Oak Harbor: Here are some positive ideas
July 3, 2008 · Updated 9:18 PM
After reading the letters to the editor column, it made me think. Why cant there be more positive comments written? If someone doesnt like the idea the mayor came up with maybe they could say lets think about it or maybe submit an idea they think would be better.
I believe the mayor is trying to come up with a theme that would suit Oak Harbor, entice people to visit, and make Oak Harbor a better place to live. It is impossible for every resident of Oak Harbor to agree on one theme. But one should be chosen, and people that have an idea could send them to the council for review.
Downtown does need a theme and tying the pier with downtown and the Freund Marsh is a start. Why not a mini village built across from the pier that would tie in with the downtown area? The village could have small shops and cafes with outside seating in the summer. People could come on the passenger ferry at the pier (maybe even a boardwalk, if we could afford it). And the theater downtown could turn into an art theater.
We could encourage landowners to plant wildflowers and lavender wherever possible to further beautify the island and entice people to come just to see the beauty. We could also think about encouraging health spas and restaurants for healthy eating and advertise for people to come to Oak Harbor to relax, de-stress and walk and bike on natural trails.
One only has to look at Winthrop and Leavenworth and there is no question about whether themes work, but it takes the community as a whole to work together. Lets all work together and make Oak Harbor a fun and interesting place to live and visit. Its just as easy to say why not as why.
Diane Kolaitis
Oak Harbor
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