The city of Yachats could have two new parks by next spring.
The City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a Parks and Commons Commission recommendation to allocate up to $25,000 to develop two small “pocket parks” along Ocean View Drive.
The two unimproved areas are overlooking the ocean at West Sixth and Fourth streets along the road, which Lincoln County is in the process of turning over to the city.
The unimproved areas — both about 1,200 square feet — are now protected from vehicle traffic by delineators separating the 804 Trail from the driving area, new guardrails and large boulders. The proposal would move and add benches including cutting paths through grasses and salal to new sitting areas, scrape off or level areas of gravel, and install native plants.
“Between the pocket parks and the boardwalk proposal, our oceanfront is getting a lot of improvements,” commission chair George Mazeika told the council.
Although the council approved $25,000 from the city’s visitor amenity account, an estimate from the commission said it should cost about $13,000 — and that a lot of the work would be done by volunteers.
Several councilors expressed concern about the safety of people along the steep cliff at the edge of the parks, and urged plantings and signs to help keep people back.
“I think it will be a welcome addition to Ocean View Drive,” said Councilor Mary Ellen O’Shaugnnessey.
Councilor Ann Stott, who is the liaison to the Parks & Commons Commission, said its members and the Yachats Trails Committee had done great work in coming up with the idea, developing plans and bring a proposal to the council.
“We have amazing volunteers in this community,” she said.
