Parker’s Landing Historical Park benefits from an Eagle Scout project

WASHOUGAL — Scout Harris Royer chose his Eagle Scout project to meet a need in Parker’s Landing Historical Park. His project would remove the grass barrier to the thirsty Apple Tree Heritage Grove’s access to water. He would enlarge the bark ring that surrounded the trees by two feet and add the bricks needed for a finished look. Harris also chose to include an encouragement to park volunteers by refinishing the garden shed that houses hoses and nozzles for summer watering and tools for general park gardening needs and beautification.

Harris and his father, Jeffrey, attended the Parkersville National Historic Site Advisory Committee to the port at the monthly April meeting to get feedback on the project. Harris responded to questions and suggestions and came back on his own to have the project signed off as approved by PAC President Bruce Fuerstenberg at the June meeting.

As part of the project, Harris needed to collect donations and other scouts as a work crew. The PAC donated $100 to help him get started. He secured other donations that included a gift card to Home Depot. The donations would pay for bark, bricks and wood stain.

Harris decided to go beyond his Eagle Scout commitment by also contributing to the summer tree and park watering project on the days he was working on his projects.

He and his crew finished his Eagle Scout project by working on Fridays and Saturdays in July. Harris plans to do interior shed improvements with PAC member Jeff Carlson, but the inside cleaning and outside staining are done.

The park needs more volunteers for summer watering. The PAC organizes these volunteers to preserve the park trees and keep the grass green for the public who enjoy picnics and other gatherings in the park.

The park has three sections. Section A is the parking lot. Section B is an archeological site without a sprinkler system. Section C has sprinklers and provides a circular walk and tribute to Camas and Washougal veterans who lost their lives serving their country.

Since June, weekly deep watering has been done by the Rotary Club and Realty One Group Prestige and by Journey Church volunteer Elena Marchand, Scout Troop 562, and PAC members. The Garden Club of Camas-Washougal and Lions Club plan to help in September and October if the heat persists. The summers have been getting warmer consistently for the past eight years, a threat to the park trees, according to arborist Richard Kemmerley of Cascade Tree Works.