Maple park design supported by park commissioners

They say first impressions are lasting.

In the case of designer Curt Miller’s preliminary drawings for the new Maple Avenue public park, that is a good thing.

The La Conner parks commissioners were pleased with the draft design for the proposed park at their April 13 meeting.

Commission chairman Ollie Iversen noted afterward that the next step is for Miller to develop a final rendering.

“We enjoyed what he presented,” Iversen said. “We, too, are waiting for the final.”

He said commissioners found that the Miller design fits nicely with survey priorities and projects “a good-looking park on the east side of town.”

Miller’s design, crafted from public input sought in a citizen’s survey circulated last summer, develops the 24,000 square feet portion of the former Hedlin Maple Avenue ballfield retained by the town when the property was sold to Landed Gentry in 2021. Miller shared his initial concepts at a special parks commission meeting April 7.

Commissioners also conditionally endorsed placement of the re-configured Love La Conner marketing icon at Gilkey Square.

The current design, which John Leaver described as a “do-over,” features a horizontal base that would sport seasonal flowers or plants and could be disassembled and stored during winter.

The former town council member and recently appointed planning commissioner explained that the sign would be installed at the back of Gilkey Square on a concrete riser that would serve as a seating area. The sign, assured Leaver, would not interfere with summer music at the square.

It was clarified that the word “love” inserted within the image of a heart is not a La Conner Chamber of Commerce lowgo. The commission did not accept the heart symbol as presented.

Parks commission approval of the proposal, which would be paid for through hotel-motel tax revenue, was also conditioned on completion of final contracts related to the structure’s assemblage, maintenance and storage; watering of flowers and plants; and either elimination or modification of the heart image.

Commissioners also heard that La Conner park maps have been completed with laminated copies posted at the Morris Street public restrooms and the log park next to the First Street restrooms.