Gardens or housing for Jenson Field?

Discussions are going on among La Conner residents advocating for development of a community garden at Jenson Field, as some are calling the property south of Pioneer Park and west of Maple Avenue Sybil and Tom Jenson sold to the Town of La Conner last September. When council voted to make the purchase, Mayor Ramon Hayes called it a gift: the $60,000 price was less than one-third its assessed value.

At that council meeting resident Debbie Aldrich promoted the importance of green space and play areas for children after the loss of the Hedlin Maple Avenue ballfield in 2021.

Now a flyer is circulating, titled, “IMAGINE: La Conner Community Garden” and advocating for the “rare opportunity to create a commons space for growing. Jenson Field is a half acre-plus of prime agricultural soil, ideal for growing vegetables, flowers, trees.” Earlier in May a presentation was made at a La Conner Civic Garden Club meeting, requesting the club write a letter endorsing the space for a garden.

“If we do nothing, it will fall to development; dense development like the kinds we' re seeing where families have no yards,” the flyer states.

Hayes has called the space an ideal location to develop an affordable housing model while consistently stating that residents will have opportunity to share their views for the property’s use and that town council will decide the property’s future.

The flyer urges residents to “Dream big! For the future” and lists email addresses for Hayes, council member and Michael Davolio, town planner, urging residents to contact them.

The flyer’s line: “Possibilities are endless if we preserve it” is true for Hayes’ housing hope, also.