Sam Fletcher reports from the Oak Harbor City Council workshop of Tue., Jan. 28, 2025 for the Whidbey News-Times.
After Oak Harbor staff provided some options for reconfiguring Flintstone Park on Bayshore Drive to the city council, the council’s favorite plan was the city planner’s least favorite.
When the council approved the installation of the Angel of Creativity sculpture at Flintstone Park last year, planners began drafts to reconfigure the park to better suit the artwork, said Brian Smith, parks and recreation director. This included changes to or the complete removal of the roundabout driveway and possibly moving the Naval flagstaff to Veterans Memorial Park.
They Said It
While early discussion and concepts included the potential for removal of the Garry oak tree within the loop at Flintstone Park, a protected tree in Oak Harbor, this was quickly squashed.
“Absolutely 100%, 1,000% no to doing anything with the Garry oak tree,” said Mayor Pro Tem Tara Hizon, “especially if it’s just for the sake of a little more asphalt or an extra parking space.”
Councilmembers Christopher Wiegenstein, Jim Woessner and James Marrow preferred [an option which installs bollards around the sculpture, widens the drive for two lane traffic and pushes the upper parking lot forward,] noting that if there is no hazard surrounding the flagpole there is no reason to move it.
With the shoreline management permitting process, if the city decides to remove the parking lot it will be a major hassle if it ever wants to put it back, Woessner said.
Marrow acknowledged the value of the parking lot.
“I’ve been down there many times to eat my lunch facing the water, and so I’m very well acquainted with the people coming and going,” he said.
There are also many solutions for the disgruntled condo tenants if they are concerned about light, he added.
“This is not an earth-shaking project,” he said.
