New pitches delivered for future Hedlin’s Ballfield as public park

Initial game plans have been drawn up for the proposed park and children’s play area at historic Hedlin’s Ballfield off Maple Avenue.

Designer Curt Miller, who in the past has drafted renderings for various public use areas in La Conner, has submitted to Town officials a series of drawings reflecting potential development of basketball and pickleball courts along with installation of playground equipment, tables, benches and landscaping.

The Town Parks Commission, which has received from Miller eight new concept images, was scheduled to discuss the Hedlin’s Ballfield plan at its video-conferenced meeting this morning.

“It is very preliminary,” Parks Commissioner Ollie Iversen noted beforehand. “Curt has provided some ideas and drawings from information at our last Parks meeting in early March.”

The Town this past spring committed to a $37,000 one-year option on the Hedlin property, which it has leased on an annual basis for decades as a local youth sports venue.

Picking up the option effectively takes Hedlin’s Ballfield off the market for now, allowing the Town time to refine its plans and further study market conditions.

Should a formal purchase go forward, the Town intends to designate 25 per cent of the site – about 20,000 square feet – for a park and play area.

The remaining space would be available for residential development, allowing the Town to recoup costs of purchasing the property over time.

Part of the appeal of setting aside space at Hedlin’s Ballfield for a park and playground is it would allow the Town to apply for grant monies to support the project, according to Town Administrator Scott Thomas and Mayor Ramon Hayes.

La Conner area residents have taken to social media in recent weeks to suggest additional features for the 80,000 square foot Hedlin property, including community gardens, a swimming pool, and even increased parking.

Thomas told the Weekly News he expects to receive a Hedlin‘s Ballfield appraisal report this week in advance of its review by Hayes and Town Council members.

If Hedlin’s Ballfield is ultimately converted to a mixed-use residential/recreational site, the Town has pledged to confer with La Conner Schools and the Swinomish Tribal Community to locate alternative youth sports field venues.

That, of course, was something of a moot point this year. The COVID-19 pandemic forced cancellation of 2020 youth sports schedules, keeping La Conner teams off Hedlin’s Ballfield this spring and summer.