Mendocino’s Rotary Park continues to grow
As the weather continues to improve many positive developments are happening in Rotary Park in the heart of the Village of Mendocino.
To help protect visitors to the park the first phase of trimming the trees of dangerous branches was initiated by Tonk’s Tree Service recently. The remainder of selective trimming will be completed by the end of the month.
Work has also been completed on an electrical box that will be used in the performance area of Rotary Park. Scotty Gingell donated much of his service and the carpentry around the electrical box was done by Tim McGuire at a very reasonable rate. We look forward to using this service in the future for performing groups and artists.
The Rotary Foundation is in the process of building a Community Table using a 24 ft. by 4ft. redwood sinker slab hauled out of Big River. It had been underwater which required the use of scuba gear and barges to pull the slab free and winches were used to slowly extract the slab from the river bottom. A number of people were involved in obtaining the slab, including Tony Crowel, Steve and John Crowningshield, John Paul McMillian, and David Lindstrum. The slab is estimated to be at least 1000 years old and valued at between $20,000 and $30,000. It was removed from Big River in 1996, and milled and cut in 2009. It has been in storage on the Comptche Ukiah Road ever since.
The slab was donated to Rotary Park by John Paul McMillian and delivered to the Rotary Park this February. Jim Ransom has offered to sand the top and seal the sides. Rotarians will oil it before bolting legs to the slab, which will then be set in concrete. When finished it will reside just west of the present shed and will be available for community use with the special seats that will be available for about 20 people. One end will have a special ADA seating area. We hope you will visit Rotary Park and view this special donation.
The Founders patio is 80% complete with stones that will form a frame around the ones already in position. There are a few Founders Stones that are still available, if you want to join this special group contact
Jerry Karabensh at jkk@ mcn.org or call 937-3087. A donation for the Founders Patio is a minimum of $2500.
Soon you will be able to swing to your heart’s content. The redwood swing set with 3 swings has been put in place so swingers can view the ocean from their heightened location. Chips will be placed under the swing set to cushion anyone who might fall, and an ADA path will be created to reach one of the swing sets. The swing set was donated by the Hayes family to honor their son, and the Play Area is also supported by the Children’s Foundation.
The existing Angle Walkway will be where the Paving Stones donated by Rotarians, businesses, and members of the community will be placed. Contracts for this work are presently being
reviewed by the MRF Board. Plans call for the work to be finished by the 4th of July festivities in the Village of Mendocino.
Planting and landscaping continue under the direction of Donna Schuler and Matt O’Halloran with the help of the Botany Students at the Mendocino High School and many Rotarians.
The Library Cabinet, attached to the shed, is full of books for the public to exchange. It was donated by Pam Graham.
Future planned events include our Annual Easter Egg Hunt if Covid cooperates, flying the American Flag on Memorial Day, May 30th, and Flag Day, June 14th. In addition, we will have special events in Rotary Park on the 4th of July.
So, stop by, for a picnic on our many picnic tables or just to rest on the benches scattered in the park and enjoy Rotary Park, created for your benefit by the Mendocino Rotary Club and Foundation.