Pioneer Park re-opens picnic areas and trails

The future of Pioneer Park is structurally sound, with a key part of its history intact.

The damaged roof of the park’s 1930s era picnic shelter has been replaced and several truckloads of windstorm tree debris hauled away, Town Public Works Director Brian Lease told the Weekly News on Monday.

That has cleared the way for the public’s return.

“We’re always pleased,” said La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes, “when we can open a public facility.”

Much of the park, which gets day use but where residents also gather for traditional holiday and community events – including the annual Pioneer Picnic each August, had been closed since November due to hazardous conditions caused by a trio of major storms.

Large trees and branches had crashed onto the roof of the picnic shelter, which serves as a community kitchen and dining hall for reunions, family celebrations and the like. Downed trees elsewhere in the park made hiking on trails dangerous.

Ironically, said Hayes, there has been one side benefit to park trees having been uprooted and removed.

Hayes said increased sunlight can now reach the park floor.

“We’re not advocating taking out trees,” he said, “but it has brightened up the park.”

Lease said those trees that fell during the storms were already suffering from rot.

More than anything, Lease is thankful none of the picnic shelter’s original stonework – installed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) members – was damaged. The CCC was a public work relief program that provided jobs for young men during the Great Depression.

“I believe the picnic shelter was built about the same time the CCC was working out at Deception Pass,” Lease said.

Axthelm Construction of Mount Vernon replaced the roof.

“There are still some punch list items left,” said Lease, “but essentially it’s done.”

La Conner public works crews have handled downed tree and branch removal and related clean-up tasks.

“I can’t remember how many loads of debris have been taken out of there,” Lease said. “There’s still stuff to clean out, but it’s safe to be up there.”

Lease also noted that automated locks have been installed on the park’s restroom doors, matching the work done at the First and Morris street facilities. “For now things are working well,” he said.