A story of vision, generosity,
and community.
From vision to landmark
The Vision Takes Shape
Community members on Camano Island begin organizing around a shared goal — to build a world-class community park that would serve every generation on the island. The C.A.R.E. (Camano Association for Recreation and Environment) organization forms to lead the effort.
A Generous Land Donation
Brown & Cole generously donates the land that would become Freedom Park — a pivotal moment that transforms the vision from idea into reality. Fundraising, planning, and community organizing intensify throughout the year.
Freedom Park Opens — July 4th
On Independence Day, 2003, Freedom Park officially opens to the public. The dedication ceremony honors both the community members who made the park possible and the veterans whose service the park memorializes. Hundreds of Camano Island residents attend.
A Living, Growing Park
Freedom Park continues to grow and improve. The Adventure Playground expansion, fence and picket recognition program, pavilion, and ongoing community improvements have made it one of the most beloved public spaces on Camano Island — still 100% privately funded.
A name with meaning. A park with purpose.
Freedom Park is not just a playground. Its name and its founding are directly connected to the Pearl Harbor memorial legacy — a tribute to the men and women who gave their lives in service to this country, and to the freedom that their sacrifice helped preserve.
This connection gives Freedom Park a weight and significance that sets it apart from any other community park. It is a place of joy and play, and also a place of remembrance and gratitude. Both things are true, and both things matter.
How Camano Island built something extraordinary
The C.A.R.E. Organization
Freedom Park was conceived and built by C.A.R.E. — the Camano Association for Recreation and Environment — a volunteer organization formed specifically to make the park a reality. C.A.R.E. was responsible for fundraising, planning, coordinating volunteers, and managing the construction of the park from the ground up.
What made C.A.R.E. remarkable was its refusal to rely on government funding or grants. Every dollar raised came from the community — local businesses, residents, civic organizations, and families who wanted something great for the island.
The Land Donation
The park would not exist without the generosity of Brown & Cole, who donated the land in 2002. This single act of generosity unlocked everything that followed — giving C.A.R.E. the foundation it needed to begin building in earnest.
The Adventure Playground
The centerpiece of Freedom Park is the Rotary Adventure Playground — a massive, handcrafted community playground built by volunteers over the course of construction. Funded in part by the Donna J. & Charles T. Cole Charitable Foundation, the Stanwood Camano Rotary Club, and dozens of individual component sponsors, the playground is a testament to what a community can accomplish when it works together.
The playground includes the Viking Ship, Tot Lot, multiple climbing and play structures, the pavilion shelter, swing area, and dozens of individually sponsored components — each bearing the name of a family, business, or organization that contributed to making it possible.
The Picket Fence Recognition Program
One of the most meaningful features of Freedom Park is its perimeter fence — over 1,000 individual pickets, each bearing the name of a community member, family, or organization that supported the park. The fence is a living record of the community's investment in this place, and a permanent reminder that Freedom Park belongs to the people who built it.
The July 4th Dedication
Freedom Park opened on July 4th, 2003 — Independence Day. The date was not a coincidence. The founding members of C.A.R.E. chose that day deliberately, as a tribute to the park's connection to the Pearl Harbor memorial and to the values of freedom, service, and community that the park represents. The dedication ceremony drew hundreds of Camano Island residents and marked the beginning of what has become one of the island's most beloved gathering places.
Keeping Freedom Park great for everyone
Freedom Park is a shared community space. We ask all visitors to help us keep it safe, clean, and welcoming for families and guests of all ages.
Dogs must be on leash at all times
No smoking or vaping anywhere in the park
No alcohol on park grounds
No bikes, scooters, or motorized vehicles in the playground area
Please pack out your trash — keep the park clean
Children under 5 must be supervised by an adult at all times
Be part of the next chapter
Freedom Park's story is still being written. Your donation, your volunteer hours, and your support help ensure this park continues to thrive for the next generation of Camano Island families.