Nearly 80 people met in Chehalis' historic Washington Hotel on Thursday evening to show their support for a project to revive Alexander Park.
"We had many offers from people willing to help in different areas," project manager Connie Small said. "It was my idea of what a community meeting should be."
Small will organize a meeting to have volunteers form committees and begin to plan the work. People interested in helping may telephone her at 748-1987.
The Chehalis Foundation, a group of local civic leaders, is raising money and designing plans for refurbishing the park. The group unveiled its plans for the park Thursday.
"And people seemed to really like the plan," Small said. "We showed them what we would like it to be ultimately."
Alexander Park is located south of state Route 6 and across the Chehalis River from the city of Chehalis. It was given to the city in the 1920s by the Alexander family.
When the park is complete, it will be a seasonal, day-use facility open from late April or May until October each year, depending on the weather. A caretaker will be on site during the months it is open, Small said.
The Chehalis Foundation plans to replace the fence, renovate one of the old buildings, install bathrooms and clean the place up, Small said.
"We want to keep as much of the park natural as we can, down along the river," Small said.
The "ultimate" plan, she said, is to have a ·-mile asphalt track, a sports court with basketball hoops, horseshoe pits and volleyball. Parking will be for 40 to 50 vehicles. The foundation would also like to build a footbridge connecting the park to the veterans museum and the steam train, especially good for access by children on bikes. And an asphalt road down the river just outside the park would make boat access to the river possible.
Margaret Rader, a member of the Chehalis River Council, said her organization is excited about plans for Alexander Park.
"We are excited about the project because it will help people get reacquainted with their river," Rader said. "We believe the more people are familiar with and enjoy their rivers, the more they will protect them and have good stewardship."
The Chehalis River Council is a nonprofit organization interested in water quality issues and natural resources in the Chehalis Basin since 1994.
Support for the park project has come from many sides. Title Guaranty Co. of Lewis County donated $25,000 to the Chehalis Foundation last week, and Small said another group came forward this week with a $25,000 donation. Small said she isn't sure yet how much the entire project will cost.
The Lewis County Association of Realtors will do a day of community service at the park during this year's American Home Week. The group will have a pancake breakfast, proceeds for the park project, on April 24 at Centralia's Church of the Nazarene.
"I think (the renovation) would be great for the community," said Karri McCall, a member of the association. "I think any beautification project makes our area desirable."
Dian McClurg covers city government for Centralia and Chehalis, and health issues for The Chronicle. She may be reached at 807-8239, or by e-mail at dmcclurg@chronline.com.
