WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2018 ܂ SILVERTONAPPEAL.COM
PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK
Silverton explores funding parks, pool
Researchers plan to create
survey to gauge residents’
thoughts on municipal spaces
Christena Brooks Special to Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
Silverton residents pay for parks and the pool with a
patchwork of fees and taxes that area voters may be
asked to consider sewing up into a new parks and rec-
reation district that would include out-of-town resi-
dents.
Whether the Silverton area should create a separate
taxing district extending past the city limits to pay for
parks and recreation is a question that urban and rural
residents can begin answering later this year.
If the City Council votes next month to go forward
with a $25,000 feasibility study, members of the pub-
lic can begin submitting formal comments as soon as
this summer.
“This is a community decision, and we want as
much participation as possible,” said Silverton City
Manager Christy Wurster.
Researchers from Portland State University plan to
create focus groups and an online survey to find out
what Silverton-area residents do and don’t like about
municipal parks, which services they use, and how
they’d like them to grow.
“Right now, residents within the city proper are the
ones paying for all these services – with the pool levy,
park fee and general fund – and, to me, that’s patently
unfair when it’s certainly not just the people who live
in the city limits who use those facilities,” said Mayor
Kyle Palmer.
State law allows communities to vote to form any of
28 different kinds of “special service districts” dedi-
cated to taxing and funding targeted services such as
fire, library, hospital, irrigation, air quality and other
programs.
See FUNDING, Page 2A
Church’s cottages a
catalyst for criticism
The Silverton City Council will vote next month on
whether or not to move forward with a $25,000
feasibility study. The study would measure what
residents do and don’t like about municipal parks,
which services they use, and how they’d like them to
grow. JUSTIN MUCH/STAYTON MAIL
Tulip festival
a great way
to celebrate
springtime
Abby Luschei Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
A sign across the street from St. Edward's Episcopal Church in Silverton protesting the church's proposal to
add temporary housing for homeless. BILL POEHLER | STATESMAN JOURNAL
Silverton stands divided over proposal to aid homeless
Bill Poehler Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
SILVERTON – A church in Silverton is proposing to
build cottages in its parking lot to temporarily house
homeless women.
The proposal by St. Edward's Episcopal Church is
far from becoming reality, but is already raising sup-
port and backlash.
“It’s literally the least we can do, but it’s a start,”
Sarah White of Silverton Warming Center said at a
public meeting Thursday.
The program in Silverton is being modeled on what
Episcopal Church of the Resurrection of Eugene has
been doing the past five years .
The four proposed cottages would each shelter one
single woman over the age of 18. The women would be
referred by agencies and be able to pass a background
check.
The women would have to comply with a code of
conduct including no drinking, smoking or doing
drugs, submit to a urine analysis and set and meet
weekly goals.
“The goal that we have for our pilot program is to
have four women transition to permanent housing in
the first year,” said Rev. Shana McCauley of St. Ed-
“I think this is a worthwhile
humanitarian gesture, but I am
concerned about the lack of
infrastructure.”
Chris Cooper,
a Silverton resident, regarding the proposal by
St. Edward's Episcopal Church to build cottages for homeless women
ward’s.
The buildings would measure 8 feet by 8 feet, have
a bed and a desk.
But they would not have plumbing, power, heating
or air conditioning.
The church would remodel and section off part of
its kitchen and a restroom for use by the women. That
area would have its own lock and be available to the
cottage residents 24 hours a day.
“I think this is a worthwhile humanitarian gesture,
but I am concerned about the lack of infrastructure,”
said Chris Cooper, a Silverton resident.
How many homeless currently reside in Silverton
Professional photographers and self-proclaimed
Instagram models rejoice – the 34th Annual Wooden
Shoe Tulip Festival is back in business.
Spring means bright colors, rain and sunshine,
which are all featured in this festival, along with 40
acres of nearly 120 varieties of tulips and daffodils.
Festivalgoers can admire the flowers, take photos
or participate in special events throughout the en-
tirety of the festival, which will be open daily through
Sunday, May 6.
The festival was set to close April 30 but has been
extended because the flowers are at full-color later
than expected.
For photographers and social media enthusiasts,
the Tulip Festival creates the perfect natural back-
drop. Landmarks on site include the Wooden Shoe
Tulip Farm's windmill and pink tractor. Mt. Hood is
visible from the fields.
Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm encourages the use of
the hashtags "#woodenshoetulipfarm," "#tulip-
fest2018" and "#woodenshoefarm" when posting to
social media.
It's not just a place to take photos; there is also a
calendar full of events.
Daily and weekend events
Festivalgoers can visit the tulip field, display beds,
Wooden Shoe Gardens, take a tram or hay wagon
ride, go to the children's play area and take photos on
the photo cut-out boards, which are all included in
the price of admission.
For an additional cost, you can take a six-minute
ride around tulip field on the Cow Train for $3 and a
10-15 minute slow, cushioned ride through the tulips
on the Field Train for $5.
All daily activities are available on Saturdays and
Sundays with the addition of:
Wooden Shoe Making Demonstrations: Head to
the Wooden Shoe Maker Tent to see shoes made in
action, try some on if you feel inclined.
Steam Tractor Demonstrations: If the weather
allows, catch a glimpse of the tractors driving
through the fields.
Crafter Market Place: Visit the marketplace to
find items including scarfs, household goods, purses
and garden pieces, available every weekend, select
vendors open daily.
Local Balloon Artist: If the weather permits, get a
balloon animal near the children's play place.
See TULIP, Page 2A
See COTTAGES, Page 2A
Former students at St. Paul
Church plan to hold reunion
Silverton Appeal Tribune
A reunion of former elementary school students
from Saint Paul Catholic Church will take place at
10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 19, at the church in Silver-
ton.
The reunion will be for those who graduated the
eighth grade at Saint Paul in 1967 and 1968.
Those in attendance will tour the former school
building, which was adjacent to the church, and be
followed by lunch at a restaurant in Silverton to be de-
termined.
The school opened in 1960 and closed a few years
after the 1968 class graduated.
Online at SilvertonAppeal.com
Vol. 137, No. 18
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The Wooden Shoe Tulip Fest outside Woodburn, as
seen on April 15. The festival continues through
May 6. ANNA REED/STATESMAN JOURNAL