News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
...Heavy equipment finished the job. Photo by Jim Cornelius
Sisters dignitaries and members of the Barclay family braved chilly winds on Friday, March 7, to wield the golden shovels that broke ground on the new Harold and Dorothy Barclay Memorial Park.
The park is located on a now-closed stretch of Ash Street adjacent to The Gallery Restaurant.
The park will feature much-needed restroom facilities, well drinking fountains, street lamps and power for entertainment purposes.
A walking path will meander through existing trees, past a water feature that will be constructed later. Several angled parking spaces will be provided in the park.
The Sisters City Council approved naming the park in honor of the pioneering businessman and his wife. Harold Barclay was instrumental in creating the city's Western theme.
The Barclays' daughter, Susan Busik, spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday. She extended her regrets that her ailing mother was unable to attend the event, but she assured the gathered crowd that the family is deeply touched and honored by the dedication of the park.
She personally thanked city Public Works Director Gary Frazee, who suggested naming the park in honor of the Barclays.
Peter Storton, who led the citizen effort to design the park, said the restrooms are expected to be in operation by Rodeo Weekend in June. The restrooms are fully funded and GJ Miller Construction of Sisters won the contract for their construction.
Storton noted that contributions are still being accepted for other park amenities, pointing out the "thermometer" sign along Cascade Avenue that monitors the progress of community fund-raising for the park.
Donations may be deposited in the Harold and Dorothy Barclay Park Fund at Bank of the Cascades.
The park is conceived as a downtown pedestrian rest area, providing long-awaited, centrally located restroom facilities.
The park will also provide space for events such as the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show and the Harvest Faire.
For more information, call City Hall at 549-6022.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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