Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Completion of a new shelter roof at Wawawai Park, adoption of a five-year comprehensive plan and appointing a new Parks board member are on the horizon for Whitman County Parks in 2016.
County Parks begins the year with a new tenant and caretaker in the Klemgard Park house, taking over from the previous park caretakers who lived at the house for 45 years.
For the transition, County Parks painted, replaced carpet and appliances.
Also last year, the Parks department began a project to replace a 35-year-old shelter roof at Wawawai Park at the Snake River.
Preparation work last fall revealed rotted “decking” boards underneath the roofing material, which will need to be replaced. In turn, costs went up for the project. Alpha Nail of Colfax is the contractor.
“We didn’t know the damage to the decking until we removed the roofing material,” said Tim Myers, Whitman County Parks Director.
The work continues this month after a break for weather and emergency-related work elsewhere for the contractor.
New decking has been purchased for $25,500. The material matches the original type of four-inch double tongue and groove material on the the shelter.
From there, to complete the project, an estimated $8,000 of metal roof will go over a layer of underlay above the decking. Labor costs will round out the final price, which is not yet known.
Volunteers will install the top layer of roofing material.
Also in 2016 for County Parks, the seven-member board will continue to compile data collected from surveys last year for a new five-year comprehensive plan. Opinions were collected at the three main Parks locations: Klemgard, Wawawai and Kamiak Butte. Online and a booth at the Pullman Lentil Festival in August were other sources.
Public meetings will be scheduled over the next two to three months to help refine the five-year plan.
This spring, another project will be to put down new material to enhance the playgrounds at Klemgard and Kamiak. The engineered wood fiber is used for a one-foot deep base layer to create soft landings.
Next meeting for the County Parks board will be Jan. 14 in Palouse at the home of board member Sharon Tharp.
One of the seven positions for the board is now open. Call the parks office in Colfax for more information.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
Reader Comments(0)