Pop-up Park Stirs Conversation

Get ready for “Vision for Eastsound” Town Hall on Thursday, Oct. 13

— by Margie Doyle —

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It was a potluck pop up party with a big pole tent keeping the blustery winds at bay.

After the County Department of Public Works took down the fences facing North Beach Road and Prune Alley on its “Fern Street Extension” lot, concerned citizens met with community organizers Paul King and Gretchen Krampf. The upshoot of that meeting was the pop up event at the newly-graded lot on Saturday, Oct. 1.   (See: orcasissues.com/pop-up-party-at-public-works-lot-in-heart-of-eastsound ).

Ben Browner provided the tent and brought salsa and cider to the potluck. Browner is one of a group of young people reviving Orcasong Farm.

Westsound Lumber donated benches; Orcasong Farm donated the tools; San Juan Sanitation brought in the mulch; Island Hardware contributed flowers, Island Market gave charcoal and Farmers Market gave food.

Plans for Fern Street Park are “up to the community” says County Councilman Rick Hughes

Eight proposals for use of the Fern Street Park were on the drawing board (see photo right)

Krampf wrote, “Orcas is moving through growth stages and there are challenges and opportunities in the process. [There are] a continuing series of opportunities to listen and share ideas and concerns.” The  next opportunity to discuss “Vision for Eastsound is October 13 at the Senior Center at 6 pm. That event is sponsored by the Eastsound Planning Review Committee (EPRC) and the Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce.

“Eastsound will be the area of Orcas that will see increased density of housing and with that, infrastructure is necessary. How pedestrian our Village will be is certainly up for discussion,” Krampf said.

The document organized by Jim Johanssen for the Town Hall, “Seeking a Vision for Eastsound: An invitation to engage,” is available in hard copy at Orcas Island Public Library and online at: https://www.orcaslibrary.org/docs/vision4eastsound.pdf. Free copies may also be available at Darvill’s Bookstore.

Last year, when the county accepted the revised Eastsound Sub-Area Plan, some of the uses under consideration for the county-owned property, called “Transportation Hub,” were listed. The goal of such uses is “to guide county improvements and support grant funding for paths, and street improvements that improve non-motorized transportation into and around Eastsound:”

• ADA Pedestrian pass through and off street transit stop
• Shuttle stop to off-site parking
• Ferry and Hamlets RIDESHARE location
• Covered are with solar powered lighting from roof panels
• Rainwater catchment for grass pavers, rain gardens and community gardens
• Storage lockers and bike racks/lockers
• Drinking fountain/self-closing water faucet
• Map of walking paths around Eastsound and Public Access to shoreline
• Dedicated spots for Food trucks or licensed vendors
• Permanent or temporary kiosks
• Picnic tables with trash and recycling receptacles
• Public art
• Announcements of community events
• Emergency phone

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