At long last, it looks like Oak Harbor’s two-mile, waterfront trail — a key component in the $32 million Windjammer tourism program — will someday soon be complete.

And thanks a $154,000 grant, the west end of the scenic walkway will become more accessible, attractive and interesting.

“It’s a big deal. It is just huge,” said Mayor Patty Cohen, who has been working for years to get the trail completed.

When the projects are finally done, people will be able to stroll along the waterfront from the Oak Harbor marina, through Windjammer Park and Freund Marsh, all the way to a new trailhead off Scenic Heights Road.

It’s exciting news for the many residents who frequent the trail. Even on a blustery Tuesday afternoon, at least a dozen tightly-bundled folks and several leashed dogs were using the walkway.

Greenbank resident Ellen Bond and her dog Winnie tried out the trail for the first time. She walked on the crushed-gravel trail through the wetland, past wood ducks, an eagle and the omnipresent seagulls.

“It’s really neat,” she said. “It’s just a little breezy today.”

Plans to complete the trail were stalled over the last two years as city officials negotiated with the owners of three lots that would provide the missing link in the trail. The owners were resistant to the idea because it would direct people to walk in front of their condos, located on the beach between Flintstone Park and City Beach Park.

City officials began an eminent domain process to force the property owners to provide an easement, but staff was finally able to work out a deal with the reluctant residents this month.

City Attorney Phil Bleyhl said the city will purchase easements along the water through two of the property for $40,000 each and a third for $44,000.

He said that leaves one property to acquire, but the owner — a local developer — promised to donate the lot and actually fund construction of the small piece of the trail. That offer was made a couple of years ago and Bleyhl said he’s not sure if it’s still available.

City officials submitted a grant request to Island County last year to purchase all of the missing-link properties, but the commissioners put the request on hold until the city worked out a deal with the property owners.

Earlier this month, the Island Sub Regional Transportation Planning Organization, or RTPO, awarded Oak Harbor a $154,000 grant for major improvements at the trailhead above the Freund Marsh, off Scenic Heights Road. The RTPO funnels federal transportation enhancement funds to local government projects.

The city acquired the trailhead property from the Freund family after successfully obtaining funding from the Island County Conservation Futures program.

The money will be used to create a limited amount of public parking, sidewalks, lighting, landscaping and other trail improvements. Some of the trailhead improvements include planting Garry oak trees and incorporating natural landscaping and interpretive signs. Also, there are plans to include an Island Transit bus stop at the trailhead as well as a rack for storing bicycles.

The grant will also cover the cost of an information kiosk that describes the waterfront trail and highlights the history of the pioneer Freund family settlers of the 1860s.

The city will begin the project design later this summer and expects to complete construction by the spring of 2007.

You can reach News-Times reporter Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynews

times.com or call 675-6611.