SEQUIM – This is already a good week for parkland lovers and pedestrians.
The Sequim City Council gave green lights Monday night to an expanded James Center for the Performing Arts and to a new demonstration garden, both just north of Carrie Blake Park.
It also finalized acquisition of 45 acres of open land to be turned into a wildlife refuge on the city’s southeastern edge.
In approving the demonstration garden plan, the council laid to rest a contentious debate among the Master Gardeners of Clallam County.
The vote was 5-0 – with councilman Bob Anundson abstaining since he’s a Master Gardener – for what city Public Works Director James Bay calls “another beautification opportunity.”
It’ll be a 4-acre space for gardening, classes, peaceful lunch breaks, even weddings and other events – cared for by the Master Gardeners.
The garden is to grow near the James Center band shell in the Water Reuse Demonstration Site, adjacent to Carrie Blake Park at 202 N. Blake Ave.
Some Master Gardeners protested the plan, pointing out that the group already has a fine 2.5-acre demo space north of Sequim at 2711 Woodcock Road.
A rift opened between two factions, with one for keeping up the old garden and the other for building the new one inside the city.
In August, Sequim Mayor Walt Schubert admonished the gardeners to “come together,” and at Monday night’s council meeting a row of them sat quietly while Bay explained how the new demo garden can coexist with an expanded performing arts center.
