OAK HARBOR: Nov. 10, 2025 Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission [VIDEO]

Summary by Perplexity AI

This Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission meeting covered public comments on park use issues, discussion of a proposed metal‑detecting policy, bike‑safety improvements on Bayshore, and an update on the recreation center feasibility study.​

Meeting opening and public comments

The commission called its December 8, 2025 meeting to order and moved through the standard opening items before taking public comments. Several residents spoke, including tennis users objecting to unauthorized pickleball striping on one of the city’s few remaining tennis courts, asking the commission to protect tennis capacity and address unsanctioned changes to facilities.​

Park use conflicts and enforcement

Commissioners discussed how to handle unauthorized modifications such as the pickleball striping, along with broader questions about enforcement responsibility between Parks staff and law enforcement. They expressed concern about devoting limited staff time to policing relatively isolated issues versus higher‑priority safety concerns, and emphasized better communication and clear rules to prevent conflicts between user groups.​

Metal detecting and policy development

The commission then considered whether Oak Harbor needs a formal metal detecting policy for parks. Staff noted that the people inquiring so far have been conscientious users asking for permission in advance, not problem diggers, and commissioners leaned toward allowing metal detecting with reasonable rules rather than banning it, asking a subcommittee to refine details and bring a recommendation back for council consideration.​

Bayshore safety and bike use

Members reviewed feedback on bike and pedestrian safety along Bayshore, including an “S‑curve” near Grocery Outlet that was identified as the most hazardous section. Commissioners were generally supportive of traffic‑calming and safety improvements, seeing little downside to measures that protect cyclists and pedestrians given the existing bike lane and heavy use in the corridor.​

Next steps and rec center study

The chair directed that several of the policy questions, including metal detecting and related park‑rules topics, be sent to the appropriate subcommittee (likely parks and playgrounds) to develop draft language and bring it back to the full commission for recommendation to City Council. Staff also reported briefly on the recreation center feasibility study, noting that the city has met with consultant BerryDunn and will be working through market and feasibility analysis as the next step.​