Whatever you do, don’t use the dreaded “A” word when describing the impressive timber-frame pavilion stage at Sisters’ newest downtown recreational respite, Fir Street Park. City officials and proponents wish to distance this quaint local project from the grand plans of a larger proposed amphitheater plan that stirred so much controversy this year.
Last summer the City of Sisters was generously awarded the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department 2013 Local Government Grant for the planning, design and construction of Fir Street Park. This special grant awarded to the City of Sisters was in the amount of $206,534, 50-percent of the overall project cost.
The multi-use park, located at the corner of Fir Street and Main Avenue and nearing completion this month, will include a refreshing kids’ splash play area with boulders, a bandstand performance stage and seating area, a picnic benches, family restrooms, bike corrals, a fire pit with area seating, drinking fountains, trash receptacles and dedicated parking.
Its rugged Craftsman-style pavilion was first raised on June 28 and was made possible through the co-operated efforts of Kris Calvin of Earthwood Timber Frame Homes, Boy Scout Rory Petterson, Sisters Kiwanis Club and the City of Sisters.
This striking ponderosa pine structure was crafted via a unique Kiwanis-sponsored workshop under the watchful eye and expertise of area contractor Kris Calvin. It was the ambitious Eagle Scout project of 16-year-old Boy Scout Rory Petterson, who made a scale model of the project on a 3D printer and worked extensively with Calvin to organize the construction process.
A pine roof was fitted over the heavy timbers in July and crews are quickly adding turf, bushes, plants and landscaping to finish off the project and ready the park for locals and visitors to enjoy late this summer. The attractive and functional pavilion stage will be used for a variety of performing arts events throughout the year as weather permits.
