Efforts to transform Seawall Park in downtown Langley into a sculpture park has additional support after the city council approved the forming of an ad hoc committee on Aug. 1. The committee will have somewhere between five or nine members, said City Planner Brigid Reynolds, and will consist of nearby property owners, Langley Arts Commission members, Parks and Open Space Commission members, city officials and other interested parties. The committee will be responsible for making recommendations to the city council on proposed improvements to Seawall Park. In April, the council adopted the Langley Arts Commission master plan, which included a proposed $800,000 transformation of the undeveloped Seawall Park that overlooks Puget Sound into a sculpture and event park. A community meeting was held to discuss the concept in June, which more than 50 people attended. According to city documents, people’s comments covered topics such as accessibility, general improvements, signage, art, natural environment and on-going maintenance. In a July 7 Langley Arts Commission meeting, commission members determined that the improvements were too large in scope for them to undertake in its entirety, which subsequently led to the forming of the committee.

Reynolds said in an interview with The Record in early August that she sent a letter out to property owners adjacent to Seawall Park, asking if they wished to be part of the committee “because they have unique interest,” she said. She added that because of the interest, location, importance and proximity to property owners, the city wants to make sure improvements to the park will meet the needs of the whole community.

“It’s a well-rounded process and the improvements that then come out at the end of the day are reflective of that broad community consensus,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds said both she and Public Works Director Stan Berryman will likely be on the committee.

Among the list of items to tackle moving forward are thinking of ways to fund the improvements, Reynolds said. Some of the major projects include improving accessibility for wheelchairs on the steep hill between the Dog House Tavern and Whale Bell Park. Other things to sort out are determining where property lines begin and end, what space is usable and what improvements need to be completed.

“There was certainly discussion about more seating areas and integrating art within the street and park furniture,” Reynolds said.