Barclay Park hosts dedication

Middle school jazz musicians wowed the crowd. photo by Jim Cornelius

It has already become one of the most popular spots in Sisters and on Friday, August 1, the new Harold and Dorothy Barclay Park was packed with some 200 well-wishers for its dedication.

The park lies on a decommissioned block of Ash Street between The Gallery Restaurant and The Jewel.

A jazz combo from Sisters Middle School entertained and the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District served up barbecue.

Mayor Dave Elliott offered a history of the park's development and thanked all of those whose efforts made the creation of the park possible.

He singled out Peter Storton, who chaired the park development committee that spearheaded the project; Gary Frazee, the city public works director, and contractor Glenn (GJ) Miller, who built the restroom facility at a good price, at high quality and in record time.

"If it wasn't for GJ Miller, Peter and Gary, I think we'd have been another month or two and probably over budget," Elliott said.

The restrooms in the new park opened a month early for the Rodeo weekend and they were well used during the Quilt Show. One wag said that, literally, "five miles of toilet tissue was unrolled in a two-day period."

The "Men's" side was closed during the Quilt Show so the "Ladies" had access to both facilities. Still, it was noted, there was a constant line at both doors for most of the weekend.

The new public restrooms bring to three the total within city limits: Village Green was the first and only one for many years until the Forest Service facilities were added near the "Y" on the western end of the city.

Restrooms are a mundane but vital part of the downtown rest stop. The park is enhanced by wooden benches, a grassy swale and a water feature designed and built by SisterScapes.

Many pedestrians stop and enjoy a rest in the pleasant environment. One of the side benefits to the new park is the work ODOT (Oregon Department of Transportation) did on Cascade Avenue in putting in facing "bubbles" jutting into Highway 20 for easier pedestrian crossing.

"The extensions into the street makes it possible for motorists to see pedestrians. Without cross streets at that point, safety is increased greatly," said Storton.

The park was named in honor of Harold and Dorothy Barclay.

The Barclays owned a mill on north Pine Street until the local logging industry began to disappear. Barclay's old office became an addition to the Sisters Library building when it was moved from the Depot Deli site to its current location on Spruce Street and expanded.

The Barclays' daughter Susan Busik thanked the assemblage.

"This is what community is all about," she said. "It's everybody pitching in and making something happen.

"It's an honor to put the Barclay name on this park," she said. "Mom and Dad would have been so proud."

Some $200,000 has been raised to pay for the park, according to Storton.

"I still have about $20,000 to go to meet the total cost of $220,000," he said.

Rotary, Kiwanis and the City of Sisters were major contributors.

Those who wish to contribute to the completion of the park may send a check to the Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 430, Sisters, OR 97759.