Oak Harbor officials are looking at the possibility of purchasing property on the north end of the city for ballfields.

At last week’s council meeting, Public Works Director Cathy Rosen explained that it’s difficult for the city to keep up with the community’s current demand for ballfields. The last time the city bought property for that use was in 1990, when 20 acres was purchased to build Fort Nugent Park.

The city has the opportunity to buy 75 acres at the end of Gun Club Road, she said.

“Hank Nydam, our parks manager, has been out to this site,” she said, “and he thinks that it is an excellent site for a future park and it would take us well into the future with our parks needs.”

In an interview, Mayor Bob Severns said the proposal has both pros and cons. The site is across the road from the North Whidbey Gun Club and he would want to make sure it’s safe, he said.

Councilman Rick Almberg also proposed changing the name of the road.

Severns said he has some concerns that the property is so far out of the way. He said he might prefer to have the park in “the heart of the city,” which would draw visitors to city businesses.

On the other hand, the property is certainly big enough for future needs.

“We can potentially build a lot of ballfields on that site,” he said.

The city has saved $250,000 in the parks budget for the purchase of property. The price the city can pay for the 75 acres would have to be determined by an appraisal, the mayor said, but that money likely won’t cover it.

As a result, Rosen proposed that the city apply for a state Recreation and Conservation Office grant to help purchase the property. The application is due next month, she said, and the council will have to pass a resolution at the next meeting to allow the staff to apply for it.