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Oak Harbor staff propose Holland Park site for community garden; Garden Club to manage operations
Summary
City staff updated the commission on plans to site a community garden at Holland Park, described governance and rules being developed with the Garden Club, and noted accessibility and volunteer-management issues to finalize before returning to council.
Parks staff told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission on Oct. 13, 2025, that they now favor siting a proposed community garden in the southern corner of Holland Park rather than the previously considered Veil Park site.
Brian (parks staff) said the Holland Park location would put the garden nearer a water source (a windmill the staff called “Holland Gardens”), adjacent to underused lawn area and with room for expansion. He said the change responds to concerns about removing open play space used by Tiny Tots soccer and other groups at the earlier site.
Staff explained they are preparing a draft land-lease agreement and community-garden rules to govern plot assignment, required volunteer service hours, plot maintenance, prohibited materials and an indemnification clause for the city. The plan calls for the community garden to be operated by a nonprofit garden board (Garden Club) under a land lease; staff said the board would handle plot assignments, manage service-hour tracking and enforce rules including written warnings and potential ejection for repeat violations.
Commissioners raised access and vandalism concerns. Commissioner Kim Ford asked specifically about ADA access from the gravel parking lot; staff said a paved ADA walkway from the parking area into the garden would be required and included in build-out planning. Staff also said they expect high demand and a waiting list and that the garden board would manage vacant plots and coordinate volunteers to maintain them.
On governance, staff said they are drafting a community-board structure and lease terms and will bring a more detailed plan back to the commission and then to City Council once the garden board is organized and a budget is fleshed out. Staff said they aim to avoid high user fees and noted the possibility of a mix of in-kind volunteer labor and city-provided materials to reduce costs.
Ending: Staff asked the commission to treat the update as informational at this stage; the city will return with a draft land-lease and rules and will invite the Garden Club or a representative to present once the nonprofit board is more established.
