The Greenway has constructed a small wayside park along the pathway between Marti's restaurant and McGuire Playground/Sunrise Rotary Park. The Frank Frederick Wayside was dedicated on April 24, 2004.

Nona Schulz, past Greenway president,
and Helen Frederick cut the ribbon

Family and friends of Frank Frederick
gather for the park dedication

Thank you to National Park Service, Kiwanis Club of Yakima, U.S. Cellular, the 2003 Greenway Board of Directors, Leadership Yakima, Windermere Realty, Curt Vangstad/Pacific Power and Greenway staff members for your donations of time and money. Also, thank you to Leingang Excavating, Fickel & Son, Rath Construction, Akland Irrigation, Papé Machinery, Home Depot, and Golden West Seed for in-kind donations of material, labor, and equipment. You all made this truly a community project.

Named to honor a wonderful individual and true gentleman, Frank Frederick, this wayside celebrates his life and dedication to the Greenway dream. Frank literally wrote the book about the Greenway and will always be remembered as a person of drive and integrity who quietly got the job done.

This park meets three distinct goals. The first goal is to improve the upland habitat of the area, transitioning cheat grass and rock to an area of native grasses and trees. Plantings of native vegetation will dramatically improve habitat for birds and small mammals. Habitat improvement will be an ongoing process.

The second goal is to provide a more aesthetically appealing entrance to our community. This area is at Yakima's front door, the Yakima Avenue exit from the interstate. It is directly across the interstate from the recently completed Yakima Valley Visitor Center, and the park-and-ride and waterfall. Visually, it is a nice addition to our "welcome mat."

The third goal in constructing this wayside is to provide pathway users with a small area to get off the pathway to relax on a bench, get a drink and enjoy a little shade before continuing on. This will be an oasis of shade in several years when the trees are larger.