PORT ANGELES — A botanical garden, larger wetlands and new play equipment were among the options presented during a public hearing on the future of Lincoln Park.
But the majority of comments from the public at the overflow meeting of the Port Angeles Parks, Recreation and Beautification Commission on Wednesday night did not stray away from the subject that remains the focal point of the proposed park master plan: the removal of many of the park’s numerous tall evergreen trees.
Twenty-three of the approximately 90 people attending the meeting in council chambers at City Hall spoke during the public comment period, with seven of them speaking for protecting the trees, which are in a city park, and eight urging their replacement to protect the landing path to a runway at the adjacent William R. Fairchild International Airport.
A few others were less certain and requested that at least some trees remain.
Those in favor of protecting the trees included neighbors concerned that their absence would lead to more noise from the airport and less wind protection, as well as environmentalists who consider their fate part of a larger effort to save the planet.
“If we were talking about placing an airport, where would we put it today?” said Kim Weiner, questioning its location outside a residential neighborhood.
The Port of Port Angeles, which owns the airport, has proposed removing most of the trees, identified by the Federal Aviation Administration as obstructions, to protect landing aircraft and avoid losing more of the safe approach to a runway.
Because of the height of many of the nearby trees, the port has prohibited airplanes from landing on 1,354 feet of its eastern runway.
The city and the port have agreed to create the master plan, the subject of Wednesday’s meeting, to determine the future use of the park, particularly what should replace any trees that are felled.
Mel Rudin, who spoke for tree removal, said the city does not have to choose between the park and the airport.
“It’s not one or the other,” he said. “It is both.”
“Both are essential to the community, and having a low-canopy open park that is something that can be used by multiple groups of people is much more advantageous than the existing park as I see it now.”
The consultant for the master plan, Juliet Vong of HBB Landscape Architecture, said felled evergreens could be replaced by low-canopy trees to maintain a forest and buffer between homes and the airport.
Devon Graywolf and William Hunt, activists who have led the effort to save the trees, sang a song about protecting the trees during the public comment period.
Both have spoken against a new, low-canopy forest.
“Saving our planet starts at home in our communities,” Graywolf told the parks commission.
“We pray the City Council will say no to the Federal Aviation Administration and the Port of Port Angeles and say yes to protecting our historical and heritage trees of Lincoln Park.”
Vong presented four options for the park at the meeting.
All four options protect existing uses, though one includes relocating the BMX track to the northeast end of the park.
The options differ in the size of wetland areas and new additions, such as climbing and playground equipment, an amphitheater, botanical gardens and educational facilities.
But how such changes would be paid for remains to be determined.
Richard Bonine, city recreation services manager, acknowledged that the city has limited funds for additional park enhancements and maintenance.
Because of budget cuts over the past several years, the city has relied on donation drives and volunteers to maintain existing parks or add new equipment.
Bonine said city staff will give preference to low-maintenance options for park improvements.
“We just got to be realistic,” he said.
Vong said refined versions of the plan will be presented at a public meeting in April.
A proposed final draft will be presented at another meeting in May.
The City Council has final say over the plan.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.