Kingston creeks will swell with more than autumn rains in the coming months as seven previously unnamed streams boast new identities that reflect the heritage and pride of the area. Kingston’s Parks, Trails and Open Space Committee announced the names selected for the creeks that flow into Appletree Cove, based on community input and historical research from the last several months.

The creek names selected are (numbers correspond with the map included on page 6):

#1 Newellhurst Creek

#2 Osier Creek

#3 Kingfisher Creek

#4 Qa’qawac / Crabapple Creek

#5 Fukuzawa Creek

#6 Kingston Creek

#7 Sisxql / Whisper Creek

After considering results of a community vote, the committee decided that since all the proposed names were appropriate and met the state naming guidelines, it was reasonable to use the ones that got the most votes.

In the case of Native American names, the native word will be first, followed by its English translation.

“I’m very pleased,” responded Karl Compton, KPTOS member who spearheaded the effort.

“These names are consistent with our objective of naming the streams in order to enhance Kingston’s uniqueness, our community’s awareness of these streams and an appreciation for the streams that will help lead to better protections in the future.”

Cherie Rogers, the great-granddaughter of Howard and Blanche Osier who owned property adjacent to Osier Creek that runs through Jefferson Point, heard the news that her family name was selected.

“We just think it’s wonderful,” she said. “My relatives in California have been calling and calling to find out if it was chosen.” Many family members wrote letters of support for Osier Creek that will be forwarded with the naming applications sent to the state.

A stream-naming ballot circulated by KPTOS in July provided the committee with input to help make the decision. The names on the ballot were suggested by the community and area history was unearthed about former property owners whose land was bordered or bisected by the streams.

“The whole public process was very valuable,” said Naomi Maasberg of the trails committee, who has been through the naming process before with Carpenter Creek. “In the process of naming Kingston creeks, we found out a whole lot of information about the histories of the creeks, raised public awareness that they’re there and people learned that they’re valuable. It’s all good.”

Here are the tallies for votes from the 64 ballots turned in to the committee:

Stream #1: (number of votes): Newellhurst Creek (24), Sawmill Creek (22), Steamboat Creek (16)

Stream #2: Osier Creek (39), Smuggler’s Creek (16), Killdeer Creek (8)

Stream #3: Kingfisher Creek (30), Tsatpi-Diyau/Shining Sands Creek (24), Gentle Waters Creek (7)

Stream #4: Qa’qawac / Crabapple Creek (42), Halcyon Creek (12), Artist Creek (8)

Stream #5: Fukuzawa Creek (36), Trillium Creek (14), Shorty Campbell Creek (12)

Stream #6: Kingston Creek (35), Apple Tree Creek (24), Village Green Creek (3)

Stream #7: Sisxql / Whisper Creek (27), Water Works Creek (21), Quiet Place Creek (13)

KPTOS will send in the naming applications to the Washington State Board of Geographic Names this month and report back to the community as soon as word is received back. This may take several more months. Once the names are accepted and added to the official record, documentation and historical information collected from the project will be archived with the Kingston Historical Society. The trails committee will then work with the county to get signs posted with the new names at each of the creeks.