Last Saturday event set at Farrel-McWhirter Park set for Aug. 31

Published 1:54 pm Tuesday, August 20, 2013

On Aug. 31, the Green Redmond Partnership will host a volunteer work event at Farrel-McWhirter Park as part of its Last Saturday series.

These regularly scheduled work parties are in addition to multiple work events completed by school groups, individuals and dedicated forest stewards. This month’s event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon.

At the turn of the century, the property now known as Farrel-McWhirter Park was the site of the Peterson Sawmill, one of the largest sawmills in the area. The property was purchased in the 1930s by the McWhirter family, who established the farm as a summer home, soon making it their permanent residence. In 1971, Elise Farrel-McWhirter, an avid horsewoman, left the 68-acre parcel of land to the City of Redmond for a park. The park is very diverse, with an active equestrian program, preschool, small animal area, picnic and play areas and an extensive trail system that meanders along streams and through the forested area of the park.

It is the forested areas where Shelley Wong, the forest steward at the park, has been working since 2011 toward the removal of non-native, invasive plant material and planting native plants in their place.

Wong has been active in volunteering for many years, currently helping out Hopelink and previously participating in the Washington Trails Association. She enjoys working outdoors and getting her hands dirty doing the important work of restoration.

Farrel-McWhirter Park is located at 19545 Redmond Road. Gloves and tools are provided. To sign up, get more information about the Green Redmond Partnership or learn of other volunteer opportunities, visit www.greenredmond.org.