Port Gamble Heritage Park reopened Wednesday after timber harvester Pope Resources closed it due to “extremely dry conditions” Aug. 13.

Kitsap County Parks director Jim Dunwiddie said it would take about two days to remove barricades that had been set at the park in northern Kitsap County, which features hiking and equestrian trails, and water access for kayaking.

Pope Resources placed the restrictions three weeks ago under management rights granted in a December agreement with the county. The company purchased the rights to harvest many of the trees in the 3,493-acre park over 25 years.

Pope cited elevated fire danger caused by dry conditions in closing the park.

Though Port Gamble was the only park to close this season due to fire danger, Dunwiddie said the county has taken more precautions than usual this year. Following the state’s Department of Natural Resources fire index, the county operated under fire precaution Level 2 for a number of weeks, which prevents power equipment and other vehicles from entering the parks.

Kitsap has operated in Level 2 in the past, Dunwiddie said, but “it’s usually been for a shorter period of time.”

“I don’t think we’ve gone a couple weeks that we’ve had to follow these restrictions,” he added.

Unusually dry weather, a lack of humidity and wind levels have all contributed to the restrictions.

This week, the county’s fire precaution level was downgraded to Level 1, which allows limited access by vehicles and other equipment.

“We can work in the interior of some of the parks now,” Dunwiddie said.

There are approximately 11,000 acres of parkland in Kitsap County, about two-thirds of which are Heritage Parks, or forested areas, Dunwiddie said.