Our Story

Friends of Fort Townsend was the vision of two couples, Jim & Lucy Hladecek and Ray & Nancy Steinberg, who lived adjacent to the park (then often referred to as “Old Fort”) in the late 1990’s. They often walked the trails.  It was clear to them that the park trails needed brush clearing and widening to provide a safe and welcoming experience.  After reaching out to the neighborhood to gather people who were also interested in making park trails passable and safe, as well as protecting the rare plants in the Natural Forest Area, the four became more than 15 volunteers.  In 2001, after coordinating with the park ranger, the group filed for and became a Washington State Parks Friends Group.  

The first project for FOFT was to clear and widen the 6.5 miles of trails in the park. A group of FOFT volunteers worked twice a month on trail maintenance. Two of our original volunteers, Ann and Fred Weinmann, both botanists, were very familiar with the park flora and had already begun cataloging all the plants in the park. Many trail maintenance hours were also “botany awareness classes” as our volunteers learned to identify the park’s special plant life.

In 2001, Fort Townsend State Park was a virtually unknown destination. Friends of Fort Townsend set out to make the park known. To increase public awareness of the location, amenities and history of the park, our group got to work! FOFT entered a booth at the Jefferson County Fair (which continued till 2019); sponsored n annual 4-mile Trail Run/Walk on the park trails; had an entry in the Port Townsend Rhody Parade; and for several years running sponsored a two-day encampment with Civil War enactors. 

In 2009, the group participated in the Classification and Management Plan (CAMP) for the park after which a list of management goals was developed. The park became a destination for hikers, dog walkers, campers, plant enthusiasts, and history buffs. Stories featuring the park were written in The Seattle Times and The Leader.  In 2021 Fort Townsend State Park was named a “Finalist” in the Peninsula Daily News list of “Places to Impress an Out-of-Towner” on the Olympic Peninsula.

The Friends of Fort Townsend was named Friends Volunteer Group of the Year in 2003 and 2009. 

Today, FOFT volunteers continue trail maintenance along with other projects to continue to improve our wonderful state park. The historic past of Fort Townsend is still being uncovered and the flora in the Natural Forest Area of the park is still being cataloged and protected. 

The Friends always welcome volunteers, members and donations. We are also currently on the lookout for new board members. If you are local to the area and want more information, please contact us at friends.ftsp@gmail.com, or check out the volunteer, member & donation pages.