Town applying for development grant for Maple Avenue park

La Conner officials last week inched closer to their goal of developing park space on the town’s portion of the former Hedlin’s Maple Avenue ballfield.

Council members during their April 26 hybrid meeting at Maple Hall approved Town Administrator Scott Thomas submitting a grant application to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office to develop the park on just over a half-acre on the Maple and East Talbott site.

Funds would be for “direct eligible and allowable costs that are reasonable and necessary to implement the project,” according to the grant request.

The dollar amount of the grant and level of local matching contributions that might be required remains undetermined, he said.

“We haven’t finished with the budget,” he said, “so we don’t know yet.”

Thomas said the state will announce grant awards in October.

While eligible for RCO assistance, La Conner is one of many entities statewide seeking funding from the agency, said Mayor Ramon Hayes.

“These,” he cautioned, “are notoriously hard grants to get.”

However, said Hayes, the town application checks the boxes RCO requires for approval.

For instance, the park layout will reflect results of a comprehensive citizens’ survey that was circulated over an extended period last year.

Initial plans for the 24,000 square-foot public use area drafted by designer Curt Miller have been endorsed by the town parks commission. It features landscaping highlighted by native trees and shrubs. Amenities such as split-rail fencing, terraced seating, picnic tables, a children’s play area, a “tyke on bike” path, an open grassy space and a bioswale – a small channel designed to convey storm water runoff – with a bridge crossing.

In other council business, Hayes reported that hearing examiner David Lowell had asked for additional information related to the proposed Center Street conditional use permit application condominium project.

“He reached out to the town planner for more information,” Hayes said. “It’s on the long side of three weeks now (since Lowell heard testimony on the project), but it’s not unheard of or unusual for it to take this amount of time.”

Thomas said there will be a joint town council-planning commission meeting May 17, 6:30 p.m. at Maple Hall to hear a presentation from Port of Skagit representatives on their planning concepts for La Conner Marina.