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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (May 25, 2016)
6A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL May 25, 2016 Turning 65 and confused about Medicare choices? Chatterbox The Call Paul to help simplify the complicated. Changes may be coming for Opal’s Park BY BETTY KAISER For the Sentinel In my so-called “Golden Years,” constant change is frus- trating. It seems I just get used to one iPhone, computer or television set and they change the format. I fi nd doing busi- ness on the computer necessary but exhausting. Where are the humans? And the fact that my grandsons are starting to marry is mind-boggling! I can handle the past better than the present. Perhaps that’s why my aging brain starts many sentences with—“I remem- ber when…” That was my fi rst thought when I heard of pos- sible changes to Opal White- ley Park. I remember when we didn’t have an Opal Whiteley Park/All-America City Square! And now we need changes? I remember when the corner lot where the park now stands was home to several small shops. In fact, it was the origi- nal location of The Bookmine. I remember when the shops were torn down and a large building was designed for that space. I remember when the building permits were denied and the project stopped. I remember when the lot be- came ugly and weed-fi lled. It sat there with no purpose and no future. I remember when resi- dents spontaneously brought in soil and planted apple trees to soften the landscape. It wasn’t fancy or committee generated, but it provided shade and shelter and peace. I remember when world trav- eler Mary Peck made Cottage Grove her home. I interviewed her just before her 90th birthday in 2004. She and her husband traveled the world and pioneered in Alaska before it was a state. She held too many executive positions to mention and could shoot a bear! Here in C.G. she threw herself wholeheartedly into projects that benefi tted our community. She was a dynamo. I remember when, near the end of her life, Mary purchased the then apple tree lot and deed- ed it to the city with the stipu- lation that it remain “an open space available at all times to the people.” That space became the Opal Whiteley Park that we have today. I was remembering all of this history on Tuesday evening, May 17, during an open house at the Cottage Grove Armory. A city press release had called a meeting to discuss possible needed changes and improve- ments at our now 10-year old Opal Whiteley Park to “sustain the park for future generations.” Yuck. More changes. I was running a bit late and ar- rived at the meeting just in time to hear Marston Morgan, AIA, the park’s original architect, fi nish up his comments. His closing statement particularly struck home: “The park stands as a piece of sculpture by itself. It doesn’t have to have people fl owing through it all the time.” Amen. I love that image of a peace- ful place. Do we always have to have perfectly orchestrated commercial spaces in the heart of a city? Why do we humans think that we have to make things bigger and better with more activity? Why can’t we just enjoy the little gems of life without making them compli- cated? Grumble. Grumble. Back to the meeting. As it turned out there was no public discussion. City Planner Aman- da Ferguson had put together a charrette. A forum for ideas and immediate feedback to design- ers. And no, I didn’t know what that meant either. It turned out to be a very clever way for a large crowd to share their thoughts. This is how it worked: On the walls around us there were detailed sketches of the park. i.e. the mural, planter walls, plants, walking areas, etc. Instead of everyone taking a turn and orally vetting their ideas, we were instructed to grab post- it-notes, write down our ideas and place them on the appropri- ate space for changes, specifi c concerns, wishes, etc. Evidently they are now being scrutinized and rated for importance. The wonderful Opal Whiteley mural, the kiosk, restroom and stage building will remain the same. The plantings, walls, fl ag- stone steps and everything else is up for that dreaded word— change. Following are just some of the suggestions that were submitted. CHANGE Change the name back to only Opal Whiteley Park Keep stones; replace cracked ones. Change paving to sand fi nished concrete Fix the bricks only Trim plants to better see mural Remove the center planter Put back the tables No smoking in park Open Park to alley Remove or re-design ramp ADD A water feature More native plants Install cameras Games: large checkers game; hopscotch, bocce, 4 square Commercial shops Visitor’s Center More informative signage An annual celebration event Santa in the bell tower Night lighting WISH LIST A clock at the top Refl ecting pond Light mural from above More garbage cans 541-517-7362 Cig butt containers No smoking A place to eat lunch Hire a gardener! A shade tree or two? Use recycled irrigation water Put signs up explaining tower is for fi re hose Space for Christmas tree LOVE THE PARK Mural Atmosphere Volunteers: design, landscape and maintain A friendly, welcoming, won- derful place Flagstones Paul Henrichs ~ Independent Agent coverage4oregon@gmail.com WINDOW SCREENS •LOCAL• Made to Order I come to you! COTTAGE SCREEN MISC. THOUGHTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED “Bigger fi sh to fry than a park.” “Let a small town be a small town.” “It’s not the Olive Garden!” “Use Metal benches: they dry fast and are not good for sleep- ing.” “Use as free speech area i.e. Hyde Park, London; own soap box.” “(Street) lights are ugly; do not even resemble vintage.” “Alley is a potential gem.” “Open Park to businesses” Last evening another meeting was held (after this column went to press) facilitated by David Daugherty, a landscape architect. It remains to be seen what (if any) of these changes are deemed necessary and if a grant is available to pay for them. FYI: My husband says we need to repair and maintain. I say…Do we need change for change’s sake? What say you? Betty Kaiser’s Chatterbox is about people, places, family, and other matters of the heart. 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