There will be a City Council meeting on Dec. 2 on which the future of Strawberry Cannery Park is at stake.

The restrictive grant representatives are trying to hurry the City Council to rush to judgment when the council still has not engaged the public in a process that explores community needs assessment of the public waterfront and engages any of the creative ideas that island residents are still waiting to discuss and explore in detail.

We believe these can bring about a compromise, win-win design solution.

We were forbidden to bring any materials to the discussions on Nov. 7 at the meeting set up by the city. No conclusions were reached and there was no time to explore design solutions to interests which we all share:

We see this park as a special place and we want: non-motorized boating; visual and physical water access; to balance needs of all islanders and park neighbors; a waterfront park with woodlands; functional ecosystems for people and wildlife.; educational opportunities for children; to honor the site’s history.

Many of us have lived here long enough to watch in dismay as all elements of a working waterfront have been dismantled and public water accesses diminished. We have seen loving gifts and legacies of our earlier residents who made their livings here traded away and taken over by newcomers who disrespect our past. John Nelson Park was given in 1950 for “recreation, amusement and education of the people” and is now a private commercial business site. How did that happen?

While other communities involve people in park design, we agree to a restrictive grant and then tell the public what they will get.

We had more than people on this island petition their wish to preserve history and physical water access in a safe way that leaves no footprints in the environment.

This is to alert folks with concerns to attend the Dec. 2 council meeting that will discuss this.

Gerald Elfendahl,

Friends of Cannery Cove