This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE 7/20/04

It has been a mess right in the middle of the renovation of the downtown area of Klamath Falls.

I’m referring to the Timber Shores property which used to be the Modoc Lumber Company. When they ended business, they leveled all the buildings and left piles of rocks here and there with the entire area fenced off.

However, we’re pleased to see that the owners of the property, the Shaw family, are going to put the area to better use...at least for the time being.

The immense crowd that gathered in the area on the Fourth of July were able to use portions of the property to view the fireworks.

Now, we understand that the city is in consultations with the Shaws in the hope of adding some additional acreage to Veterans Memorial Park.

That becomes extremely important now that the newly constructed boat house has taken over center stage in the Park. We understand that portions of the property will be utilized in the summer series of concerts scheduled for the park and that’s good.

The addition of the two courthouse structures and the latest building of Jeld Wens have added great attraction to this portion of the downtown. We would hope that the discussions between the city and the Shaws bears some fruit and serves to enlarge the park.

A number of years ago when I was on the City Council we offered to trade the Modoc Lumber Company some six acres that the city owned adjacent to the lumber property in the vicinity of the South Sixth overpass for three or four acres immediately adjacent to Veterans Park, but at that time the lumber company was in full operation and we could not conclude such a trade.

Several other things could greatly benefit Veterans Park in the future. One is to reconstitute the fountain that used to hold forth in the park....and the other is to find another site for the old railroad engine.

For a few years the engine was open for people to climb aboard it, but vandalism ended that and the engine has remained fenced for a long time now.

We would hope, however, that the city secures sufficient additional land for the park so that space can be added for a visitors center including adequate parking for SUVs and Motor Homes.

Also, as I’ve mentioned before.....let’s move the plaque which honors George Nurse, founder of the town, from its almost out of sight location in the motel lot.....to a more appropriate spot in Veterans Park itself.

The city is certainly to be complimented for the great job that has been done in recent years to improve the looks of the area. We would hope that the discussions between the Shaws and the city result in additional acreage for the park.

This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.