Oak Harbor city officials made the right call in adding state-of-the art smell eliminating contraptions to the new sewage treatment plant under construction, even with the $4.5-million price tag.

The frugal among us may balk at the high cost of de-stinkifying sewage air. And it’s understandable, given the fact that sewage rates have increased precipitously and will continue to increase in the future. The fact that the city doesn’t know exactly how much rates will need to rise — or even the final cost of the plant — is indeed troubling, but that’s another conversation.

The one place city officials should not cut corners is in mitigating the impact the plant will have on Windjammer Park, the city’s jewel on the waterfront.

When city officials were deciding where to build the plant, some residents complained about the possibility of bad odors in the park, as well as the loss of parkland.

Elected officials promised that the plant wouldn’t stink and that there would be no net loss of park property.

Some even said the park would be better than ever after the project is complete.

Council members kept the smell-mitigation part of the promise this week by approving a complicated air-freshening system. It’s a good decision for the city. Families, tourists or anyone else visiting the park shouldn’t have to hold their breath when a north wind blows.

It’s still unclear where the extra park property will come from, but we expect this promise to be kept too.

As soon as the sewage treatment plant is completed — which should be next year — the city plans to rebuild and improve a section of the park directly affected by the project. That is supposed to include a splash park for the kids.

The city also has a master plan for more grandiose improvements in the rest of the park.

Hopefully, officials will find the right mix of grants and city funds to restore the city’s biggest and best park to its former glory.