Heritage Park construction begins. ~Courtesy of the City of Olympia.

Now, we can complete the vision for future generations.

Outdoor amphitheater close-up rendering. ~Courtesy of the City of Olympia.

Olympic Green looking north. ~Courtesy of the City of Olympia.

Our Vision; continued

Wilder& White's 1911 Vision

Wilder& White's 1911 Vision

captured the hearts and minds of judges with its unique plan.

Heritage Park Construction Resumes

Construction on the state's Heritage Park will resume this summer, after a year of relative quiet in the 24-acre recreational area.

First envisioned in 1911 by the architects who designed the Washington State Capitol, Heritage Park connects the capitol with the city of Olympia and Puget Sound.

What will be done during the next phase of construction?

By November 2000, the park will have:

A permanent path along the shore of Capitol Lake, with trees, benches and lights.

A temporary, on-grade pedestrian railroad crossing to ease travel between the park and the North Campus Trail to the Capitol.

Detailed plans for the next construction phase in 2002.

How will construction affect people who use the park?

Path around Capitol Lake: Construction fences will be placed along the entire length of the seawall, about 60 feet from the shoreline. Access to the lake will be restricted in this area. The path around Capitol Lake will remain open during construction.

Parking: Half of the parking lot at 5th Avenue and Simmons Street will remain open during construction. The contractor will use the other half as a staging area for materials and equipment. The lot will reopen after construction with 11 fewer parking stalls, to allow the path around the lake to be completed.

Footbridge: The footbridge between Marathon Park and Heritage Park will remain open during this phase of construction. During the winter of 2000-2001, the Lacey Olympia Tumwater Thurston County Wastewater Alliance (LOTT) will replace the footbridge as part of LOTT's Southern Connection Project. The project will install a new sewer pipeline that will re-route wastewater from Tumwater to the downtown Olympia treatment facility, via Deschutes Parkway. For more information about this project, contact Brian Topalski at 664-2336.

Will trees be planted in the Park?

Nearly 150 trees will be planted along the path that borders the seawall. Two rows of trees will be planted east of the path in a staggered pattern 30 feet apart. Smaller Chanticleer Pear (Pyrus Calleryana) trees will be planted just east of the path and larger Birch (Betulus Jacquemontii) trees will be planted about 30 feet further eastward. Additional trees will be planted in the park as future phases are completed.

In September 1999, the United States Department of Agriculture announced a gift of 100 trees to each of the fifty states and the District of Columbia to create Millennial Groves in capital cities across America. Washington has responded to the offer and 100 trees have been reserved on the state's behalf. Heritage Park is one possible location for some of the trees. The saplings will come from the non-profit American Forests Nursery, which develops cuttings from historically significant trees through a "Famous & Historic Trees" program.

The Millennial Grove project is part of the White House Millennium Council's Millennium Green initiative, a national project led by the Department of Agriculture in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Justice. The project encourages private and public organizations and individuals to develop partnerships to promote healthier living environments through activities such as planting trees, adopting forests, and creating community gardens. More information about the Millennium Green project can be found at www.millenniumgreen.usda.gov/index.htm.

Will the state install railings around the edge of the lake?

No, but the next phase of construction will add some finishing touches to the seawall. Capstones and intermittent sandstone blocks will be added along the top of the wall, and a paved border of sandstone bricks 18 inches wide will be placed along the entire length of the wall.

Is there going to be a bell tower in the park?

The Millennium Carillon, a 120-foot bell tower, has been approved for construction in the southern end of Heritage Park. The Millennium Carillon Association is now planning a design selection and construction is expected in 2001. For more information about the Millennium Carillon please contact The Millennium Carillon Association at 786-5001, or visit www.ci.olympia.wa.us.

The Olympian Copyright 2000

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