By JENNY MANNING
Staff reporter
In a combined effort, the city of Oak Harbor, Island County and numerous volunteers saw the waterfront trail on its first step toward realization at a ground breaking ceremony Monday afternoon at Flintstone Park.
Nearly 40 people attended the fete, including state Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen.
“It really gives people another reason to visit Oak Harbor,” Haugen said, adding that the trail is also beneficial to the community in the form of a new recreation and exercise opportunity.
“Everybody recognizes how important it is to have these paths,” she said. “It’s great for economic development.”
Mayor Jim Slowik spoke to the attendees gathered on the east end of the trail-to-be, overlooking the harbor on the warm, sunny afternoon.
Slowik thanked the Island County commissioners for their support, specifically for Island County’s contribution of $216,435 to the project. Additional funding came from revenue generated from the sale of unused city property, providing an additional $70,000 in non-tax based funding to purchase materials, which are being supplied at a reduced cost from local buyers, he said.
“This project is a community based effort of citizens who share the value of civic responsibility and see the benefit of improvements,” he said, giving a special thanks to former Mayor Patty Cohen for her part in the project.
“She had the vision and leadership to see the value to the community in completing the trail,” he said.
City Engineer Eric Johnston, who has overseen the planning of the connective portion of the waterfront trail, also addressed the crowd.
“This could not have been done without the support of the community,” he said before moving on to a description of the recycled material that will be used for the boardwalk-style trail.
The material resembles wood boards —much like home decking — but is made from recycled milk bottles, plastic shopping bags and wood fiber, he said.
Despite opposition from neighbors in nearby condos who have tried for years to stop the project, construction of the boardwalk will move forward.
Construction crews will be on site with machinery Wednesday morning, Johnston said.
