Broken pump leads to damaged vegetation at Smucker Park
Parts of walking path closed next week for repairs
Ray Smucker Memorial Park, an oasis for runners and walkers, has been looking a little tired. A broken irrigation pump coupled with the recent intense heat has caused distress to some grassy patches and trees.
However, the vegetation at the park, located at 2913 S. Avenue A, is expected to recover.
“Several weeks ago an irrigation pump that waters the plants and grass at Smucker Park broke and required a replacement, which led to some grass drying out as the pump was being replaced,” explained Yuma Parks and Recreation Director Debbie Wendt.
City crews replaced the pump as soon as possible, with new equipment installed about two weeks ago. During the time that the pump was out of service, crews spot-watered the trees at the park to keep them in the “best health and quality.”
But, when coupled with the extreme heat, parts of the grass still sustained damage.
“The grass will take time to bounce back,” Wendt said. “The city is now able to continue regular watering of Smucker Park each day, as well as providing regular care and maintenance to the park as a whole.”
In addition, the park’s one-mile walking path will be closed at times while crews conduct maintenance repairs next week, from Monday through Friday. Smucker Park will remain open, but the walking path will have closures along it “as needed so crews may safely conduct maintenance work.”
The city thanked the residents, runners, joggers, walkers and four-legged friends who frequent the park for their patience.
The 15-acre park, situated next to Kofa High School, is a favorite of many Yumans. The paved path meanders around
hills and trees, with fitness equipment placed at intervals. The park also has a large playground, picnic tables and grills, ramadas, restrooms, large open play space and a dog station.
The park is named after Ray C. Smucker, one of the originators of the 1949 Endurance Flight, which kept pilots Woody Jongeward and Bob Woodhouse in the air for seven weeks.
The flight is credited with keeping the air base open by proving that Yuma has the most and best flying weather in the nation.
Smucker managed the KYUM radio station and later the first television station
in the area. During the flight, the pilots fed the NBC radio network every night from the plane, signing off with “reporting from Yuma, the city with a future.”
The idea started during a road trip to Parker for a chamber of commerce event. Smucker was president of the Junior Chamber, now known as the Jaycees. Smucker, Horace Griffen, Frosty Braden and Jongeward got to talking about an endurance flight in California, and Smucker suggested Yuma should have one. Jongeward said he would get a plane and fly it.
Griffen provided the 1948 Super Buick convertible as the refueling car for the flight and drove the morning shift. Many volunteers and businesses offered their support.
Smucker died in 2005 at the age of 92.