Volunteer make-over for new 'village green' community park in Manson gets underway

Volunteers get to work, April 12, on new community park along Wapato Way in Manson.

A new village green, community park is beginning to take shape along Wapato Way in Manson. A community of volunteers gathered Saturday to start the clean-up of the old Ernie’s Service Station site, transforming it into what will be an inviting grassy knoll overlooking Lake Chelan for the public to enjoy.

Over two dozen volunteers donned garden and work gloves, mowing grass, clipping tree branches, raking, shoveling and operating heavy equipment to begin the transformation.

"The great volunteer group that we have will save a lot, but taking down the building, for instance, is going to take a lot of money," said Kathy Miller of the Lake Chelan Community Services Council, the non-profit group that has had the long time vision of a new community park at the location.

"When it cam to this project, it meant enough to people because it (property) had been in such disrepair for so long, people were eager to dig in and to see the difference," said volunteer Debbie Conwell. "You could really get a vision of what it was gonna be like when the building is completely gone. It was really amazing, definitely there was an obvious transformation in a short period of time." By mid-afternoon on Saturday, "The grass was green and cut short and you could see the waterfront park across the street."

"You always want to do what's best for your community and when you see a need like this, and something that is really going to be impactful for many generations, it's easy to jump in," said Terrie Carleton, who along with her husband Bob, were hard at work. "Our (initial) goal is to clean this up, so that Apple Blossom in May, and the parade; there's gonna be some green space for people to hang out."

The Manson Apple Blossom Festival is May 9-10.

By mid-afternoon on Saturday, "The grass was green and cut short and you could see the waterfront park across the street," added Conwell. "You could really get a vision of what it was gonna be like when the building is completely gone. It was really amazing, definitely there was an obvious transformation in a short period of time."

The one-half acre vacated service station property at 91 Wapato Way was purchased by a group of donors for $750,000.

Much more work to be done. Donations of time and finances can be made by email, villagegreen.manson@gmail.com, or by contacting Community Council member Mary Murphy at the Ruby Theatre in downtown Chelan.

Clean-up begins on property of the former Ernie's Service Station in Manson.