This little skateboard park has been dedicated to the memory of Gertrude Vacura Bryce. Born October 18, 1915 in Camas Prairie, Sanders County, Gertrude passed away on October 22, 2002 at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula.
During construction of this skatepark the Clark Fork Valley Press published
an article on the park, outlining the progress of the park and the donors who made the park possible. It was published on Thursday, May 21, 2009 and is reproduced in part below.
Every year in early June, the town of Plains has a festival they call Plains Day. As part of the festival in 2009 this skateboard park had its grand opening, occurring on Saturday, June 6, 2009, with a ribbon cutting ceremony, the unveiling of the park's dedication sign, a blessing and speeches by several dignitaries and others. This was followed by a show of skill by several of the local skateboarders.
The park is in the east corner of the city park, behind the tennis courts and beside the basketball court. Not a large park, it has a railing, several small obstacles and even a picnic bench in the middle, all on a concrete pad. It was created solely with donated money from many citizens and businesses in the area.
Skaters in Plains will soon have
a new place to grind
Skateboarders in and around Plains will soon find a new place to spend their time perfecting their tricks.
The skate park which is located in the area of the E.L. Johnson Pool Park will have its grand opening June 6, during Plains Day.
Ground was broken Friday May 8 and the concrete foundation was poured for the 75” by 30” surface.
The concrete was purchased from Ready Mix in Plains and CMC Concrete donated labor to pour and set the concrete. TLC provided backhoe services.
Chuck Clinkenbeard and his crew helped for the same reasons they had before with basketball court.
“The kids need somewhere to go and stuff to do to keep them out of trouble,” Clinkenbeard said, “and that’s why I help out, to do my part to see to it that they have some place to be to stay out of trouble.”
Clinkenbeard said it just brings good things to the community.
“I got a lot of respect for these kids around here and deserves a nice place to have a little fun,” Clinkenbeard said.
The concrete takes about two weeks to cure and set in place. The ramps will be delivered this week and are going to be installed by a professional company for safety purposes.
The park will include four ramps, four rails and two tables to be used for jumping and skidding.
There will also be three different 16” steel riding surfaces.
Each piece comes with a 20-year warranty.
Harold Loraas was driving the truck that dumped the concrete Friday.
“I’m excited about it,” Loraas said. “We’ll have to get more skaters in Plains, but at least they’ll have somewhere to go now, whereas before they had to go downtown which was dangerous.”
A ribbon cutting ceremony [will be held], featuring town officials, members of the community and friends and family of Gertude Vacura-Bryce family, for whom the parks is named after.
The Vacura family [were] pioneer homesteaders at Camas Prairie. Louis Vacura had filed for a homestead and when the reservation opened for homesteading on May 2, 1910 he was awarded 160 acres of land in the valley known as Camas Prairie. Gertrude was born on this homestead, to Louis and Annie Vacura, October 1915. Louis Vacura was an enterprising man with a mechanical bent. Automobiles were coming into use. Louis decided to open a garage at Plains (1918), Louie's Garage.
Soon the family moved to Plains. Louie's Garage was soon awarded a Ford Dealership, and known as the Ford Garage or Vacura Ford.
Then in later years, under ownership of Louie's son Wesley, was Vacura Motors.
In later years Gertrude married Harry Smith and two sons were born to this couple, Pat and Mike Smith. Harry passed away from the results of injury received in U.S. Navy service in WWII. Some years later Gertrude and T. Millar Bryce were married. This union ended, after 44 years, with Gertrude's death in 2002.
Gertrude was active in Plains civic affairs for many years, serving on the Town Council.
She gave generously of her time to the VFW Auxiliary, St. James Auxiliary, Clark Fork Valley Hospital Auxiliary, Meals on Wheels, 4H as and adult leader, and more.
She spent a lifetime working for the betterment of Sanders County and the town of Plains.
She was especially proud of her work, along with many other county citizens, to help establish the Clark Fork Valley Hospital and Nursing Home.
Gertrude's sons and families and friends will be extremely proud and grateful that the skate park will be named in her honor.
“I want to express my own personal gratitude for this honor for my wife, Gertrude,” Bryce said. “Thank you very much.”
From the CFVP