By Leslie Moriarty
Herald Writer
GOLD BAR — Mayor Ken Foster and the city council know a bargain when they see one. And that’s why they jumped recently at the chance to buy some land for a city park.
"This is a really good investment, as vacant land out here is getting scarce," Foster said.
The council Tuesday approved the purchase of 1 1/2acres of land north of U.S. 2 at 17th Street. The land is on the northeast corner and is near the Creek Side development, a newer residential neighborhood in the eastern part of the city.
The purchase price was $90,000, although the land was appraised at $125,000, Foster said. Right now, there are some older buildings on the property and the land is overgrown. The acreage is known as the Mooring property. The owner recently died and left it to his family, who sold it to the city.
"It will take some work to clean up the site," he said. "But by buying it now, we can hold on to it until we secure grants to develop it as a neighborhood park."
The council also has talked about renovating one of the buildings for use as a museum, he said. Currently, the city leases space along U.S. 2 downtown for its museum.
"We are really needing a larger facility for the museum," he said. "We’re hopeful something may work out on the property we have now purchased."
Within the past few years, the city council has had a focus on parks and has created a parks committee. That committee is working to get grant funding for upgrades to the city park across the street from City Hall at Orchard Avenue and Fifth Street.
The city also has five acres set aside near the city’s old water well site on First Avenue W. that it plans to develop into a park when funding is available.
"We know the value of having park space available for our residents, and we want to make sure we set some land aside for that," Foster said.
Gold Bar has about 2,000 residents. Its population increased 87 percent from 1990 to 2000, according to U.S. Census data.
You can call Herald Writer Leslie Moriarty at 425-339-3436
or send e-mail to moriarty@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
