The last bit of funding needed for the Glendale Beach preservation project is complete and the area may be open for public use as soon as November.

The Whidbey Camano Land Trust recently announced the state Legislature had approved two grant requests which will officially wrap up funding used for the property purchase. It also fast tracks the organization’s final efforts to ready the beach for community use.

The property purchase consisted of three waterfront parcels: one that houses the old Glendale Hotel and pier, an adjacent parcel with a house and boat launch, and a third undeveloped property just south of that.

The total project cost was about $1.5 million. About $900,000 was borrowed, which can now be paid back with two state grants through the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office. The remaining $600,000 came from land trust coffers and nearly 200 community donors (a full list of which can be seen at www.wclt.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/WCLT-Donor-List-6-15-High_FINAL.pdf) who pitched in about $186,000.

The state grants do come with a price, however; they prohibit motorized use. That means the boat launch must be removed. The pier will also be demolished for environmental reasons, largely due to its old creosote pilings.

According to the land trust’s website, the hotel, pier and a broken wooden bulkhead will be removed soon. They will be replaced by a gravel parking lot, informational signs and landscaping.