Print Version
Email this story
Comment
A park plan in Dorris
 |
| H&N photo by Lee Juillerat Rennie Cleland and Wayne Frost have big plans for a 41-acre park in Dorris. |
Groups hoping to develop 41-acre multi-faceted site
By LEE JUILLERAT
H&N Regional Editor
The rifle association bought the land after raising more than $22,000 at a wild game feed and auction, and receiving $10,000 from an anonymous donor. Plans are moving ahead to build an 1,800- to 2,500-square-foot log structure that will be used as a youth center and recreation hall.
Wayne Frost and Rennie Cleland, members of both the Lions and rifle association, also envision a larger, 6,000-square-foot building capable of seating about 450 people. The city hall, the only large meeting room in Dorris, can seat 135 people.
‘A great project’
“It’s going to be a great project,” Frost said. “Everybody believes in this. The community believes in it real well. There are a lot of things we want to do out here.”
“This is an ambitious project,” Cleland agreed. “It will clean-up the north end of our community.”
The area has been the long-time home of the rifle association. The idea of buying the property was launched to provide an area for National Rifle Association shoots, hunter education classes and shooting on the 100-yard range. It was originally believed the property covered 32 acres, but it was later learned the acreage goes over the hill, which opens the possibility for hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trails.
When project promoters learned the city had state grant money designated, the idea of developing a youth center at the rifle range park took hold. Construction for the youth center could begin next year.
“When we get this first building up, it will be the catalyst,” Frost said.
$700,000 to raise
Efforts will then focus on raising upward of $700,000 for the community center, which is planned on a bench overlooking part of Butte Valley and Mount Shasta. Both buildings will be log structures.
Cleland and Frost said the groups are partnering with various agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which earlier this year designated Dorris as “The Gateway to the Nation’s Oldest Waterfowl Refuge.”
Frost said the groups received a pledge of 40 Sequoia redwoods and 300 cedar trees from a nursery to plant on the property. In anticipation of development, volunteers have started building a split-rail fence.
“To push the envelope, we pick up projects like this,” Frost said, noting the Lions were behind previously successful efforts to create the Tall Flag and build Little League baseball fields. “We’ll get it done.”
RSS