View the Future partnered with the City of Yachats four years ago to raise funds to build a safe walkway along the eastern 350 feet of Oceanview Drive along the north-estuary. The Yachats City Council determined at the end of 2020 that Oceanview Drive should remain a two-way street to Pontiac Street, and appointed a work group to study and develop a proposed plan. The workgroup had representatives from three City commissions and members of the City’s trail leadership team. City staff member Rick McClung was involved, and a renowned architect, Kevin Shanley, volunteered his waterfront parks expertise. VtF agreed to raise funds that could be used as a match for a City grant applications. Two boardwalk design options included a walled version, and post and beam boardwalk. The latter was eventually chosen by the Council due to limited ground intrusion and better stability. Two grant possibilities were identified, and a partial archaeological survey and preliminary engineering were completed. In May 2022, the Council recommended detailed engineering proceed. However, the pasr City Manager Heide Lambert halted the project until Oceanview Drive’s right-of-way was officially conveyed by Lincoln County to the City.
We’re happy to announce that, with CM Lambert’s recent departure, Interim City Manager Rick Sant re-assembled the work group and placed the project back on track. The archaeological assessments are now being completed; an application is being submitted to the State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO) for review and recommendations, and the detailed engineering is proceeding by Civil West.
View the Future has donations of $52,000 and a pledge of $8,000 from its Fireside /804 Fund. Plans are for the City to submit a grant application to the Local Government Grant Program with Orgon Parks and Recreation Department next year.
Individual donations are still enthusiastically being accepted by going to the View the Future website at www.viewthefuture.org
