SUQUAMISH — Residents who would like to see Old Man House Park remain in the hands of a public agency have proposed that Kitsap County take the small park under its wing.

Suquamish residents Peggy Lien, Gina Whiteley and a dozen other community members showed up at the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners’ twice-monthly meeting April 12 and asked that the county to consider itself as a potential owner of the park.

The Suquamish Tribe and Friends of Old Man House Park are deeply involved with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Department as it weighs its decision to divest itself of the small park and transfer ownership to a local group.

The tribe has sought ownership of the historic site several times during the past 15 years. Shortly after the state finally agreed last spring to consider transferring the parcel to the tribe, the Friends group was formed.

While the tribe would still like full ownership, the Friends have supported a plan that would keep the land in state hands while the organization’s members provide volunteer maintenance at the park.

Since January, Lien said she had been considering asking the county to make itself another party alternative. She made the formal request on Monday.

“The park has been enjoyed by the Suquamish community and others for approximately 50 years as a state park,” Lien read from her statement to the commissioners. “We have canvassed the community and over 665 people have signed a petition to keep the park in public ownership.”

While both the tribe and the Friends have submitted separate management plans to the state during the consideration process, “those parties seem to be at odds,” Lien said, noting she and others present at the meeting were speaking as private citizens and not as members of either the tribe or the Friends group.

Lien said she believes the land aligns with the county’s recent efforts to purchase open space for parks. She also said she sees this potential move as a way to help resolve tension between the two groups.

“They can be the neutralizing ,peace-making party, I think,” Lien said.

North End Commissioner Chris Endresen disagrees.

“First of all, the property belongs to state parks,” Endresen said following the Monday meeting. “And they will make the decision.”

Endresen said she also believes the county stepping into the fray would not solve any problems but only add fuel to the fire.

Kitsap County doesn’t have an interest in this property because it is trying to do the same thing the state is trying to do — divest itself of small properties and concentrate on purchasing large parcels, Endresen said.

“Even if the county were to say we wanted to do that, it doesn’t mean the state would deed it to us,” she added.

Endresen also said she believes that in order for community to work together, its members have to start talking one on one.

“It’s really important that people in the Suquamish area come to a time when they all can discuss things in a positive manner and I just don’t see the county stepping into this as furthering that goal,” Endresen said, adding that she didn’t envision the county taking a stance on the issue any time soon.

Last spring, she offered to mediate talks between the tribe and the Friends group. While the tribe welcomed the act, the Friends group politely said no, Endresen explained.

The state is not expected to make a decision until Aug. 12. Before that, it will be holding public meetings to collect input from the community. The Suquamish meeting will be at 7 p.m. June 16 at the Suquamish United Church of Christ. There will also be a yet-to-be-determined meeting in Seattle.