Barclay Park wins state award

Barclay Park has already won the appreciation of passing travelers and visitors to Sisters. Now the downtown park, named after Sisters pioneers Harold and Dorothy Barclay, has won an Award of Excellence from the League of Oregon Cities.

Mayor Dave Elliott, Council President Deb Kollodge and City Administrator Eileen Stein joined nearly 1,000 representatives from city governments across Oregon at the League of Oregon Cities 78th Annual Conference and Business Meeting November 13-16 in Eugene.

The league offered this year's Award for Excellence for small cities to the City of Sisters for the Barclay Park and Public Restroom Facility, choosing the project from eight contenders.

In presenting the award, LOC President and Beaverton Mayor Rob Drake noted that approximately 80 percent of the project cost was non-government funded. The initial $25,000 for the project came from the "flush fund" amassed by the Sisters Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs and the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce; another $30,000 in cash donations was raised while the park was under construction.

Many suppliers and contractors provided free or reduced-cost services.

Governor Ted Kulongoski acknowledged the award during a brief visit to Sisters on Tuesday, November 18.

The governor expressed his pleasure at being able to partner with the community on the project through $60,000 in state rural economic assistance funds. Another $16,000 came from the Oregon Department of Transportation for curb extensions to facilitate safe pedestrian crossing of Cascade Avenue at the park.

Governor Kulongoski also noted that he, like many other long-time travelers to Central Oregon, really appreciated the addition of downtown public restrooms.

City manager Eileen Stein said she is "excited and pleased that the League of Oregon Cities recognized our project. We're proud of our accomplishment with our park."

She noted that the park is a benefit not just for city residents but for travelers from all over Oregon and beyond.

Stein reflected on the league's reasons for picking the Sisters project for an Award of Excellence.

"I think the quality of the project was one consideration and I think the other was the amount of community participation," she said.

Stein noted that the project was made feasible because of land easements provided by Ted and Keri Eady, Reed Bros. Inc. and Jim and Carrie Cheatham, who own property adjacent to the park.

Stein said that visitors are now aware of the park and the restrooms, although they still ask in shops where to find them.

"We need to do a little more work on directional signage," Stein said.

The restrooms at the park have been heavily used. Stein noted that public works personnel estimated that five miles of toilet paper were used during the Quilt Show weekend.

That demonstrates how badly those restrooms were needed.

"It was our number-one needed tourist amenity and we've taken care of that need now," Stein said.

Future additions to the park will include a quilt-themed mural on the side of the restroom building and a bronze dedication plaque.

"We will also create a smaller plaque commemorating the award," said Mayor Elliott.