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About Applegater. (Jacksonville, OR) 2008-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2014)
10 Spring 2014 Applegater Cantrall-Buckley Park NEWS Applegate Valley Day 2014 will celebrate Father’s Day APPLEGATE TRAILS ASSOCIATION Guided Hikes and Event Schedule LENGTH RATE Mar 22 DATE Isabelle Mountain Peak or optional Isabelle Springs Trail Bunny Meadows Staging Area Forest Creek Road 9 am 2 miles (either trail) M to D April 12 Wellington Wildlands, an off-trail through hike down Balls Branch (Humbug Creek tributary). Shuttle will be arranged. Bunny Meadows Staging Area Forest Creek Road 9 am 3 miles M to D May 25 Sundown Trail or option for longer through hike into Wellington Wildlands from the end of Sundown Trail. Bunny Meadows Staging Area Forest Creek Road 9 am 3 or 5 miles M to D July 20 Red Lily Vineyards. Wine & Dine at the vineyard after the hike. Catered by Fulcrum Dining. Red Lily Vineyards 11777 Highway 238 9 am 3 miles M Aug 24 Sturgis Fork/Bigelow Lake Loop Applegate Store 15095 Highway 238 9 am 5 miles M to D Sept 20 Benefit Dinner at Red Lily Vineyards catered by Fulcrum Dining; entertainment and guest speaker. Purchase tickets in advance. Red Lily Vineyards 11777 Highway 238 6 pm by DAvID LAANANEN In June 2012 and 2013, the Greater Applegate Community Development Corporation (GACDC) organized and hosted Applegate Valley Days at Cantrall- Buckley Park. The events were intended to bring together Applegate residents and visitors in a fun-filled day, showcasing the park, local businesses, and our beautiful valley. Our intent was not only to introduce new people to our park, but also to raise funds essential to its operation and improvement. After discussing ideas to keep our event fresh, the GACDC Board decided that this year we will host a Father’s Day barbecue on Sunday, June 15. The Applegate Valley Lions Club will barbecue tri-tip, chicken, and hot dogs. Wine, beer, and other beverages will be available. Current plans have food service available from 11 am to 4 pm. We’re also planning to have local musicians provide entertainment throughout the day. (Let us know if you’d like to participate.) The usual $4-per-car fee for entry to the park will be charged. Further details will be made available as plans develop. Meanwhile, save the day, June 15, to celebrate Dad and family. David Laananen • 541-846-0500 david.laananen@asu.edu Beloved park closes after two-season effort by CHRISTINA DUANE After funding Wayside Park for nearly two years and endeavoring to raise funds to keep it open, Oh Oregon Frontier Park could no longer sustain the effort to purchase the property. Because two of the three grants we applied for did not come through, we were unable to reach our goal of completing the down payment and closing escrow. The park must once again go up for sale and be locked and closed until a buyer can be found. Park patrons proved that this park could overcome the recent past history of vandalism and irresponsible use that had caused its closure, that it could be open to a demographically diverse community and once again be a center of celebration for all ages. Landowner Jackie Inman and Oh Oregon Frontier Park had structured a purchase agreement that bought time and created a plan by which the community could once again enjoy the park, but the plan depended on meeting certain fund- raising benchmarks in order for grants to fund. We are very hopeful that someone in the community will buy the park, keep it open to families, and continue the work we all began. We would make the strategic plan, funded through a grant that we matched, available for potential buyers to see the park’s potential. Since May 2012, we have attempted to create and implement a plan to fund the park, open it to the community and bring educational programs, events and a history interpretive tour. We had put down earnest money, sustained the lease and insurance, worked with a consulting firm in submitting several grants to fund the rest of the down payment. We tried to raise the money through benches, chairs and brick donations to demonstrate the amount of “community buy-in” that the funders look for. Many park patrons stepped up to donate, but we failed to get the support of the business community or larger donations that the foundations need to see to fund a community project. Another reason cited was that there is less money being granted in the economic downturn, and projects are being funded in their later phases to cap the projects. We consider this effort a success in many ways, thanks to the help of landowner Jackie Inman, Greater Applegate Community Development Corporation, Pete Kennedy and our board of directors and many volunteers. Multiple generations of families enjoyed the park, and we held the award-winning Journeys to the Past camp and other events proving that the park can operate without competing with surrounding businesses and can use their services in its offerings. We witnessed firsthand a community completely in favor of the park and using it for the most part very responsibly as the treasured resource and historic community gathering place that it is. We would like input in deciding where bricks will be placed. They honor community members who helped keep the park open. The log museum pathway is a possibility, or they can be stored until we see what the park outcome is. We would like to honor these people who made the reopening of the park possible: Realtor Jeff Vineyard, Neil and Mary Anna and the Applegate Café and Store, Dusty Davis and the Davis family, Dean Johnson, Kim Mericle and all of the bands that helped with the fund-raiser, Don and Josh Gibbons, Robert, Scotty, “Corky,” Michael and Sonny, Owen, James Santos, and the many volunteers who helped us. Whoever purchases the park, it is our hope that they will recognize that it is a historic community-gathering place for multiple generations that needs to be open and represent all of the many facets of this community. We believe it is a prime location for a visitor center and hope that an entity that buys it will consider that possibility and will work with surrounding businesses. We hope that people who use the park would respectfully honor and celebrate each other. This is what we had the privilege to see happen and, through our work, we hope to see that continue through this transition. Christina Duane • 541-292-7829 velvetbleumusic@gmail.com HIKE / EVENT MEET E Distances are estimates; ratings of “Easy” (E), “Moderate” (M) and “Difficult” (D) are merely guides. One person’s “Moderate” may be “Difficult” for another. All of the hikes have elevation changes. Remember to wear appropriate footwear, bring plenty of water, and leave your pets at home. RSVP to ensure a place on the hike. A $5 donation per person helps ATA meet minimal expenses. Contact David Calahan at 541-899-1226 or david@applegatetrails.org, or visit our website for additional information. Details, changes, or cancellations may be found on the “Calendar” page at www.applegatetrails.org. See the “Hikes” page for a list of self-guided day hikes on or connected to the Applegate Ridge Trail (ART). A nonprofit organization depends on the generosity of the community. Please consider a donation to ATA, your local organization committed to developing a system of hiking, biking and equestrian trails in the mountains of the Applegate Valley. We thank you. Step forward with a gift to all generations! David Calahan • 541-899-1226 •david@applegatetrails.org
