SOUTH WHIDBEY RECORD: County may give Freeland Hall to parks and rec

Kira Erickson reports from the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District meeting on Wed., Apr. 20:

A historic South Whidbey building may change hands.

During a board meeting April 20, South Whidbey Parks and Recreation Executive Director Doug Coutts said he was approached by Port of South Whidbey officials, who had been approached by Island County officials about taking over Freeland Hall.

They Said It

“To me, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity and it’s one that if we pass on it, it’ll never come again,” [Park District Commissioner] Matt Simms said, adding that the historic building should be preserved for the public’s benefit.

[Park District Commissioner] Krista Loercher expressed concern about taking away the responsibility of renting the hall from the Holmes Harbor Activity Club.

“I don’t want them to feel like they’re being pushed out because there could possibly be new owners,” she said.

[Park District Commissioner] Jake Grevé said one of his best friends rented the hall recently and had difficulty getting calls back.

“When I heard about this opportunity, I felt the parks could run it better if the bones and everything else checked out,” he said. “I think some new blood being pumped into it could be a really good thing, while keeping that historic value of it, the community features and the rental space.”