FINALLY - THE RIBBON CUTTING!

FINALLY! The official ribbon cutting and dedication of the Rotary Central Station was on Friday, October 6, 2023, at noon. So many people worked on and supported this project - it's great to finally (delayed by Covid) recognize them and celebrate!

Fini!!

Take a stroll on the CKC and take a look at  the pavilion now!                                            

                                             Here is the Kirkland Rotary Central Station 

                                                          complete with history signs.

 It's been quite a while since the last post, but wait 'til you see the change!  The attached photo doesn't even show the very latest additions:  five history signs in the pavilion.  If you haven't checked it out recently, take advantage of this lovely, sunny day and take a walk along the CKC!

But wait! There's more!

For those of you who have been around Kirkland very long, the term "Truck Eating Bridge" is a familiar one.  Well, on both the west and the east sides of that bridge, there were old, very faded Northern Pacific logos. Spurred on by Sandy Ekins, a long-time Kirkland resident, business owner, past president of Kirkland Rotary, etc. etc., David took on the task of restoring both logos.

First, he worked on the one on the west side.  With pictures of the Northern Pacific logo in his left hand, paint brush in this right, and somehow holding on to the ladder, he completed that logo.  He received many honks, cheers, and shouts of "thank you" from passing motorists which no doubt steadied his hand and helped his balance.

The restored logo on the west side of the bridge.

Then he moved on to the east side.  This one is a little trickier because the ground is sloped rather than level, but he was making great progress when WHAM! the bridge caught another truck.  Somehow the difficulty of driving a 12' 6" truck under an 11' 6" bridge had not registered with the driver. David quickly checked to make sure the driver was not injured and then calmly continued painting. The east bound lane of Kirkland Way was blocked and the police arrived to direct traffic and deal with the truck and driver.

David painting the logo while a truck is firmly stuck under the bridge..

So next time you drive your less than 11'6" vehicle under the infamous bridge, take a quick look at the lovingly restored logos!

A Glimpse of Progress on the Project

It's time for "Before" and "After" comparison photos to help us recognize the progress made on this project.  

This photo was taken in January 2018

This photo was taken from the same spot on May 13, 2020

What a difference!  And, all due to volunteers from Rotary and the neighborhood.  Wow!

Semaphore is UP!

Thanks to a donation of a semaphore from Bob Tjossem, volunteers from Kirkland Rotary, and Kevin and his crew at  Apex Steel we now have a semaphore installed at the site!  This was no small task!

First Bob had to locate, purchase, and have the semaphore shipped to Kirkland.  Then  several trusty Kirland Rotarians had to move part of it to the site  and install the base, then move the rest of it to the Apex Steel yard for assembly, then Kevin and his Apex crew moved the assembled semaphore across the street to the site and placed it on the base.  Quite the impressive process!

Rotarians moving Semaphore pieces from storage locker.

And, moving part of the semaphore onto the truck.

Then, installing the base.

David assembling Semaphore in Apex yard.

Kevin and Apex crew installing rest of semaphore on the base.

Semaphore installed!  (thanks to Don Winters for the photo)

More to come:  red, yellow, and green lenses in the signal.

And, watch for signage regarding the native plants and Kirkland's railroad heritage.  Not to mention, a picnic pavillion some day!

Have you checked out the project lately?

Sorry to take so long to bring you up to date on the progress!  Although you will need to actually see the project site to fully appreciate the changes, here's a quick preview:

•  60 feet of railroad track from the CKC is now fully installed!  It was quite the show!

• Most of the split rail fence is up, and the native plant area has been cleared of invasive species.  It now has quite a number of native plants in it with more to come.  This area will be even more impressive when Spring finally arrives and more plants start sprouting leaves.  (A sign identifying the plants in the garden is finished and will be up soon.)

Next steps:

• Installation of various railroad signage and artifacts
• Historical signage explaining the role the railroad has had in Kirkland's history
• Actual installation of the Rotary Central Station picnic pavilion!  (The City hopes to start in March.)

Status Report June 2019

Great news!  David was recently notified that 4Culture has approved the grant request.  That means the project is fully funded!

The City of Kirkland is working on designs for the picnic pavilion and should soon have chosen one.

Meanwhile, watch for action on other parts of the project: actual installation of rails and signal, creation of a native plant garden, historic signs about the role of the railroad in Kirkland, and more!

Thank you for your interest and support.  If you would like to help with the planting or other parts of the project, feel free to email David Aubry at daaubry@hotmail.com.

Project Status - April 2019

The Rotary Pavilion project on the CKC is chugging right along!

1-Kirkland Parks Foundation has reached (exceeded, actually) their funding goal for removal of trees, fencing, native garden (thank you to all the generous donors!)

2-The Rotary Club of Kirkland has completed raising funds for the pavilion structure

3-Rotary District 5030 has awarded a grant to cover 2 picnic tables for the pavilion

4-The rails were moved to the site on April 4th with the help of Rotarians with safety vests and signage in front and in back of the truck. (Here are some photos - it was pretty spectacular!  Those rails weigh almost 1 ton each.)

The rails had been part of  siding behind what is now Chain Line Brewery.

  It just took a bit of digging to get them ready to move.

Moving the rails on the CKC to the project site 

Unloading the rails at the project site.

5-The cottonwood trees (aka giant weeds) are down

Here's what the site looks like now with the trees down.  

Help yourself to some wood!

 (The construction trailer is there for major city work on Kirkland Avenue.)

6-The Rotary Club should hear from 4Culture soon re a grant to cover installation of rails and historic signage

7-David Aubry gave a progress report to the Kirkland City Council on April 16th.

WHEW! (Good work, David!!!!)

Funding Update - Good News!

Good news!  We are close to securing all the funding needed for this project!  We just need your help to finish it off.

Here’s the latest.  TheKirkland Parks Foundation is raising funds so we can remove two large cottonwoods and create a labeled Native Plants Garden with a split-rail fence (using weed-block material to avoid the use of herbicides).  This will cost $3,500, and $1,105 has been pledged so far.

But here’s the great news: If we can raise $1,000 more, an anonymous donor will contribute the remaining $1,395!

So spread the news and go to TheKirkland Parks Foundation and help us raise that $1,000!

More Progress! (March 3, 2019)

Have you been following postings on Kirkland Weblog (https://www.kirklandweblog.com/)?  If you are not familiar with this blog, you really should check it out!  It’s one of the best ways to keep up to date on happenings in Kirkland.  And, the latest posting was all about this project on the CKC!

Further good news:  The Kirkland Parks Foundation (https://www.kirklandparksfoundation.org/) has now raised more than $1,100 towards the CKC Picnic Area Native Vegetation Restoration part of the project.  That’s 30% of their fundraising goal. 

Thanks to both Kirkland Weblog and The Kirkland Parks Foundation for your support and help in getting the word out about this project!

Progress Report – February 3, 2019

We’ve made great progress on this project, but we need your help to complete it!  We want to restore a section of the Cross Kirkland Corridor to original, native plants, so it looks the way it did before all those invasives escaped from our yard - so our kids can see how it must have looked before it was taken over by Enlish ivy, English Laurel, English holly, and Himalayan blackberries!!

Here’s where we are*:

ü  Pavilion Purchase – fundraising completed by The Rotary Club of Kirkland

ü  Pavilion Installation – City of Kirkland will provide

ü  Picnic Tables – grant approved by Rotary District

Ø  Installation of section of original rail track and historic signage

ü  Railroad ties, spikes, connectors obtained

ü  Track has been dug up and is ready to move  (that’s what has been going on near Chainline Brewery)

Ø   4Culture Grant application submitted and pending

Ø  Native Pant garden and fencing

ü  Invasive pants removed by volunteers

Ø  Kirkland Parks Foundation supporting project and Fundraising Site active

This is where we need your help!

-       Help us get the word out!  Tell your neighbors and friends.

-       Better yet, go to https://www.kirklandparksfoundation.org/  click on “CKC Picnic Area Native Vegetation Restoration” near the bottom of the page, and make a donation.

*See below for more detailed timeline.
Winter-Spring 2017 – Project conception, obtain general and specific cost estimates. 
August 18, 2017 – City of Kirkland personnel to gage interest in project. Receive positive response.
 
October 16, 2017 – Formally present project to fund purchase of Pavilion to the Rotary Club of Kirkland.  Club votes to approve Pavilion project and raise the necessary money.

January 16, 2018 – Formally present project to Kirkland City Council.  Receive favorable response; Council directs City Manager Kurt Triplett to meet with David Aubry of Rotary and appropriate City personnel.

January 26, 2018 – Meet with Kari Page, Kathy Brown, Kurt Triplett, obtain formal City of Kirkland approval for project.  City to be responsible for installation of Pavilion.

January 31, 2018 – Retrieve 80 plates, 118 spikes, and assorted other track hardware from rail removal contractor behind old Bellevue Lowes store.

February 1, 2018 – With the Rotary volunteers, John Pruitt, Steve Shinstrom, Joe Getzendammer, pick up 40 very heavy ties in two trips from behind old Bellevue Lowes Store.  (Ties are currently in Aubry carport.)

February-March 2018 – About 320 spikes for project.  Picked up more spikes, plates, rail connectors along CKC.  Believe we now have enough hardware for the project.

February 22, 2018 – Meet at site with Kari Page, Betsy Adams, Shannon of the City of Kirkland to discuss site layout and non-native plant removal.

February 27, 2018 – Meet at site with Karen Story, CKC Steward, to discuss project and non-native plant removal. 

February-April 2018 –  Develop landscape plan for native plant area.

March 21, 2018 – Meeting to discuss obtaining Rotary District Grant for picnic tables for the Pavilion.

March 22, 2018 – Meet with Sally Otten of the Kirkland Parks Foundation to discuss Foundation participation in the project – specifically in raising funds for developing the native plant area. 

April 9, 2018 – Rotary volunteers and Karen Story’s crew finish clearing the majority of the non-native brush and plants from site.

September 2018 –

·         Begin discussions with 4-Culture for future grant application in the ‘Heritage’ category for historic signage and rail installation project. 
·         Investigate feasibility of removing 2-3 sections of rail from a buried siding behind Chainline Brewery on the CKC.   

October 2, 2018 –The Kirkland Parks Foundation Board votes unanimously to approve support for the project.  (This will encompass the removal of the remaining cottonwoods, purchasing native plants, landscape cloth as a weed barrier, split rail fence materials, and identifiers for native plants.  Planting and installation of fence to be accomplished with volunteer labor.)

October 2018-December 2018 – dig up rails and pull spikes behind Home-Grown Trailers/Chainline Brewery. 

January 7, 2019 – Parks Foundation website goes live with the CKC project.

The Cross Kirkland Corridor Rotary Central Station

This Kirkland Rotary-driven undertaking includes several projects with sponsors and volunteers involved in each project.  For instance, the fenced Native Plants Area will be financed by the Kirkland Parks Foundation and installed by volunteers.

What’s involved?

THE PICNIC PAVILION: This is actually the centerpiece of the CKC Central Station.  The pavilion will be purchased and installed by a partnership between The Rotary Club of Kirkland and the City of Kirkland on the site of the last Kirkland railroad station. (At the mid-way point of the Cross Kirkland Corridor at Railroad Ave near Kirkland Ave.) It will provide a shelter and gathering place for runners, walkers, bikers, and picnickers. 

Cross Kirkland Corridor Rotary Picnic Pavilion

 
NATIVE PLANT GARDEN: The Kirkland Parks Foundation [KPF] is funding a garden featuring plants native to our area.  This has involved the removal of thickets of English ivy, English Holly, and Himalayan blackberries.  KPF will be financing the removal of the remaining two large cottonwoods, purchase of native plants, mulch, plant signage, and a rustic fence.  Actual installation will be done by volunteers.  See below for the progress made by volunteers in clearing this formerly invasively vegetated area. 

Schematic of the project area - note Native Plants Area
 

Scematic of Native Plants Area - showing locations of specific plants

 

TWO PICNIC TABLES:  What’s a Picnic Pavilion without picnic tables?  And, what a perfect place, at approximately the halfway point of the Cross Kirkland Corridor!  Funding for these picnic tables has been secured by The Rotary Club of Kirkland, from Rotary District 5030.

 

BENCH: This half-way point on the CKC is the perfect spot for runners, walkers, and bikers to stop for a while to catch their breath or just enjoy the scenery and the CKC Central Station.

OBTAIN AND INSTALL TIES AND RAILS:  This section of railroad track will serve as a physical reminder of the active station and railroad that were once on this site.  A part of this project has been completed – volunteers from The Rotary Club of Kirkland have acquired the ties, spikes and other hardware for this section of track.  Next step is retrieving the pieces of track and installing them on a bed of rock, weed-block cloth, and rock ballast for the track.  Rotary has applied for a grant for this part of the project, as well as the signage described below.

HISTORIC SIGNAGE:  As part of the overall project, Kirkland’s railroad heritage should be honored and preserved so all citizens, even those who never saw the railroad or station, can share an appreciation for this part of the City’s past.  This history will be presented with a series of illustrated signs, with photographs and narratives of the City’s railroad past.

CLEARING THE AREA to the south for the Native Plant Garden and the section of railroad tracks. This area was overgrown with holly, blackberries, and other weeds.  The site was cleared over the past few months through hard work provided by a team led by Karen Story including volunteers from The Rotary Club of Kirkland.


Before



Progress - thanks to these and more volunteers.

Cleared area today-two Cottonwoods to be removed.