Improvements at Dawson Farm Park are complete. These include a new shelter structure, artwork that serves as practical benches, assorted historic marking signage, rehab-ing the wooden bridge, planting additions and landscaping alterations.

A dedication for the new granary/shelter is planned for (Sat.) Sept. 18, 11:00 am. Come join the occasion for greeting and meeting neighbors, parks staff and the Mayor and Council and further City officials.

Construction on the granary reconstruction/pavillion is nearing completion. Earlier artwork benches have been installed. The City expects to hold an opening ceremony, in conjunction with this Association, when the project is complete. Stay tuned....

The earlier proposal of replacing the access bridge to Dawson Farm Park from Ritchie Parkway with a steel structure in a possible new configuration is being reconsidered. Bid/proposals for such work, received by the Rec. and Parks Dept., exceeded the available budget. Therefore, the alternative of just refurbishing the existing wooden structure is under consideration, postponing bridge replacement until another cycle of future maintenance is required when available budget and material costs may be more favorable.

The Assoc. circulated this notice and received a dozen feedback comments expressing support for this alternative, or at least retention of the familiar wooden bridge as acceptable. Therefore, we are adopting the position that the neighborhood interests in this structure are safety and sightliness. A well maintained wooden bridge services these interests just fine. We trust long range cost considerations of eventual bridge replacement and the best time to do so, to the facility managers of the City.

Ground breaking on the granary reconstruction is underway. This was delayed by generally wet conditions throughout the summer and early fall. This work will continue, with completion expected in the spring.

Bridge reconstruction is delayed due to contracting difficulties. Costs on the present design came in way over budget. So another round of design alternatives in underway (enlarging the budget is unlikely given fiscal conditions). Once alternative may be redecking and reinforcing the present structure to extend its life. This would push ultimate replacement into the future when a lack of fiscal constraints may improve the contracting situation on replacing the whole structure. More news to come on this.

Artwork benches have been received by the City. Installation of the benches is expected to be accomplished in October, pending a final landscape/siting design.

Design work continues on the granary reconstruction and bridge replacement. Construction on both is expected to begin during the winter of 2002-2003.

At our June 12th General Meeting, the City and its design contractors made a presentation on further work in Dawson Farm Park. The large remaining projects are doing something with the old granary site (behind the fencing on the hill) and replacing the bridge at the Ritchie Parkway entrance. For more detail on these projects, see the City webpages on this subject. After the presentation, question and answers, and some discussion, we voted on a motion of approval for the present concept. This motion carried by a large margin.

Improvement plans for Dawson Farm Park have been contracted and work should begin in April, 2001. These plans call for the following work. [note: While this Assoc. recently received a set of blueprint plans, they cannot be reproduced here due to their resolution and size.]:

• Planting of twelve large trees, mostly in two clusters near the intersections of the existing pathway around the lower basin. The species will be River Birch, Red Oak, American Hornbeam and White Fringe Tree (this last species is a flowering/aromatic variety).
• Removal of the Ritchie Parkway road stub at the southern entrance to the park. Fifteen feet of pavement will remain, the remainder will be filled with grass and plantings.
• Further developing of the storm water facility. To be accomplished by filling a riparian zone along the creek banks with assorted native plantings to increase the vegetative water quality filtering.
• Installing approved artwork benches. [Aluminum benches with sculpted leaves supporting the ends.]
• Installing of railing atop the old barn foundation.
• Placing historic markers.

• Replacing the bridge.
• Further historic research for a "partial granary restoration".

• Pavilion structure atop the old granary foundation.
• Woodland pathway through the former orchard area.
• Plantings all along the lower basin path.