This is not, as some might expect, the result of marijuana's having been legalized in the state, but due to Waterville's altitude. At an elevation of 2,622 feet above sea level, it is, indeed, the highest incorporated town in Washington State. A quiet little town with a downtown comprised primarily of a historic district, pretty much everything in the town is close at hand, including the town's public park, Pioneer Park.
Though the park is a block south of Locust Street, the official park entrance is on Locust, or at least that's where the sign has been placed. From the sign, it's a short walk of about 125 feet to the park proper and the shade of the many mature trees. In the dog days of summer, these alone make the park an inviting and quite popular place. Near the southwest corner of the park is a small cairn built by the I.O.O.F. and the Masons in 1939, dedicated to the pioneers of Waterville and commemorating the Golden Jubilees of Waterville, the Badger Mountain Lodge of the Masons and the State of Washington. By a happy coincidence it turns out that all three were incorporated in 1889, celebrating their 50th anniversaries in 1939. The Badger Mountain Lodge of the Masons, being five months older than the State of Washington, was incorporated on June 12th, 1889, celebrating its Golden Jubilee on March 2nd of 1939.
Around the cairn are four bronze plaques, the three commemorative plaques and another "Dedicated to the pioneers of Waterville". The Badger Mountain Lodge plaque is on the east side of the cairn. Incidentally, Badger Mountain Lodge was named after nearby Badger Mountain, now the site of a locally popular ski area and resort. The lodge is still active, with their lodge in a downtown historic building.
The park is divided into two halves by Walnut Street (which is, sensibly, blocked to vehicular traffic) with the north half mostly open grassed area under many mature trees. In the south half are a small ball diamond, a children's playground and a tennis court. At the western edge of the south half is the Douglas County Museum.
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