Citizens have ‘wish list’ for property

A group of Sisters citizens has weighed in on what they would like to see on the site of the Sisters Ranger District headquarters.

The U.S. Forest Service will sell some 53 acres of the site located along Pine Street and move to a new location. The City of Sisters is developing an “overlay zone” to set guidelines for how the city wants the property to be developed.

Sue Anderson, Deanna Robinson, Norma Funai, Cheryl Mills, Kathy Deggendorfer and Jean Nave, all Sisters area residents, submitted a letter to the city council detailing their “wish list for the property.

“A group of us realized this (sale) would open up a window of opportunity for the city to develop some amenities that would meet some long and short term needs and desires,” Anderson wrote. “In interviewing many local citizens and business people, as well as brainstorming ourselves, we have come up with a skeletal list that outlines our ideas.”

Those ideas include a Visitors Center where the Forest Service, Chamber of Commerce, Historical Society, the arts community, SOAR, Hoodoo, etc. could be all represented under one roof.

They also would like to see a swimming pool, courts for tennis, horseshoes, badminton and a skatepark and playground.

The group seeks open space, parks, native plant gardens, a pond, picnic areas, restrooms, a nature center, bike and walking paths, a community center and vendor event space for winter and inclement weather.

For arts and music the group envisions a large indoor performance center for area events such as the Sisters Folk Festival, Sisters Jazz Festival, and Starry Nights

The group would like to see a convention center, office space, retail shops, restaurants and delis.

Residential developments such as townhouses and/or condos, Habitat homes, and an apartment house are also envisioned.