outgoing and longtime Park District Director Elaine Ott-Rocheford, whose last day was May 5. He described the process of learning the district’s operations as “drinking from the firehose,” but said Ott-Rocheford helped him find his footing.

The Park District operates and maintains 18 properties around the island, from Ober Park to Fisher Pond and the Vashon Pool. It levies property taxes to perform that work, but the district’s priority is to avoid increasing the taxpayer burden and instead find money through outside sources like state and county grants, said Ott-Rocheford.

“The funding is out there; you just need to know how to look for it and how to write good grant proposals,” Ott-Rocheford said.

Ott-Rocheford announced her retirement in October last year. Over roughly 12 years as the agency’s head, she oversaw the district’s turn into better financial health, worked with the state Legislature to rewrite state tax law to benefit the Park District, and led the district in projects at VES field, Point Robinson and many other Park District properties.

“What I’m most proud of is financially getting the district, with the assistance of some good boards, back on really strong financial footing,” she said.

While the district’s fiscal health relies on its levy, Stapleton says there’s room for growth in pursuing more competitive public grants and state appropriations. The Park District’s grant funding comes almost entirely from public institutions such as the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, King County Parks, and 4Culture.

“In a rural setting that doesn’t directly serve a really large population, it’s of the utmost importance that our stories are really compelling,” he said. “My experience in grant writing has always been … to bring people along in your storytelling and what you can do with the money provided in a grant and also paint a picture of what the future is gonna look like.”

The Park District has two major projects at the top of his docket: updating the Vashon Pool and rebuilding Tramp Harbor Dock.

The district has received a $70,000 appropriation from the state Legislature for architecture and engineering work on the pool, which is now 50 years old. The community has long asked for a facility that can be usable year-round, and Stapleton hopes that completing the design phase will help earn more state funding for the project.

As for Tramp Harbor Dock, the district was awarded a smaller RCO grant but turned it down in order to reapply for a larger sum in 2026. Stapleton said the island’s small population and lack of racial diversity make it less competitive for some grants, but Vashon has compelling assets too: a strong culture of environmental preservation and public access and its designation as part of unincorporated King County, which limits the island’s access to county funding.

“Every time you go for a grant and don’t get it, you learn what the other applicants had up on you,” Stapleton said.

He said he’s confident the district will win the larger grant on its second attempt — in part because of relationships he’s cultivated with RCO staff during his time in state government.

The district will build on the community map project introduced at Stapleton’s welcome — a guide to the unofficial landmarks of the island.

In the meantime, Stapleton says he’s eager to hear directly from the public. Since stepping into the role, residents have stopped by the Ober Park offices to advocate for a wide range of ideas, from new skatepark facilities to ballfield dugout improvements and dedicated pickleball courts.

“If you’ve got an idea, walk through the doors,” Stapleton said. “We’re pretty welcoming folks.”

Mari Kanagy is a contributing journalist to The Beachcomber.

Park District and community members gave Tim Stapleton this map of the island adorned with Post-it notes marking beloved Vashon spots of the past and present. (Mari Kanagy photo)