The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will consider placing Westport Light State Park on a short list of candidates to be considered for a new park predesign study, the first step in developing a new state park, according to a statement released Thursday.

The commission meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sept. 20, at the offices of the Okanogan PUD.

In 2016, the commission approved three top candidates to be considered for State Park designation — Fisk State Park Property near Spokane; Miller State Park Property in Clallam County; and Nisqually State Park in Eastern Pierce County.

Through a partnership with the Nisqually Tribe, a Nisqually State Park master plan was completed, and the park is open for day and equestrian use. The agency plans to request funding for a pre-design study on further development there as part of its 2019 supplemental budget request. With Nisqually proceeding independently of the agency’s selection process, the parks staff is asking the commission to consider placing Westport Light as a third candidate park for consideration in its next new park selection process.

The staff rationale for Westport Light is based on multiple factors, including support from the City of Westport for its local parks and the community’s expressed interest in partnering with State Parks and others to support park development. Additionally, in 2015, State Parks acquired 300 acres that join two parks, Westport Light and Westhaven. Development at Westport Light also could help replace visitor services and opportunities lost in the area due to flooding at nearby Twin Harbors State Park.

The agency will request pre-design funding in the 2019-21 state capital budget to begin a process that will help determine which of the three candidate products should be developed first. Public and community engagement will be key to the process, according to State Parks.