Oak Harbor’s baseball fields will be getting some TLC.

Unanimously, the Oak Harbor city council approved funding improvements to ball fields in Windjammer Park.

The improvements are quoted at $163,091 and has been awarded to Matia Contractors Inc., said Park Supervisor Brandon Cable at a recent council meeting, which will cover new field mix, the removal of vegetation from the infield, re-orientation of bases, grades for drainage and more. For one field, workers will reinstall the home plate, pitcher mound, baselines and foul poles.

Council approved an additional $16,309 buffer, as the park has a high probability for discovery of Native American artifacts and remains.

The goal is to provide a positive place to exercise, make new friends and learn new sports, Cable said. It’s been two years since field mix has been installed, and over the past season, the fields have lost materials from regular play and wind erosion.

The lost material created lips on the grass boundaries, which is a tripping hazard and interferes with the game. The low spots on the field allow water to pool.

As council members, they must find funding for continuous maintenance to not have such a big price tag all at once in the future, said Councilmember Eric Marshall.

The approval was a long time coming.

“For you guys to get us to this point, it is pretty exciting, and I would say the playing surface down there certainly have been a safety concern,” said Councilmember Shane Hoffmire.

According to Councilmember Jim Woessner, this was a large-group effort among park staff and the North Whidbey Little League. Park staff had to get a lot of work done with very little money.

“It wasn’t easy for those folks either to get that news from park staff and I get that,” he said, “but the fact that everybody was able to work together to get to this is important.”

The low spots on the baseball field at Windjammer Park allow water to pool. (Photo provided)