Three new members Jon Volyn, Jim Brink, Tom Everly joined the club.  Past President Phil “Raz” Rassmussen led a charge with a passionate explanation of what it means to be a Rotarian, not just a member of Rotary.  Hear AUDIO of the "Charge"

 

Terry Stuller introduced our speaker, Dave Erickson, announcing that he and Gene Anderson had met with Dave to discuss how our club could help to upgrade Lincoln Park.  They were so impressed with all that the city is planning for all of the area parks, that they invited Dave to speak to our club so that we could all hear about the many slated projects.  Dave earned a BS Degree in Landscape Architecture from UW and a Masters in Science/Recreation Management from the U. of Idaho.  David is a strong community service person.  He is on his 2^nd term as member of Cashmere City Council, on Wenatchee Valley College workforce education outdoor recreation advisory committee and appointed by the state to serve on WS state land and water conservation funding board.

Dave praised his small staff, including Caryl Andre, Sascha Smith, and Cammy Coble, as well as the annual temporary 56 (or so) high school and college-age kids who help operate the City pool and do recreation programs throughout the year.  Events vary from Halloween carnival, swimming lessons, day camp, park planning, acquisition and development projects.

Parks are maintained by the City Public Works Department and partnerships.  We have about 20 parks areas on about 950 acres.  State and federal grants are being sought for most of the work planned.  Dave is reportedly an expert in grant-request writing.

Upcoming projects include Hale Park which was donated in 2013. The first phase ($1 million) was just completed which includes an off-leash dog park, picnic area, parking, and utilities.  Additional grant funding is coming to finish the park which will include a skate park, additional landscaping, children’s play areas, pic-nic shelter and restrooms.

Another project is in a partnership with the Trust for Public Land to upgrade Kiawanis Methow Park.  Final design and engineering is in progress, to finish construction in fall of 2019, at total cost of $3.4 Million.  Multi purpose sports field including field turf, basketball court, skate park, urban plaza with Kiosko pavilion, shade covers, wading pool, restrooms. Community gardens and new walk way to be handicap accessible.

Saddle rock remediation.  Acquired in 2011.  Exploritor mining ops, Department of Ecology is requiring clean up waste rock, $900k allocation coming anytime, plus another $1.2 million.  Main trail will be re-graded, restore natural drainage channels, surface will have all-weather crushed rock to provide emergency access. 

Additional park upgrades are Rotary Park pic-nic shelter, tables, and parking expansion, Okanogan Park, new picnic tables with concerete pads throughout parks, hazardous tee removal and replacements.  Memorial Park upgrading electrical system and other amenities, Stevens and Mission Street: landscape and other amenities, upgrade restrooms at the City pool, sealed the floor and new paint.  Tree replacement is planned at several parks.

Lincoln Park upgrades.  The area was a former waste dump site turned into a park in 1969  It has seen many issues in the past few years.  In 2017 the shelter came down, the heavily used stage was rotting and unsafe, the restrooms need to be brought up to code and the Rotary playground has become unsafe, drawing vandalism and drug users. The new design must take safety into consideration.  New plans includes 2 pic-nic shelters  (One is waiting to be installed), to reforest the park, new restrooms, stage, BMX bike track, regrade the field and create a soccer field with safety fences and a future baseball field. New playground will include vandal resistant material and remove of hiding places, add a new splash park and lighting features.  Striping the parking lots is to create more parking.  Most of the park plans depend on grant funding, many of which have been approved and awaiting finalization.   Go here to listen to AUDIO of Dave's talk.