SEQUIM — The Master Gardener Foundation of Clallam County and Washington State University county extension are ending support of the garden at Sequim’s Water Reuse Demonstration Park.
Financial constraints forced the move, representatives said.
With a half-acre landscaped since 2008, a new crew of volunteers is expected to take on at least maintaining the terraced flower garden, which was proposed to span 4 acres.
“Those of us that have been involved in the project are not giving up on it,” said Bill Wrobel, a past president of the Master Gardeners of Clallam County.
Mayor Ken Hays, City Manager Steve Burkett and Public Works Director Paul Haines all said they believed a volunteer group would come forward.
The extension and foundation sent a letter to end a contract with the city, which the City Council was scheduled to accept Monday at its
6 p.m. meeting in the Sequim Transit Center.
It would take effect in 90 days.
Both organizations already had told the parks and recreation board that they were backing out of the project.
Volunteers, they said, had been spread thin between maintaining the Master Gardeners Woodcock Road demonstration garden at 2711 Woodcock Road, the city park site and other services they provide for free.
“There’s been a controversy since Day 1,” Wrobel said, adding there is a core group of Master Gardeners who wanted to maintain the Woodcock garden.
Others feel that the Woodcock acreage is too far from the Sequim population center and does not draw enough attention to the work the gardeners do, he said, adding that the city demonstration park garden is more centrally located and has more visibility.
The city demonstration park has seen about $75,000 in volunteer labor and materials to date, he said.
That work includes:
— ADA pathways through a grant and matching funds at $32,000.
— Kiosk and display cases, $6,000.
— Arbor design and unit costs estimated at $4,000.
— Additional accents, $3,500.
Dungeness Valley lavender farmers also donated plants.
Last week, Gena Royal, WSU Extension coordinator, and Bob Cain, Master Gardeners Foundation president, called the garden project “visionary.”
“Our best hope is there would be people that would continue with our vision,” Royal said.
Cain said continuation would require added irrigation infrastructure and substantial labor.
He estimated that about $20,000 was spent to start up the garden.
Thirty to 40 Master Gardeners are available to volunteer in the county, Royal said.
In a statement last week, Cain said: “Many people have worked hard to provide this amenity to the citizens of Sequim over the past several years, and WSU Extension and [Master Gardeners Foundation] applaud their commitment and hard work.
“The city of Sequim has been an understanding and cooperative partner throughout the initial stages of development of the garden, and it is hoped that the city will continue to partner with other groups interested in supporting what has already been completed at the garden,” Cain said.
Haines said groups like Sequim Family Advocates, the volunteer force behind the new Albert Haller Playfields that open this summer just east of the garden, “could step forward and help to landscape it out.”
Potential volunteers can contact Haines at 360-683-4908.
