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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (July 5, 2001)
Page 6 - 2001 Vernonia Friendship Jamboree 2001 Vernonia Friendship Jamboree - Page 7 Vernonia: Tomorrow's Town is Here Today! Extensive plans for city's parks VERNONIA’S ROCK CREEK SWIMMING POOL AND WADING POOL «fcÂÊ,«À- When Americans speak of the perfect small town, they usually include terms like "clean and friendly,"Then they throw in "Lots of trees and a creek." How many of them include a swimming pool right in that creek? How many think about a wading pool fed continually by the same creek — without chlorine or other pool chemicals to irritate toddlers' eyes. Yes, there is a lifeguard on duty, too. That's the way we do it in Vernonia. And alongside the wading pool and swimming pool are tree-shaded grassy areas or concrete benches for those who don't feel like swimming. Small, yes, but not too simple, please Okay, you want a small town, but you’re not interested in a “primitive” small town! We agree. That’s why Vernonia residents have supported the efforts of City government to obtain grants for mod ernization whenever pos sible, but to pick up the cost when grant money isn’t available. Without that support from residents, Vernonia wouldn’t have a new city hall or a new library, or a street improvement plan that makes progress every year, or a new water distribution sys tem, or an energy con servation plan, or new downtown sidewalks, street lighting and street trees, or a lot of other things. When government can’t provide everything that residents feel is important, volunteers go to bat! Not many small towns have a beautiful “cabin” that is large ANGLERS O N A FISHING PIER AT VERNONIA LAKE Perhaps your perfect small town would bring fishing to your front door, maybe with some steelhead or salmon, or perhaps a little lake with some bass? With Rock Creek, the Nehalem River and Vernonia Lake, we don't even have to leave town for any of that. And, after the first fall rains, we watch the fascinating journey of salmon on their way home to spawn. Volunteers even built a salmon-watching spot for visitors. - ■ If you think that small towns should have parks, you’ll love it here. In addition to fish ing, a primitive camping area is being developed at Vernonia Lake, a park already well-used by walkers, skaters and bike riders. funds for primitive or self-contained camping THE NEW VERNONIA PUBLIC LIBRARY REPLACED A CRAMPED, INADEQUATE SINGLE ROOM. IN ADDITION TO HAVING MORE VOLUMES TO LOAN, THE NEW LIBRARY HOSTS MANY ACTIVITIES AND HAS PUBLIC INTERNET ACCESS. enough for big meetings, dances, weddings, and other events, yet tough enough to meet the needs of youth groups. This is truly a volunteer effort in a city-owned park and, because we have small town values, youth groups use the cabin free. biking and walking trail around a narrow section of Hwy. 47 that lacks a sidewalk. That trail extension also adds to the charms of outdoor recreation in Vernonia. Speaking o f out door recreation, we like it and plan to develop more o f it... The swimming pool and the Scout Cabin are in Hawkins Park, where construction of a covered picnic shelter is under consideration by the Vernonia Lions.The Jamboree Logging Show is held in Hawkins Park on a large grassy field surrounded by mature sequoia and alder trees. Children are an important p a rt o f our community The Scout Cabin is an easy-to-see accommo dation for the young people of our communi ty. We feel it’s important for them to have a spe cial place for their organ izations to meet. We also know that a large part of their time is spent in physical activi ties, riding bikes and skateboards, for instance. And because of our hilly terrain, creeks and rivers, the community worked hard - and successfully — to extend the Banks- Vernonia State Linear Trail from Anderson Park to Vernonia Lake, thereby providing a safe THE SCOUT CABIN Spencer Park’s ball fields will be getting a major overhaul through the combined efforts of both volunteers and the city. A drainage system and much more are planned. Plans have been developed and efforts are underway to obtain areas at Airport Park. (Yes, Vernonia has an airport...D on’t all small towns??) Major elements include a well for potable water and vault- type restrooms. Ora Bolmeier Park, named for a retired, long-time city employee, is a small neighborhood park on OA Hill. The most recent major park renovation is being wrapped up at Anderson Park, where 15 RV hookups were com pletely replaced, and four new hookups added. Now campers can have all the comforts of home...with electrical, water, sewer and cable T V .. .while relaxing under the trees along the Nehalem River. New restrooms, showers and a picnic shelter are also available, whether you use the primitive camp ing or the RV spaces. town has cooperative cit izens who understand local limitations, what more could you ask for? So, if you are looking for an (almost) ideal small town, look no fur ther than Vernonia. We aren’t lacking in enthusiasm, volunteering or understanding. But we could use a few more businesses and a few Volunteers provide a lot o f the work needed in town In an ideal small town there would be enough money to take care of all maintenance so, though we hate to admit it, Vernonia isn’t quite ideal. Volunteers, especially those affiliated with Vernonia Pride, do a lot Does your ideal small town have safe areas for chil dren to play? We agree on that point. Even small children can safely ride the state linear trail in Vernonia.The section pictured above is in city- owned Anderson Park.The bridge behind these young sters spans Rock Creek and allows safe, easy access between downtown and the schools or Vernonia Lake, all without any need to ride in traffic. Anderson Park also has a horse arena that is main tained by the local saddle club and will be the site of the Jamboree Horse Gaming Show. This message was brought to you through the cooperative efforts o f the Vernonia Area Chamber o f Commerce, City o f Vernonia and The INDEPENDENT. We invite you to call or write with any questions you may have or to make an appointment to tour Vernonia. We think you'll like what you see. Vernonia Chamber o f Commerce: 503-429-6081 or vemoniachamber.org City o f Vernonia: 503-429-5291 or vernonia.com The INDEPENDENT: 503-429-9410 or noni@vernonia.com of the cleanup around town. Vernonia Pride has kept flowers in the bas kets along Bridge Street for several years. This year, though, those beau tiful baskets are filled with (gasp) artificial flowers. No, those volun teers haven’t gotten lazy, they opted for a sensible way to reflect local con cern about a potential ANDERSON PARK PICNIC SHELTER ( I? The new picnic shelter in Andersoin Park will get heavy use on a year-around basis. It has already been reserved for a number of occasions. A nearby service area for the shelter includes running water, something all picnic hosts, and mothers, appreciate. BRIDGE O N HWY. 47 OVER ROCK CREEK water and/or power shortage, and to reduce usage this summer. Their action also helped stimu late city government to adopt an energy conser vation plan. Because this is a small town, people usually call city hall to report when street lights are out. This year, though, when resi dents were asked which street lights they thought should be turned off to reduce energy use, large numbers of them said, “You can turn off the one in front of my house.” If your ideal small more shoppers and, if you are so inclined, we wouldn’t mind a few more residents. In spite of the envi able community spirit that permeates this small town, there is always more to do than people to do it...and we haven’t even mentioned the vol unteer firefighters and EMTs, the volunteer coaches and classroom aides, the volunteers on the Community Development Council, and those who work on watershed health. We may not be per fect, but we‘re trying.
