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John Dobson and McFadden Parks

John Dobson and McFadden Parks were once the center of the Chehalis, Washington park system and they were referred to by residents as the "Top-of-the-Hill" parks due to their proximity to one another.[1][2] They are the two oldest non-athletic parks in Chehalis. Begun as memorials to well respected Chehalis residents, they are located in the Hillside Historic District on Park Hill, above and east of the Chehalis Downtown Historic District. The parks are connected by the Dobson-McFadden Trail and the Troop 373 and 7373 Scout Lodge is often considered part of John Dobson Park.

John Dobson and McFadden Parks
Map
AddressChehalis, Washington
Coordinates46°39′47″N 122°57′30″W / 46.6630°N 122.9582°W / 46.6630; -122.958246°39′41″N 122°57′03″W / 46.6613°N 122.9507°W / 46.6613; -122.9507

Despite the local community continuing to legally use the parks, they are technically closed as the city does not budget for maintenance except for efforts to clear brush to lower the risk of wildfire.[1]

John Dobson Park

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John Dobson Park
 
Dedication marker at John Dobson Park
TypePicnic, hiking
Area15.5-acres (6.3 ha)[a]
Created1908
FounderChehalis Land & Timber Company
StatusClosed; trail is open
Hiking trailsDobson-McFadden Trail
HabitatsForested
ParkingLimited
FacilitiesScout Lodge (closed)

John Dobson Park was named after a local farmer who became a prominent Chehalis banker.[3] Donated by the Chehalis Land & Timber Company in his name in 1908 after his death,[b] the initial plot was 15.5-acres (6.3 ha)[6][7] and the park has had various listings of its acreage, reaching up to 26-acres (11 ha) in size.[1] The city officially received the deed to the park in 1924.[8]

Despite repeated plans to cultivate the land into a park by early Chehalis park commissions, the area would be consistently listed for years as undeveloped. The grounds, which included several small gulches, were described as being heavily wooded with firs combined with a mix of dense shrubs and various deciduous trees. By 1914, early work on a reservoir began and plans included the build of a road over the hill into the Coal Creek district, bridges over the ravines, and installation of tennis courts.[9] Additional ideas included a waterfall and pooling system integrated into the water retention project. By 1919, the reservoir had been completed but only a few picnic amenities were added and most of the underbrush had been removed.[10]

In 1923, the city authorized the creation and placement of a concrete marker on the grounds in honor of John Dobson; the monument cost $100.[11][12] By the following year, a lack of oversight and questions of deed ownership led to the unauthorized cutting of 50 trees on the land.[13] No major improvements were completed until a larger reservoir, with a capacity of 1,000,000 US gallons (3,800,000 L; 830,000 imp gal), was built on the site in the 1920s.[14][15] The reservoir would be expanded to 5,000,000 US gallons (19,000,000 L; 4,200,000 imp gal) in 1927.[16]

A formal dedication of the park was held in July 1933, and the land was listed as being increased to 22.0 acres (8.9 ha).[17] Interest in building up the park was reinvigorated, with the city making early, but ultimately unrealized, plans to build a swimming pool on the Dobson tract in the mid-1930s.[18] Construction of a community recreational building and playgrounds, including the Troop 373 and 7373 Scout Lodge, was begun in 1937 as part of the Works Progress Administration.[19][20] A water filtration plant was built on the grounds in 1960.[21]

McFadden Park

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McFadden Park
 
Antenna tower and the last remaining remnants of playground equipment at McFadden Park
TypePicnic, hiking
Area28 acres (11 ha)
Elevation642 feet (195.7 m)[22]
Created1912
FounderFamily of Obadiah B. McFadden
StatusClosed; trail is open
Hiking trailsDobson-McFadden Trail
HabitatsForested
ParkingLimited
FacilitiesNone

McFadden Park began in 1912 as a donation to the city in memory of Obadiah B. McFadden, a Washington Territory Supreme Court judge.[23] The area was rededicated in 1945 by Mr. McFadden's grandson, Winlock Miller, and a plaque presented for the site.[24] The area encompasses 28 acres (11 ha) with views of Mt. Rainier and the Olympic Mountains. The park has been outfitted and improved over the years with a covered kitchen, picnic areas, trails, and playgrounds.[23][25]

Various improvements to the site took place in the early 1960s to open the park up for public use. In 1960, a main rim road, looping around the site, was constructed, as was a kitchen facility, parking lot, and a clearing of brush and timber was begun, specifically to provide views of the city and the Cascades. The following year a large logging project to clear the grounds of fallen or potentially dangerous trees was initiated.[26] A water filtration plant for the city was finalized later in 1961.[27] Along with Dobson, McFadden Park was closed at the beginning of the 1963 park season for repairs due to damages from the Columbus Day storm of 1962.[28]

By 1973, due to costs associated with pervasive and destructive vandalism to the kitchen and picnic areas, the city announced that no further repairs were to be attempted.[29] In addition to vandalism, McFadden Park's location and competition from newer recreational areas in Chehalis, led to the park being considered closed by the city in the late 1980s. Several antenna towers dominate over the site.[30]

McFadden Park contains a variety of tree species, including cedars, dogwoods, maples, and Douglas fir. Wildlife includes deer and a variety of birds, such as grouse and pheasant.[31]

Dobson-McFadden Trail

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Dobson-McFadden Trail
 
Troop 373 and 7373 Scout Lodge near the Dobson-McFadden trailhead
Length1.3 miles (2.1 km)
UseHiking
Elevation gain/loss360 feet (109.7 m)
Elevation changeSteep
DifficultyEasy to moderate
HazardsOvergrowth, steep incline at beginning of trail
SurfaceBark, soil, gravel
Maintained byChehalis Parks and Recreation
WebsiteChehalis Parks and Recreation - Dobson-McFadden Trail

A trail, the Dobson-McFadden, is accessible at the National Register of Historic Places listed Troop 373 and 7373 Scout Lodge. The trail is 1.3 miles (2.1 km) long with an elevation gain of 360 feet (109.7 m)[32] as it bridges the parks and leads to open views to much of Chehalis, including downtown, and the Newaukum River valley.[1]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The acreage listed in the infobox is from the original dedication ceremony report. The size of the parcel has fluctuated over the years depending on the source. See sourcing under the John Dobson Park section for information.
  2. ^ The park is mentioned in some sources as being donated in 1905, but Mr. Dobson's death, caused by being thrown from an automobile, was recorded in 1907.[4][5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d McClurg, Dian (July 10, 2004). "Parks Gone Wild". The Chronicle. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  2. ^ "Chehalis Parks, Pool Set To Open Saturday". The Daily Chronicle. May 27, 1964. p. 16. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  3. ^ MIttge, Brian (April 4, 2007). "Pioneer Chehalis Banker Mourned in 1907". The Chronicle. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  4. ^ "Died During The Week". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. March 22, 1907. p. 4. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  5. ^ William West; N.B. Coffman (March 29, 1907). "J. Dobson's Memory". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. p. 6. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  6. ^ "The John Dobson Park Deeded To Chehalis Monday Night". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. Vol. 25, no. 37. March 6, 1908. p. 1. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  7. ^ "Courthouse Renovation Ends in 2003". The Chronicle. March 3, 2008. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  8. ^ "City Will Buy Street Signs". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. Vol. 41, no. 35. February 1, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  9. ^ "Arranging For A Beauty Spot". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. June 26, 1914. p. 8. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  10. ^ "Improving Dobson Park". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. August 29, 1919. p. 1. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  11. ^ "Hear Protests On Sidewalks". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. February 23, 1923. p. 1. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  12. ^ "Park Board Reports On 1923 Season". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. December 28, 1923. p. 1. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  13. ^ "Cutting Park Trees". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. April 25, 1924. p. 17. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  14. ^ "New Chehalis Water Reservoir Now Complete". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. Vol. 45, no. 31. December 30, 1927. p. 1. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  15. ^ "Park Board Reports On 1923 Season". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. Vol. 41, no. 30. December 28, 1923. p. 1. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  16. ^ "Big Reservoir Is Planned". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. Vol. 45, no. 6. July 8, 1927. p. 1. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  17. ^ "Dobson Park Dedication Joint Committee". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. July 7, 1933. p. 7. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  18. ^ "Here's a Suggestion For a Swimming Pool in Chehalis That Seems to Have Merit". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. August 2, 1935. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  19. ^ "Chehalis Parks To Get $47,000". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. Vol. 54, no. 34. February 26, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  20. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Scout Lodge". National Park Service. Retrieved August 12, 2024. With accompanying pictures  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  21. ^ "Fine Fall Weather Aided Chehalis Projects". The Centralia Daily Chronicle. November 5, 1960. p. 14. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  22. ^ Blomdahl, George (May 3, 1969). "'Mr. Sign Man' Of Chehalis To Retire". The Daily Chronicle. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  23. ^ a b Shouse, Jim (November 30, 2004). "McFadden Park would be a wonderful park if it weren't for vandalism". The Chronicle. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  24. ^ "New Park To Be Dedicated". The Daily Chronicle. August 14, 1945. p. 1. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  25. ^ "Today in History: From the Files of The Chronicle". The Chronicle. January 6, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  26. ^ "City Approves of McFadden Park Logging". The Chronicle. February 28, 1961. p. 2. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  27. ^ "New Water Plant, Park Opening Date Is Talked". The Daily Chronicle. June 6, 1961. p. 1. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  28. ^ "Chehalis to Open City Pool, Parks". The Daily Chronicle. May 29, 1963. p. 12. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  29. ^ Blomdahl, George (April 21, 1973). "Senseless vandalism continues to plague scenic Chehalis park". The Daily Chronicle. p. 9. Retrieved April 29, 2024. Photos of park vandalism
  30. ^ "Duffy Addition Sale Makes Cents". The Chronicle. July 5, 2007. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  31. ^ "Distinctive Settings Mark Parks In City Of Chehalis". The Daily Chronicle. October 10, 1966. p. E7. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  32. ^ "Dobson-McFadden Trail". City of Chehalis. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
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