FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Girl Scouts of Western Washington to Donate Building at Holland Gardens Park to City
Oak Harbor, WA — March 18, 2025 — Girl Scouts of Western Washington (GSWW) and the City of Oak Harbor will jointly present a proposal to the Oak Harbor City Council on March 25 to donate the building in Neil Park to the City of Oak Harbor. This building has served as a meeting space for local Girl Scout troops for nearly seven decades and will continue to be used by Girl Scouts and other community programs.
On March 25, 2025, the Oak Harbor City Council will review the donation agreement submitted by GSWW and city staff. The agreement includes a five-year use license, allowing Girl Scout troops and volunteers to continue using the space for meetings. Upon the expiration of their lease with the City, GSWW approached the City about donating the building, which is located in a city park. City staff quickly recognized the potential benefits for both organizations.
“This agreement allows Girl Scouts to continue their valuable work in our community while enabling the City to utilize the space for broader purposes,” said Brian Smith, Oak Harbor Parks and Recreation Director. “Girl Scouts has a rich history of providing education and activities that benefit Oak Harbor’s youth, and the City has been a proud partner in their mission for more than 70 years. With limited community space available, it makes sense for the City to take ownership of the building and its use.”
The long-term future of the building remains under consideration, as the City plans to explore options during the upcoming renovation of Neil Park. For now, the space will continue to serve Girl Scout troops and be available for Oak Harbor Parks and Recreation youth and community programs.
“This space has been a vital part of our program for many years, and we are grateful to the City of Oak Harbor for helping ensure that future generations can continue to participate in skill-building opportunities,” said Andrea Anderson, CEO of Girl Scouts of Western Washington.
The City and Girl Scouts are both committed to preserving this community resource, so it remains an asset for Oak Harbor’s youth for many years.
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Contact:
Magi Aguilar, Communications Officer, City of Oak Harbor
maguilar@oakharbor.org
Julie Parker, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Girl Scouts of Western Washington
press@girlscoutsww.org
About Girl Scouts of Western Washington:
Girl Scouts of Western Washington is consistently and unapologetically committed to providing safe spaces for all girls* to belong. We build Girl Scouts of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Founded in 1912, our organization has been committed to meeting the needs of our youth members for over a century. We uplift all Girl Scouts in a supportive environment where they can discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their very first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. They are the future leaders paving the way toward a brighter tomorrow. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, donate, or learn more, visit www.girlscoutsww.org.
*Girl Scouts of Western Washington uses the term girl inclusively to speak to everyone who identifies with the Girl Scout experience, which includes cisgender girls, gender-expansive youth, transgender youth, non-binary youth, gender nonconforming youth, genderqueer youth, and any girl-identifying human.