ARLINGTON A team of four city employees hacked away at some rocky soil Wednesday, Nov. 15 in order to plant two large trees in honor of Oliver Smith and Jake Randall two long-time Arlingtonians who served their community well.
Donna Nicely, Chris Fox, Amy Rusko and Tim Struiksma removed sod and dug large holes to plant 15-foot trees, one hawthorn and one Japanese snowbell, on the Centennial Trail behind Donnelsons Electric at the south end of downtown Arlington.
?Across the trail, one of the Centennial benches was adopted recently as a memorial for another two people, Radio Frank Reich and Sam Lynn Acha.
The Centennial Trail has become somewhat of a memorial ground as more and more trees, benches and art are installed in memory of loved ones gone before us. It all started when city employees created a flower garden in honor of Bruce Schlagel near the Arlington Garden Clubs landscape near Les Schwab at almost 10 years ago. Schlagel worked in the citys water treatment plant most of his life.
During the citys centennial in 2003, a bench project was launched with community groups purchasing benches created by Cuz Concrete for the trail, and the Arlington Garden Club has worked with PARC to plant Japanese dogwoods in honor of Arbor Day each year on the trail, too.
We have a dogwood and a sculpture (Verena Schwipperts Dedicated to the Beauty of Earth) in honor of Jim Hatch, said Sarah Hegge, the citys parks and recreation coordinator.
Also on the trail, the Snohomish Arlington Trail Coalition is cooperating with the citys Parks Department to install bicycle racks with three planned in downtown Arlington.
The Downtown Arlington Merchants purchased the one that is already installed at 5th Street and the Arlington Kiwanis Club and the Parks, Art and Recreation Commission have each contributed $300 to buy two more bike racks to be installed in Legion Park when it is rebuilt, said Hegge. There is already one rack on the plaza, Hegge said.