Mary's Park coming alive

Students from a Washington State University landscape and architecture class are doing their part in bringing Pullman its first all-inclusive Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant park.

Eight students from the class have designed and will construct a musical garden at the park, named Mary's Park. The class poured cement and gravel around 7-inch chimes and a xylophone Tuesday, and they plan to wrap up their share of the project Sunday by finishing the music garden instruments, installing boulders and planting trees and shrubs in the garden.

"It's fun to actually build something and I can't wait to come and see people using the park," student Reece Vissia said. "If you're an adult or a small child you'll be able to enjoy the musical instruments."

He said his classmates originally created a design for the entire park, but in order to be able to work hands-on and construct something this semester, the class had to focus on one piece of the 5-acre park, which is located at 1570 SE Johnson Road.

Vissia said the students plan to unveil the music garden to the public 2-4 p.m. Tuesday.

It's just the first piece in a long line of projects for Mary's Park, which will include the installation of ADA-accessible playground equipment.

Before the equipment is installed, however, the park's playground committee is hoping to more than double the $160,000 they've raised.

Pullman Parks Superintendent Alan Davis said the complete design of the park is not finished because the playground committee is still raising money for more equipment. He said some playground equipment has been purchased but it won't be installed in the park this summer.

Davis said the park will be a two-section design, one section with ADA-accessible playground equipment and the other half a garden space.

The playground committee is hoping to install a zip-line, a drumset, a small metal backhoe children can use to dig, a swing set and two playground jungle gyms, Davis said.

He said the garden will be at a slope so people who use wheelchairs can also plant and actively work in the garden portion of the park.

"It will be inclusive so all people can play," said Jenna Jauchius, instructor for the WSU landscape and architecture class. "It's something for everyone."

Josh Babcock can be reached at (208) 883-4630, or by email to jbabcock@dnews.com.