Barclay Park ready for Rodeo crowd

Stone masons Mel Smith and Steve Oakley laid the last few pavers at Barclay Park. Photo by Tom Chace

The new downtown Barclay Park is virtually finished and will be in use this weekend for the Rodeo crowd and especially for the Saturday Rodeo Parade.

"We've still got a bit of sodding to do around back near the alleyways, but everything else is done and ready to go," said Gary Frazee, City of Sisters Public Works Director.

The dedication will not be until "after the Quilt Show weekend," he said. "as there's just too much else going on now to get everyone together until then."

One of the final jobs was laying the pavers or gray bricks. That job was done by stone masons Mel Smith and Steve Oakley with Kevin Spencer Masonry.

The "Water Feature" is in and working. It is actually a large pond with twin waterfalls feeding it from two points eight feet apart along it's back side.

"We still have some landscaping to do," Frazee said, "but by and large it's all done."

The irrigation system is in and the public toilets have been operational for three weeks.

Sisters now has three public restroom facilities: one at Village Green, another at the visitors' information booth on the west end of town at the Forest Service information kiosk and now the new one in the center of town.

One of the directors of the Quilt Show said that, "we will still need the Porta Potties, but not as many."

Barclay Park took over the half-block of Ash Street between the alley and Cascade Avenue. The Hood Avenue end of Ash is still open for traffic, with new parking stalls. It also serves both the alleyways between Cascade and Hood Avenues.

"We are putting in a handicapped cut-out crosswalk on the north side of Cascade opposite the one in the park," Frazee said. "This should make it easier for pedestrians to get across the busy highway."

A handcrafted pine log arch at the park entrance off Cascade is made from five peeled logs, each nine inches in diameter. This is sure to be a photo stop as it makes a perfect frame for a family picture.

Many individuals, businesses and families have contributed funds to make this park possible.

One of the major donors is The Garden Club of Sisters which maintains several colorful downtown beauty spots.

"Barclay Park never would have come about had it not been for the generosity of those in our area who gave of themselves," Frazee said.