By Pepper Fisher
SEQUIM — The citizens of Sequim have a new 16.5 acre future park space bordering the Olympic Discovery Trail and within walking distance of schools.
City officials announced Tuesday they have finalized the purchase agreement on land along West Hendrickson Street for a future city park.
The land was owned by the late Ruth C. McCord, whose family worked with the City on the agreement to honor her wishes that the land be used as a park for children and seniors. Their selling price was just under $2.5 million. The future Ruth C. McCord Memorial Park will realize her vision for the community.
With a unanimous vote of the Sequim City Council, the City used funds from the Rainy Day Fund, Real Estate Taxes, Park Impact Fees, and General Fund Reserve monies to capitalize on what they are describing as a rare opportunity to acquire acreage within the City limits. The City has also received $546,000 in state funding to reimburse some of the cost, thanks to State Legislators on the peninsula.
The land is currently under a lease and will remain in its present use, part of which is a cattle field, as the City begins to obtain funding for a master plan, with public input opportunities, and for park development. For those reasons, there is currently no public access to the property.
The City is planning a dedication and naming ceremony in the near future.
KONP has arranged for Sequim Parks and Events Manager Hannah Merrill and Finance Director Sue Hagener to be guests on the Todd Ortloff Show on Tuesday, June 11 to tell us more about how this legacy acquisition of property came about.