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Council directs staff to pursue interlocal agreement to move Riverfront ball fields to Northstar Recreation Area
Summary
After extensive discussion of flood risk, RCO restrictions, parking and wildlife habitat, Sedro‑Woolley council directed staff to negotiate an ILA with Scadget County to implement Option 1: four little‑league baseball fields and supporting parking at the Northstar Recreation Area (vote 5–1).
Sedro‑Woolley’s council on June 24 authorized city staff to negotiate an interlocal agreement (ILA) with Scadget County to deliver a first phase of baseball facilities at the Northstar Recreation Area (NSR), following a lengthy staff briefing and council debate.
Staff presented three conceptual options: (1) a southerly NSR layout with four little‑league fields, roughly 100 additional parking spaces and modest support facilities; (2) a north‑side layout that would relocate trails and county caretaker facilities; and (3) an east‑side option judged infeasible because of wetlands and access impacts. Staff said Option 1 best balances field capacity, protection of contiguous open space and constructability under the NSR master plan.
Council members, youth‑sports advocates and residents said more fields are sorely needed; other speakers raised concerns about protecting potential nesting habitat for the American bittern and preserving veterans’ memorial sightlines. Staff said the NSR master plan already contemplated ball fields in part of the site and that a carefully scoped ILA would define maintenance responsibilities, parking materials, timing, environmental review and any county financial participation. Councilman Lavaka moved — and the council approved — a direction for staff to engage the county in developing an ILA for the southern NSR option (motion passed 5–1). The motion instructs staff to return with a draft ILA defining roles, costs and a timeline before any design funds are committed.
Next steps: city staff will approach Scadget County to negotiate an ILA setting expectations for ownership, maintenance, environmental mitigation, parking surfacing and a potential schedule for construction; any design funding or construction authorization would return to the council for approval.
