NEWSLETTER ~ Summer 2008
Download the complete Newsletter here.
Highlights from the newsletter
Letter from President
Freeland Beautification
Freeland Incorporation
Wetland Update
Trails & Pathways
Meet the Board
Getting Involved
Freeland Beautification
"Because of the increase in pedestrian and bicycle travel in Freeland, the grant of Federal funds for safety in downtown Freeland is coming at a very crucial time."
-Richard Rhydes
MAIN STREET PROJECT 
The Federal Washington Department of Transportation grant of $45,000 awarded to FoF allows us to provide landscaped pedestrian and bicycle areas along Main Street where no sidewalks presently exist.
The area subject to grant funding runs from Hwy 525 at Fish Road, down Main Street to 1/2 block past Harbor Avenue.
In order to make the bicycle and pedestrian movement separate, we have defined planting areas in the county right of way. The landscaping includes seating elements.
Construction documents are presently being prepared in the office of Richard Rhydes, architect, for pedestrian walkways and landscaping along four blocks of Main Street in Freeland.
Approximately $100,000 "in kind" will be provided by Friends of Freeland in donated labor and equipment.
Plans are being reviewed now by Island County Public Works coordinator, Joe Auracto, PE. Approved plans are scheduled for completion by mid August, with construction of planters and walkways starting in late September of this year.
I have been licensed to practice architecture for 41 years and have spent 40 of those years self employed. I have spent the last 20 years working as an architect on beautiful W1zidbey Island, having moved here from my native state of Montana in 1988.
In a day and age where the" American norm" has often been a long commute to and from work, I've been privileged to live and work with my wife, Mary Solt, here at our home just north of Freeland. Many of those for whom we have designed homes initially intended to commute off-island but once their Whidbey home was built they opted to stay on the island and telecommute, driving into Seattle once a week for meetings. In my 20 years on Whidbey Island, I have watched our community of Freeland grow to become the commercial center of South Whidbey. It has been able to do this in large part because of its geographic location, which enables it to conveniently provide goods and services to people living from Clinton to Coupeville. Coupled with the advantage of location has been the quality of goods-and services provided. Freeland continues to attract quality in all her enterprises which include grocery, lumber/hardware, financial services, medical, professional, boatyard/ industrial, food and beverage services, retail/ clothing and elderly care.
Charting the growth of Freeland over the past 20 years is akin to watching chapters unfold for a new land use textbook titled "The American Small Town for the 21st Century". Because of its size, location, and present zoning, Freeland is going to remain a very healthy commercial center for many years to come but with no 'local' government we will also face changes and growth issues similar to those of other growing communities around Puget Sound. One example is the pollution found in Holmes Harbor, a similar problem to that found in Belfair on Hood Canal.
Fully a third of Freeland real estate is presently occupied and still using septic systems. Imagine the useful value of this land if it were allowed to be developed according to community vision - in keeping with the principles of a denser, more contained commercial/residential core, avoiding undesirable urban sprawl. Septic failures may soon be more definitively declared a significant cause of the Holmes Harbor fecal pollution, causing ongoing closure to our community of safe swimming waters and shellfish harvesting.
In 1954 the legendary American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, in his book "The Living City," described the ideal urban environment as being a metropolis surrounded by many small, self-sustaining villages where a semi¬rural lifestyle was available and where a family could develop and benefit from a sense of community. I believe Freeland more than fits this description and that with nurturing and local guidance from its citizens, Freeland will continue to be a most desirable and healthy place to live for young and old alike.
Some of Friends of Freeland's next steps toward this direction include:
• Development of sidewalks and landscaping of 4 blocks of downtown Main Street
• Continued investigation into incorporating Freeland as a city
• Continued stewardship of the 40 acre wetland with development of an interpretive trail on site in 2011
• Additional construction of trails and walkways throughout Freeland's downtown core, supporting pedestrian safety and access
• Continued exploration and promotion of sewer construction for downtown Freeland
We welcome all of you to come on board, helping us guide and shape Freeland's next 20 years based on the hard work of the citizens who served on our Freeland Sub Area Planning Committee and Vision 2025 Committee. Volunteer with us, meet fellow FoF members, and support our annual Arts & Crafts Sale in December.
Thank you.
"When people share their visions for the future and unite to accomplish them in an inclusive manner, the rewards become self-motivating." - Dean Enell
The City Committee is in a holding pattern -again. This time they are waiting for the State Growth Management Hearings Board to settle an appeal against the recent NMUGA designation that the County adopted for the Freeland area.
Ironically, achieving this NMUGA designation represented a year delay itself,since it took the County from the Spring of 2007 to the Spring of 2008 to formally declare Freeland a Non Municipal Urban Growth Area.
As reported in previous issues, the Freeland Sub Area Planning Committee completed their plan and recommendation for such a NMUGA designation in 2004 and the County tabled it for 3 years before adopting the recommendation. Action occurred after Notice of Intent to Incorporate papers were received at the County.
If good things take time, the incorporation effort by the City Committee has certainly paid their dues.
Summer in the FoF Wetlands
Osprey, herons and eagles utilize the wetland as nesting and feeding habitat.
FoF intern Curtis Kukal identified 51 species of birds that make their home on the FoF wetland while studying the wetland/forest system over the summer of 2006. He observed Barred and Great Horned owls, and identified their nests. He verified the presence of rarer Sora and Virginia Rail birds. His list includes many small passerines and waterfowl.
South Whidbey Audubon's dedicated volunteers has provided us with a bird census from various seasons throughout the year, indicating this wetland is indeed a valuable habitat for our year-round and migratory birds.
This summer FoF friend and neighbor Ralph Hastings observed successful Osprey nest building in a large conifer overlooking the wetland, and witnessed 6 pairs of herons building their nests nearby.
Ralph also observed eagles target the heron nests in an aerial attack, perhaps in search of heron eggs or fledglings. Next year we will see whether the heron return. The presence of these larger birds suggests a rich and relatively protected environment for breeding purposes.
Deer, coyote, raccoon, river otter and beaver have been seen in the forest edges of the FoF property. The wetland hosts an annual salamander hatch out and migration into the forest, and singing frogs grace the evenings.
fledglings. Next year we will see whether the heron return. The presence of these larger birds suggests a rich and relatively protected environment for breeding purposes. Deer, coyote, raccoon, river otter and beaver have been seen in the forest edges of the FoF property. The wetland hosts an annual salamander hatch out and migration into the forest, and singing frogs grace the evenings.
You Can Make a Difference
Conservation of Open Space 
Friends of Freeland plays an important role in protecting a sizable area of undeveloped land in our community, a wetland and associated forest that is largely hidden from view between Newman Road, Scott Road and Hwy 525.These 47 acres feature a recovering forest, a wetland where water rises and falls with the seasons, and birds, amphibians and other creatures have a home that is protected from human encroachment.
-Johnny Palka
Join Us in Legacy Work
This land was purchased and donated with the intention of providing quiet educational enjoyment for our community while protecting the land as habitat. A trail system is marked and donations of trail materials are anticipated to arrive this summer.
We ask you to join us in retiring the generous bridge loans made by members of our community to complete the last purchase of five acres of biologically valuable land,which connected earlier parcels of FoF land, creating a whole ecosystem.
Please consider making your contribution now. It is fully tax-deductible, and a gesture that will reach far into our future on the island. Thank you.
-Janis Swalwell
Friends of Freeland Board members Richard Rhydes and Bill Frederick are working to fulfill plans for a pedestrian pathway and bicycle trail system throughout the downtown Freeland business and residential core. FoF is working to obtain State funding for additional trails, requiring considerable pre-planning to satisfy the State's requirements at the county level. Here are updates on projects under construction and nearing completion or completed.
Capes Loop Sidewalk
Proposed by FoF, and completed with funding from the Port of South Whidbey, the Capes Loop Sidewalk is a completed portion of the Capes Loop Trail, connecting Myrtle Avenue from Freeland Park up to East Harbor Road, running behind Payless and Ace Hardware via the almost completed Capes Loop Trail pathway.
The Capes Loop Trail continues from East Harbor Road at Layton Road, behind Payless and Ace Hardware, connecting the Dutch Hollow Road Trail to Myrtle Avenue. This trail access exists due to the generosity of the Capes family, who donated an easement for this vital trail link, and to the dedicated work of former FoF board member, Jim Wright.
Capes Loop Trail
To date, the trail has been cleared, graded and received a base coat of gravel, as part of the funding FoF received from the Port of South Whidbey. The Capes Loop and Dutch Hollow trail segments are waiting for donations sufficient to complete a drainage culvert and a top coat of crushed gravel.
Capes Loop-Dutch Hollow
Dutch Hollow portion is positioned from Myrtle Avenue to the Capes Family easement for the Capes Loop Trail. The three trail segments complete the passage from Freeland Park through downtown Freeland up to East Harbor Road. Payless Foods has completed significant landscaping and grading at the site area.
Main Street
The new sidewalk with steps at the Post Office, running along Main Street from East Harbor Avenue to Payless Foods, represents the first section of the pedestrian and bicycle safety grant awarded to FoF by the Federal Government. The complete plan will run from Hwy525 at Fish Road up Main Street to 1/2 block beyond Harbor Avenue, just past Radio Shack.
Design elements include landscaping barriers, seating, and defines pedestrian and bicycle areas where no sidewalks exist.
Richard Rhydes and former FoF Board member Mike Dolan worked at length to qualify for the grant, administered by Island County for FoF.
IAC Easement
A recently completed easement negotiated with Steve Shapiro and Debra Valis (Thank you, Steve and Debra!) will enable walkers to avoid busy Hwy 525, and travel safely from Freeland Ave. through a stand of fir trees behind Island Athletic Club along the fence line,connecting with Woodard Ave. and bus stop. Plans are being made for clearing, grading and marking the trail, with a culvert addition for access in 2009.