06/06/2005: "Memorial Park Redux"

Mike_Bertrand-1 (15k image) Michael Bertrand
Town of F.H. Land Use Administrator

At the regularly scheduled Thursday meeting, The Friday Harbor Town Council received a staff report for a Shoreline Substantial Development Permit to renovate Memorial Park; a process that was fairly well underway by the time the Land Use Administrator presented the Staff analysis and recommendation of approval for the project to the Council. After testimony and discussion, the Town voted unanimously to approve the latest plan for Memorial Park -and a few new proposals for the waterfront area as well- proposed by the Town, for the Town.

Any proposed changes to the park has generated strong interest and input from the community, and a letter from the Women's Study Club helps to illustrate just how watchful the community can be. President Van Camp reminded the Council that their group was "instrumental at the outset (1914) in establishing our historic and beloved Memorial Park", and then goes on voicing strong support for the new plan approved for the park. Everyone from military veterans, which is after all, the whole point of the park, to the various protectors of historical sites in Friday Harbor, has had an opinion on what, if anything, should be done to the park. In general the consensus has been to simply leave it alone, or at the most, adjust the boundaries just a bit to allow better traffic flow.

After a number of false starts, backfired votes and new proposals, it appears the community and the Council have got it right. The draft proposal has been approved with support from all involved, and is now being fine tuned for formal approval by the Town. The park boundary will be moved four feet to the southwest, and modest improvements made, to include new benches, and an arbor.

As part of the renovation, the Port is expected to become involved in the project by providing funding for a ramp that will allow easy access from the existing shoreline sidewalk, down to the lower level that leads to the piers next to the Downriggers restaurant and to the public building at the end of the pier. This addition -if it happens- will also have an arbor and trees, and is seen as a "magnet" to bring people to the shoreline.