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.
Contact her at 942-1317 or via
e-mail — bchatty@bettykaiser.
com
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