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Parks board weighs Harbor Heights trail, Fred Marsh and Ramley food‑forest for state forestry grant
Summary
Parks staff proposed three candidate projects for a state DNR/community forestry grant — Harbor Heights trail and restoration, improvements to the Fred Marsh trail, and Hal Ramley food-forest restoration — and the board discussed ADA access, invasive species removal, conservation‑fund restrictions and funding thresholds.
Parks staff presented three candidate projects for a state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) community forestry grant and solicited board feedback on priorities and constraints.
Brandon Cable and other staff described Harbor Heights — a roughly 75‑acre open‑space site — as the top restoration candidate, proposing an educational walk path, informational signage and a viewing platform. They also recommended enhancements to the Fred Marsh wetland trail and restoration and a maintenance/management plan for the Hal Ramley food forest in partnership with community groups.
Speaker 2 told the board the city already has a larger federal Forest Service forestry grant and described the state grant as complementary. "We have $1,680,000 for the forestry grant with 0 match required from the city's pockets," Speaker 2 said; staff also discussed a state portion referenced around $350,000 in the meeting transcript. The transcript contains some inconsistent dollar figures; staff emphasized they will confirm exact award limits and match rules with DNR.
Board members urged planning that preserves future options. Speaker 4 said the board should avoid wholesale clearing of Harbor Heights before a trail plan is in place, recommending targeted clearing where trails will be located. Members raised accessibility, parking and potential conflicts with the conservation futures fund restrictions tied to the property's purchase; staff said they will check county restrictions and adjust plans accordingly.
Staff recommended engaging volunteers and stakeholders — including the Oak Harbor Garden Club, Imagine and school groups — to build support and to reduce design and labor costs for lower‑cost activation projects such as initial trail openings and disc golf features. Funding and procurement steps, public outreach and an RFP process were outlined as next tasks if the city pursues the state grant.
The board asked staff to prioritize which one project to submit for the state grant if eligibility or mapping constraints limit the city's choices; staff said they will return with refined proposals and confirmed they are coordinating with county and federal grant administrators.
