Fallen tree limbs and other debris, and the threat of more loose debris, have rendered the most of the parks unsafe. The closure affects some of the city’s biggest parks, including Priest Point and Yauger parks.
“I think it’s just a tremendous loss in trees that we have had in our parks,” said David Hanna, associate parks director.
The open parks are Heritage Fountain, Kettle View, Woodruff, Olympia Woodland Trail, West Bay, Sunrise and Percival Landing.
Parks crews haven’t been able to fully respond to parks because they have been assisting public works crews in getting streets open, said Rhonda Teitzel, parks operations manager. She cautioned people to stay out of the parks, even if they appear safe.
“I really appreciate people’s patience,” she said. “We’re doing our best and, you know, it is what it is.”
She said parks crews won’t move in full time to assess the situation until next week. As parks reopen, the city will continue to update its list of parks closures at olympiawa.gov/en/community/parks.
“We will be starting in, on cleaning up the parks and getting them back open, on Monday,” Teitzel said.
City staffers closed all the parks Jan. 19 after the ice storm began felling trees and power lines. “The parks that we have deemed safe are open,” Teitzel said.
Parks will reopen in a priority order – first community parks, then nature trails, interim-use parks and undeveloped parcels, Teitzel said.
She said many people have been calling the parks department to volunteer to help clean up. Anyone interested can call Sylvana Niehuser at 360-753-8080.
Teitzel said she didn’t have an estimate of the parks department’s costs. The city overall has spent $650,000 and counting on the storm, spokeswoman Cathie Butler said.
Luckily, the city didn’t see a lot of damage to structures in parks, and other public buildings also were spared.
“I feel blessed,” Teitzel said. “I feel fortunate that it came out the way it did.”
Matt Batcheldor: 360-704-6869
mbatcheldor@theolympian.com
