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Researched by Colton D. |
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Dedication
I
would like to dedicate my project to my mom. She took me to the
Greenway to help out with the dog park and clean it up, but soon
after that it was flooded. After the flood I helped clean up all of the sticks and debris.
Why I Chose This Topic
There are several reasons I decided to take this opportunity to study all about The Greenway. First, I like being outdoors. Second, my mom and I both enjoy the Greenway and dogs, so it seemed like a good project to volunteer for.
Research Summary
Introduction
The Yakima Greenway foundation is a non-profit foundation.
It’s goal is to save the Greenway for future people so they can use
it. It is located in Central Washington. The Yakima
Greenway has ten miles of paved pathway, three parks, two fishing
lakes, and four river access landings.
These
facilities are free and open to the public. Its a perfect place
for walking, skating, running, bike riding and bird watching. It
is usable for people in wheel chairs. The fishing piers are even
designed for the disabled at Rotary Lake. Some of the annual
events are the Polar Bear Plunge, Family Field Day, Fishing Kids,
Gap2Gap, Case Of The Blues, and the Rivers
Festival.
History
The
Yakima Greenway has a colorful history. According to A HISTORY OF
THE YAKIMA GREENWAY, Captain Grey was shocked by how many tribes were
living along the Yakima river. Anthropologists say that bands
have lived on the Yakima River for over 12,000 years. They have
proof of this because they have been finding many fossils of humans and
livestock for years.
Deer, bison, big horn sheep,
and elk all replaced animals of the ice age. Pretty soon bison
went locally extinct because of all the families hunters needed to
feed. Hunters turned into fishermen when game animals were
getting scarce. Later in 1730 AD tribes got horses and traveled
across the continental divide into Montana to hunt for bison.
Then they dried it and took it home.
Euro –Americans started coming
to the Yakima area around 1806. The Euro-Americans also started
to use irrigation to water their plants. The Naches valley was
the first valley to be irrigated. By 1870 1,000 acres were
irrigated there.
Legacy
In the first
part of the 20th century, a large park stretched along the banks of the
Yakima River east of downtown. It was named Sumach Park, after
the trees that grew along the river. The park had horseshoe pits,
baseball diamonds, swimming holes, and bandstands.
According
to The Yakima Greenway Foundation in 1933, The Yakima River flooded,
and Sumach Park was devastated. It soon became lined with gravel
pits, slaughter houses, and mills. This area also became the home
of the poor and most area residents avoided it. In 1957 The
Washington State Department Of Transportation planned to build I-82
through the Yakima Valley. This would mean that the river line
would be in sight. Throughout the 1960’s and ‘70’s, the people of
Yakima where happy that The Chamber Of Commerce Beautification
Committee planned to put in a park along the river. They bought
the property using state funds to acquire Terrace Heights, Moxee , the
river, and the freeway.
A private, non-profit land trust was formed
in 1980 known as The Yakima Greenway Foundation. The Greenway now
stretches from Selah Gap to Union Gap and west along the Naches
River. Over ten miles of paved pathway connect parks, river
landings, nature trails, fishing lakes, and protected natural
areas. Lakes created by gravel mining exist within the river and
are developed for recreation or reclaimed for natural habitat
areas. Sarg Hubbard Park was built on the former city dumpsite,
and is now the centerpiece of the Greenway.
Upcoming Projects
Reflection Pond is a new pathway on
the Greenway. The new path will include two fishing piers and a
bridge all with handicap access. Money has already been donated
to fund this project.
East Side Slope is a new expensive
pathway. It is a loop of 4.8 miles that will follow the Yakima
River. This project will cost approximately $500,000 dollars to
complete and will connect Terrace Heights and the new Osteopathic
College Campus.
The 40th Avenue Connection is yet another new
extension. This extension will span from 40th Avenue out to
Naches along the old rail line. It is estimated to cost $4
million to build.
Yakima Greenway Membership
Without
support from local, state or federal government, the Greenway must
relay on its own funding for managing the parks, boat launches, and
pathways. These funding sources include membership, donations,
reservation fees, and capital drives.
Reasons To Become A Greenway Member
There
are many events in witch to volunteer throughout the
year. Greenway memberships include discounts on merchandise at
the Greenway’s visitor center and shelter rentals at each park.
Contributing members will be recognized in local media, on the
Greenway’s website and banners. Members are recognized as leaders
who are active in our community. Knowing you are doing your part
to help maintain one of Yakima’s attractions that improve the quality
of life for everyone in our community. Yearly fees for being a
member help keep pathways clean. Here are a few facts about the
system that is maintained without general tax dollars: 10 miles of
paved pathway that need periodic repair, sweeping, and snow
removal. Grassy parks take two people two days to mow each
week. 112 garbage cans need servicing once or twice a day.
14 restrooms need service daily.
Frank Fredericks Wayside
The
Greenway constructed a small wayside park along the pathway near
McGuire Park Playground and Sunrise Rotary Park and dedicated it in
2004. The Frank Fredrick wayside was dedicated to Frank and
reminds everyone about his life. Frank basically wrote the
story of the Greenway.
The construction of the
wayside had three main goals. The first goal was to turn rock and cheat
grass into native plants and trees. Another goal was to make the
entrance to our community more appealing. It is across the
interstate from the Yakima Valley Visitor Center, the park and ride and
waterfall. The third goal was to give people a place to rest, get
a drink, and get some shade.
Careers
After my interview with
Jeff Brantner, I learned that he had a degree in Environmental
Science. Environmental scientists study areas and try to find bad
chemicals that are hurting the environment. They check the soil,
the air, and water to make sure there are no bad chemicals there.
They also tell other people how to keep the environment clean.
Environmental science also contains other sciences, like
chemistry or biology. Environmental chemists get rid of bad
chemicals and biologists focus on living things.
All of these
Environmental Scientists need a degree. Most will need an
advanced degree, like a master’s or a doctoral degree. But a doctoral
one takes longer. Some of the studies these scientists undertake
geography, chemistry, biology, earth science, and physics. They
would also need a good understanding of math and statistics. In
addition to taking classes, they need to learn how to work well with
others. They practice speaking and writing so they can explain
their research. In 2006, the average environmental scientists earned
between $43,000 and $74,000 a year. These jobs are expected to
grow much faster than the average occupations through 2016, due to
people wanting the environment to be cleaner. I did my volunteer service at the Yakima Greenway’s Dog Park.
Conclusion
People
have been living on the Yakima River banks for over 12,000 years.
Now, there are pathways and parks along the river. One of the
careers for the parks is deputy director. I did my volunteer service at the Yakima Greenway’s Dog Park.
Who Helped Me With My Project
I
would like to thank the following people: my mom because she drove me
to places to do my community service. She also bought tulips to
plant in the dog park’s flowerbed.
How I Evaluate My Entire Project
(1) How thorough and complete was my project?
I
finished fast but that was because I took it home and did a good job.
Also I have a sort of long report that I finished early to because I
worked on it after school.
(2) What would I do differently if starting over again?
Do
it at a different time of year so the dog park can’t flood. Because
when the flood came it washed all of my tulips that I planted away.
(3) What major strengths does my project have?
I have a good power point and board. All of my pictures are captioned on my board. Also the same for my power point.
(4) What weaknesses or problems does my project have?
Had a lot of corrections in my report and I don’t have a lot of pictures and facts on my display this year.
(5) What did I learn to do better during this project?
I should just do it all at school because then I wouldn’t have to sit around when everyone is doing work.
(6) In what ways did I enjoy my study and work?
Because I got to help out a dog park and dogs are one of my most favorite animals ever. Also, I like to be outdoors.
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