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Jostling for summer shelters: Coveted dates go quickly

By Bob Albrecht
Published: February 1, 2011, 12:00am

Erica Zachariasen was all smiles, hardly showing even the slightest sign she’d been awake most of the night, until she reached the front of the line and heard two wholly unexpected, dreadful words: “Administrative Hold.”

Lewisville Park was blacked out on June 25. Her smile disappeared as only a disappointed bride-to-be’s could.

Zachariasen, 22, arrived with her grandmother, Gayle Zachariasen, at the parking lot of the Marshall Community Center at 10:30 p.m. Monday, establishing a position outside the front door they retained despite retreating from the cold to their car at 2 a.m. Zachariasen and her grandma returned to the line at about 5 a.m. and entered the community center about a half-hour later, set up, she thought, to secure her all-important date at Lewisville Park: the only picnic shelter in Clark County large enough to host a gathering of up to 200 people.

She was one of about 20 people — their coats zipped and hands in pockets — grouped outside the center when the doors opened. The swarm swelled to about 50 people by the time reservations were accepted starting at 7 a.m.

Picnic shelter reservations can be made at the Marshall Community Center or by calling 360-487-7100.

"Primarily, the first day is for the heart of the summer at our most popular shelters," said Brian Potter of Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation. "A lot of slots are left."

Picnic shelters at the following parks are free and do not require reservations:

o David Douglas Community Park.

o Fairgrounds Community Park.

o Felida Community Park.

o Fisher Basin Community Park.

o LeRoy Haagen Memorial Community Park.

o Hazel Dell Community Park.

o Hockinson Meadows Community Park.

o Marine Community Park.

o Orchards Community Park.

o Pacific Community Park.

Picnic shelter reservations can be made at the Marshall Community Center or by calling 360-487-7100.

“Primarily, the first day is for the heart of the summer at our most popular shelters,” said Brian Potter of Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation. “A lot of slots are left.”

Picnic shelters at the following parks are free and do not require reservations:

o David Douglas Community Park.

o Fairgrounds Community Park.

o Felida Community Park.

o Fisher Basin Community Park.

o LeRoy Haagen Memorial Community Park.

o Hazel Dell Community Park.

o Hockinson Meadows Community Park.

o Marine Community Park.

o Orchards Community Park.

o Pacific Community Park.

Camping outside the Marshall Center on Tuesday — Feb. 1, annually — to reserve shelter at select Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation parks on coveted dates during the summer for family reunions, weddings and other events has become an annual rite in Vancouver. Regulars of more than a decade say the act of reserving space for a family reunion has become something of, well, a reunion.

The regulars have all continued the tradition, even though, starting last year, once-free reservations now cost between $25 and $100, based on the size of the shelter. The role of grousing in the process has simply been elevated.

“If you don’t get up early, they’re gone,” Nancy Larsen, who was first in line Tuesday morning, having arrived at the Marshall Center at — get this — 3 p.m. Monday, said of the top dates.

Larsen, 61, of Hazel Dell has been reserving a shelter for her family’s reunion at Lewisville Park, scheduled each year on the first Sunday in August, for at least 12 years. She waited inside until the Marshall Center closed its doors Monday night, marked her place in line with a chair, retired to her car to sleep and returned to line at about 4 a.m.

“We have a good honesty system,” Larsen said.

Reservations were accepted Tuesday in person and by phone. While the main shelter at Lewisville Park, north of Battle Ground, seemed to be the most highly sought, shelters at Vancouver Lake Regional Park, Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park, Captain William Clark Regional Park at Cottonwood Beach, Salmon Creek Regional Park/Klineline Pond and Leverich Community Park were also in demand.

Ron Vail, 79, of Vancouver made a reservation Tuesday ahead of the 74th annual Vail Boys Barbecue. Vail said the family started regular get-togethers in 1937 at Lewisville Park, a Works Project Administration creation completed in about 1935.

Vail said he looks forward, each year, to lining up early on Feb. 1 and waiting in line for a reservation.

“There’s some people here I’ve known for 70 years,” he said, pointing at the line of people waiting to enter the Marshall Center. “This reunion right here is getting more important each year.”

For Zachariasen, unlike Vail, Tuesday was primarily about securing space for her wedding, rather than the camaraderie that comes with shared experience.

She left the community center at about 7:20 a.m., her face blotchy from the release of a few tears she couldn’t hold back. “I didn’t get it, but we’ll see,” she said. “I’ve got some calls to make.”

Her big day is scheduled for June 25. She is marrying Joseph Zutz, 27, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Battle Ground. Her plan, temporarily interrupted by an unknown glitch in the reservation system, is to have guests walk from the church to Lewisville for the reception.

The couple met years ago in the Sea Scouts, a water-centered, co-ed adaptation of the Boy Scouts. Zachariasen said an outdoor reception reflects a core bond she shares with her fiance.

“We’re two outdoorsy people so we thought the park would be perfect for us,” she said.

Outdoors to out-of-a-space for the reception was her fear when she left the community center.

“It’s OK,” she said in a phone call to The Columbian at about 8 a.m. “They fixed it. It’s going to be beautiful.”

Zachariasen exhaled, releasing in the breath, seemingly, a summary of her morning. “I wanted to break down right there in line,” Zachariasen said. “(Then), she called me back and I just screamed at the top of my lungs.”

Bob Albrecht: 360-735-4522 or bob.albrecht@columbian.com.

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