Manson’s Village Green returns to the community

MANSON – A prime Manson property, informally known as the Village Green, is back in the hands of the community thanks to the efforts of community members and local donors.

Lake Chelan Community Services Council will own and manage the property to create a park as a charitable gift to the community, council secretary Mary Murphy said.

The vacant property at 91 Wapato Way, which is adjacent to the Manson Bay Park, was initially considered by the Chelan-Douglas Regional Port Authority for a bus turnaround and small business incubator building. 

However, when community members learned of the port’s plans they quickly rallied support with another plan in mind, to turn the property back into an open green space for the community.

Larry Hibbard is part of the group of citizens who raised funds to purchase the property. The Village Green Group is a loose group of volunteers from Manson who have had a dream for this park since 1987. Over the years the group has tried to purchase the property but it never worked out. 

So, when both groups learned of the opportunity everyone jumped in to help make that dream a reality. Private donors along with the Village Green group quickly assembled enough donations to make a back-up cash offer.

“We thought we had a better idea,” Hibbard said. “So we went to work, and within a few days, we were able to find enough donors that we could get a backup offer in on the property.”

In just two days the group was able to raise the $750,000 to purchase the property. 

The Lake Chelan Community Services Council took possession of the property this week and is beginning volunteer efforts to clean the property and make it ready for community use.

The gas tanks have been previously removed from the property and environmental assessments have been made so Hibbard does not anticipate any issues in that regard.

Hibbard said the space will be a good addition to the downtown area. 

The project will enhance the town’s entrance from the lake, creating a more welcoming and attractive space for visitors arriving from the docks. This improvement is expected to benefit the entire community, encouraging more foot traffic to local businesses and boosting the local economy, Hibbard said.

“One of the big concerns anytime somebody starts talking about our valley is they say that the lake is one of our biggest assets, but yet we have limited public access to it,” Hibbard said. “This will help increase public access to the lake and to joining the existing Manson Bay Park, which is very full and busy, especially during summer months, and giving the community and our visitors more access to the lake, to the waterfront, and to the views that go with it.” 

The space will also offer a place for picnics, family gatherings, and community gatherings and events. The council hopes to have it ready for use during the Apple Blossom Festival.

The Lake Chelan Community Services Council's mission is to provide leadership and resources to address significant community needs.

Over the years, the Lake Chelan Community Services Council has donated to a large number of organizations. The council invites organizations to come and talk to them about what they do, what project they need help with, what their budget looks like, etc. Murphy said. 

Quinn Propst: 206-923-8706 or quinn@ward.media.