If Langley is to remain true to its “Village by the Sea” moniker, improved accessibility to Seawall Park is of utmost importance. Though the Seawall Park Ad Hoc Committee was just getting its feet wet at its first meeting Tuesday, committee members know that much.

Accessibility, safety and the potential installation of interpretive signage near the water were among the main topics discussed at the meeting. The committee includes residents, private property owners, and those who have vested interests in Seawall Park. The 15-or-so members will act as a visionary group for the city council and make recommendations for incremental changes to the park. Brigid Reynolds, planning director for Langley, will advise the committee on how to move forward with improvements.

Reynolds said the first meeting included garnering a common understanding of people’s interests in the park as well as preliminary plans for the area. The next meeting will take place at Seawall Park where the committee will develop a vision, goals and objectives for the park.

“I think what’s important is that we sit down as a group and set a course of action, priorities, and then bring it to council for approval,” Reynolds said.

There are steep declines in elevation at both of the park’s two access points — Whale Bell Park, Boy and Dog Park — which make for difficult engineering. There is potentially a third access point that could be developed behind City Hall, which would also feature a steep decline.

For Langley resident Thera Saffrin, it’s far too difficult to climb up the access road next to the Dog House. She hasn’t been down to the park in two to three years, she said.

“It’s really hard to get up for older people,” Saffrin said. “I won’t go down there anymore, and it’s a shame because I kind of like going down where the water is.”

The members discussed potential solutions to the problem, ranging from an elevator to a ramp, with the goal of making it compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. Given the cost to make it ADA compliant, Mayor Tim Callison said the projects could be paid for with grant opportunities or transportation initiatives.

If the committee elects to pursue improving access near the Dog House, it will require some innovative engineering, said Langley Public Works Director Stan Berryman.

The city’s main lift station is located at the bottom of the park and requires regular servicing by vehicles, which utilize the steep road down to the park to access the station. The space is large enough to accommodate both a ramp or elevator and the road, but would likely be a “pretty expensive” venture. The same could be said for improving accessibility at the other entrance, Berryman added. He said the third potential access point may be the most suitable because engineers wouldn’t have to worry about an access road.

There is also no clear indication whether a ramp is cheaper than an elevator, said Berryman, as it depends on the design of the project.

Langley resident Joann Quintana, a member of the committee, said making access to the water easier for everyone, including people who are disabled or elderly, is important to the city’s viability as both a tourist attraction and hub for nature lovers.

“People want to feel more connected with the water and I think the Seawall Park improvements are an opportunity to make that connection stronger,” Quintana said in a phone interview Thursday. “I love living here and I want other people to enjoy it too. I feel like having that connection with the water is going to make a huge difference in how residents and visitors feel about Langley and how they use it.”

Though part of the meeting was spent hashing out what the committee’s priorities should be moving forward, Quintana and fellow member Leanne Finlay felt people were unified in their interests for Seawall Park and its improvements.

“I do think everyone is genuinely eager to see the Seawall area be vibrant, well utilized and enjoyed by everybody,” Finlay said.

Safety of the staircase at Boy and Dog Park was also a voiced concern. Berryman said there are no hazards in accessing the park from that location and that the staircase was recently rehabilitated. Berryman said it’s more about what the committee wants to do.

An educational component to the park was also proposed. Installing interpretive signage that detail everything from the biology in the area to its geography and history.

Finlay felt addressing concerns of safety and accessibility should take precedence. In addition to safety and accessibility, she also hopes the committee will address ongoing graffiti and vandalism that has been occurring in the area.