The Washington Parks and Recreation Department is probably best known for Christmas in the park. Every year they put up more than 50,000 Christmas lights. It’s a labor of love that transforms Eastside Park into a wonderland of snowmen, elves, sleighs and Christmas trees. You can even tune into a local radio broadcast to hear Christmas music as you cruise the park. The tradition, which began in the late 1970s or early 80s, attracts visitors from outside the county.

It’s a big job. Superintendent Kip Kelly reports that it takes more than 150 manhours to set up. Every year new displays are added, and hundreds of bulbs are replaced on existing ones. Of course, the Park and Recreation Department is much more than lights. It is responsible for the operation and maintenance of Eastside Park including two lakes, Longfellow Park, the sports complex, South Park, War Memorial, and the pool and splash park (WOW).

In 2018 Kip reported that the Parks and Recreation Department:

• Setup and removed 50,000 plus Christmas Lights
• Removed snow and salted the parking lots and sidewalks at the parks and at the Mayor’s Office, Fire Stations, City Hall, Utility office, and the Building Commissioner’s office, and assisted Street Department in snow removal from roadways
• Maintained vehicles and other power equipment
• Removed dead trees, removed stumps, and trimmed all the old and planted 28 new cherry trees
• Maintained and mowed lawns, cut weeds, raked leaves, picked up trash, cleaned restrooms, picked up limbs, and helped mowing of the round-about.
• Planted grass and treated the lakes
• Maintained the Community Building and remodeled the Kiwanis Cabin, and employee break room
• Held events in the park (Christmas in the Park, Fishing Tournament, Back to School Bash, July 4^th Celebration, 20^th Century Chevy Car Show, Easter Egg Hunt, Earth Day, Dog Show, and Day of Caring)
• Repaired the train
• Added gravel to stone parking lot area
• Winterized and de-winterized buildings
• Added mulch to landscaped, and Playground areas
• Inspected all playgrounds
• Watered all the flowers downtown every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from April to November
• Cleaned duck and goose droppings from sidewalks
• Added new sidewalk to Memorial Avenue
• Added a new bike rack
• Maintained the Skate Park
• Added sidewalk and exercise equipment and cameras to the Longfellow walking trail
• Replaced flags at the Sports Complex
• Resurfaced tennis courts and installed new nets
• Tore out old and built new basketball courts and goals
• Cut trees off the hillside of the war memorial
• Winterized, de-winterized and cleaned the pool, reinstalled canopies, and ladders.
• Maintained equipment and began the filter replacement project.
• During the swim season they operated and tested pool equipment and chemicals, and supervised the WOW staff

Indeed, the park department was busy in 2018, and 2019 looks to be even more active as Kip has plans to add new fall zone material to the playground at Eastside Park, install new playground equipment at South Park, and renovate restrooms at Longfellow Park.

Many thanks to the Washington Park Board, and the employees of the Parks and Recreation Department for keeping Washington a great place to live. Their work touches everyone’s life in many ways.

Let’s keep Washington moving forward.

David Dahl