Oak Harbor parks staff lays out two‑year priorities: inclusive playgrounds, field capacity and Smith Park historic nomination

Oak Harbor — City parks staff presented a five‑year capital improvement program and asked the Parks & Recreation Board on Wednesday to identify the department’s top priorities for the next two years, including an adaptive (inclusive) playground, playground equipment replacement and addressing shortfalls in field capacity.

The presentation, led by a staff member identified in the transcript as Speaker 2, described the department’s CIP and ARPA‑funded projects and noted many entries are placeholders that would require additional grant matching or reallocation. “This is a a 5 year out, capital improvement projects, budget timeline,” Speaker 2 said, and added that some items on the list are currently unfunded and will require decisions about where to redirect existing allocations.

Why it matters: board members said playgrounds, fields and accessibility have immediate community impact. The board discussed pursuing a regional‑level inclusive playground designed for children with physical and cognitive disabilities, not just single token accessibility features. “The adaptive playground, I think, is, something that should be a priority,” said Speaker 4, who urged the board to prioritize a playground that serves children of all abilities.

Staff said earmarks in the near term include $300,000 identified for athletic field renovations next year and $50,000 set aside for playground equipment at Smith Park, but that most larger projects remain unfunded and will require grants, partnerships or reallocation of other project funds. Speaker 2 said the department will pursue grant funding and recommended the board identify high priorities that staff can begin scoping and costing.

Smith Park: renovation and historic nomination
Speaker 2 outlined planned work at Smith Park that would include ADA pathway upgrades, safety lighting, repainting fences, carved granite pillars and a botanical bed tended by the garden club. Staff said, “We’re bringing to council a proposal to list it on the historical registry. And right now, we have an application in to include Smith Park on the Washington State, historical registry.” The board discussed keeping Smith Park’s character while making safety and accessibility improvements.

Field capacity and short‑term targets
Board discussion repeatedly returned to the need for more playable field capacity. Staff framed near‑term goals as those that can be accomplished in two years: locating additional field sites, performing site visits and beginning conversations with the school district and other partners. On the table is a working target to replace two existing fields and add two additional fields to preserve current capacity and create modest new capacity while longer‑term master‑planning continues.

Funding and phasing
Staff reviewed funding options: including adding parks to existing levy measures, forming a metropolitan district, or pursuing a recreation‑oriented sales tax. Speaker 2 said sales tax is often easier politically because it spreads cost to visitors as well as residents. Board members also recommended pairing capital work with fundraising and private sponsorships.

Next steps
The board identified priority action items: compile cost estimates, identify candidate sites, schedule site visits with staff and the school district, inventory playground conditions across the city, and scope an inclusive playground design with community partners. Staff will bring refined cost estimates and site analyses back to the board and to City Council for direction.

The workshop concluded with agreement to continue work sessions and to incorporate these priorities into the upcoming parks and recreation master plan.