A volunteer day at Greenwaters Park

By GEORGE CUSTER/Editor  —  A volunteer cleanup day for Greenwaters Park was decided upon by Oakridge City Council  members in a recent meeting. Flyers were placed around town and a call for volunteers went out. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. was set for the event. Nearly a dozen persons, scattered throughout the park, were at work doing assigned tasks by late morning. A sign-up sheet kept track of the volunteers efforts.

Greenwaters Park is one of Oakridge’s gems

The park lies near the southeastern most part of Oakridge. It is bordered by Highway 58 on its north side with the Willamette River to the

south. With an amphitheater, community building, playground, picnic tables, and more, the park is a perfect venue for a host of activities. Many a family can be seen enjoying the parks many amenities on a nice day. Greenwaters Park also plays host to many events throughout the year. A steel and wooden pedestrian bridge crosses the river near the eastern edge of the park. Once across the bridge, hikers and bikers can follow comfortable trails that meander through the forest. Branching off, the serious-minded can connect with other, more challenging, trails.

There was no lack of projects for the volunteers

Several projects had been decided upon for the work party. Curtains for the amphitheater were to be replaced with new ones, purchased with Transient Room Tax (TRT) dollars. The restrooms were being painted a nice glossy white. We live in the middle of the Willamette National Forest. Naturally, the forest would like to take back its environment. However, A crew, head deep in the undergrowth, was beating back unwanted brush, vines, and weeds. Mother nature does put up a fight.

The recently added storage shed to the park was being painted. The shed was part of a project of the Oakridge

High School. The HS students answered a call from a community nonprofit that assists the homeless in the area. The shed will be used to store items for use in the park.

A call to corporate sponsors

City Administrator James Cleavenger said that “the city is currently in search of a corporate sponsor for the amphitheater”. Deferred maintenance on the building has taken its toll. The amphitheater was originally sponsored by Banner Bank. However, any repairs and maintenance has been the responsibility of the city. Banner Bank has been contacted and is prepared to relinquish its name.

A fresh coat of paint makes everything look brighter

Also, one of the goals of the day’s schedule was to paint the interior of the restrooms. Brock Butterfield volunteered for the duty and was busily masking and papering off areas in preparation for a new coat of paint. A Rembrandt he’s not. However, he has been seen around town doing painting projects that have had a positive impact on the look of Oakridge.

 

 

A hat’s off to the volunteers that attended the cleanup. Park maintenance and upkeep cost the city in both dollars and man hours. And, for a city the size of Oakridge, every dollar saved helps. Our maintenance crews and caretakers are always stretched for time and resources.

If you have the time and health, consider volunteering for one of the myriad of programs that support our city.