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16-054 Chestnut Recreation Area construction completed; reopens early

Published July 26, 2016
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Maintenance Worker Jeremiah Harris puts the finishing touches on a new life-ring station at the Chestnut Recreation Area in Clarkston, Washington. The recreation area will reopen for visitors on Wednesday, July 27, following the replacement of a 240-feet-long dilapidated rock-and-mortar wall, which was falling apart and beginning to pose a safety risk to visitors. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo.)
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Maintenance Worker Jeremiah Harris puts the finishing touches on a new life-ring station at the Chestnut Recreation Area in Clarkston, Washington. The recreation area will reopen for visitors on Wednesday, July 27, following the replacement of a 240-feet-long dilapidated rock-and-mortar wall, which was falling apart and beginning to pose a safety risk to visitors. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo.)

The Chestnut Recreation Area in Clarkston, Washington, will reopen on Wednesday, July 27. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recreation area was temporarily closed May 31 to enable maintenance staff to replace a 240-feet-long dilapidated rock-and-mortar wall, which was falling apart and beginning to pose a safety risk to visitors. Corps staff originally estimated the work would continue until mid-August, but thanks to cooperative weather and ideal work site conditions, the project was completed early. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo)
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The Chestnut Recreation Area in Clarkston, Washington, will reopen on Wednesday, July 27. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recreation area was temporarily closed May 31 to enable maintenance staff to replace a 240-feet-long dilapidated rock-and-mortar wall, which was falling apart and beginning to pose a safety risk to visitors. Corps staff originally estimated the work would continue until mid-August, but thanks to cooperative weather and ideal work site conditions, the project was completed early. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo)

The Chestnut Recreation Area in Clarkston, Washington, will reopen on Wednesday, July 27. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recreation area was temporarily closed May 31 to enable maintenance staff to replace a 240-feet-long dilapidated rock-and-mortar wall, which was falling apart and beginning to pose a safety risk to visitors. Corps staff originally estimated the work would continue until mid-August, but thanks to cooperative weather and ideal work site conditions, the project was completed early. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo)
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The Chestnut Recreation Area in Clarkston, Washington, will reopen on Wednesday, July 27. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recreation area was temporarily closed May 31 to enable maintenance staff to replace a 240-feet-long dilapidated rock-and-mortar wall, which was falling apart and beginning to pose a safety risk to visitors. Corps staff originally estimated the work would continue until mid-August, but thanks to cooperative weather and ideal work site conditions, the project was completed early. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo)

The Chestnut Recreation Area in Clarkston, Washington, will reopen on Wednesday, July 27. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recreation area was temporarily closed May 31 to enable maintenance staff to replace a 240-feet-long dilapidated rock-and-mortar wall, which was falling apart and beginning to pose a safety risk to visitors. Corps staff originally estimated the work would continue until mid-August, but thanks to cooperative weather and ideal work site conditions, the project was completed early. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo)
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The Chestnut Recreation Area in Clarkston, Washington, will reopen on Wednesday, July 27. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recreation area was temporarily closed May 31 to enable maintenance staff to replace a 240-feet-long dilapidated rock-and-mortar wall, which was falling apart and beginning to pose a safety risk to visitors. Corps staff originally estimated the work would continue until mid-August, but thanks to cooperative weather and ideal work site conditions, the project was completed early. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo)

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CLARKSTON, Wash. –  The Chestnut Recreation Area will reopen to visitors Wednesday, July 27 -- about three weeks earlier than originally scheduled, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials at the Lower Granite Natural Resource Management Office in Clarkston announced today. 

The recreation area was closed May 31 to accommodate construction activities necessary to replace an approximately 3-feet-tall by 240-feet-long dilapidated rock-and-mortar wall which was falling apart and beginning to pose a safety risk to visitors. Corps staff originally estimated the work would continue until mid-August, but thanks to cooperative weather and ideal work site conditions, the project was completed early. 

The new concrete retaining wall is shorter (about 18 inches tall) and designed to also serve as a seating area, with a grassy lawn gently sloped towards the parking lot. Property improvements now also include a lockable gate to deter vandalism at the top of the entrance road, located at the east end of Chestnut Street. The gates will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily through October. Starting in November, winter seasonal hours are 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

“This area is known for its beach,” stated Lower Granite Water Safety Coordinator Carey Tolleson, “We’d like to remind the public that this area has no lifeguard and parents need to keep a close eye on their children when playing in or near the water.”

Corps officials noted the recreation area safety and beautification improvement project has been a goal for several years. 

“This is a very popular recreation area -- we are fortunate to be able to make this park even better for our visitors," said Darren Opp, Lower Granite park manager at the Clarkston office.  

For more information about this project please call the Lower Granite Natural Resource Management Office at 509-751-0240. Corps of Engineers information about recreation opportunities is available on the Walla Walla District website at www.nww.usace.army.mil. 

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U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS – WALLA WALLA DISTRICT
509-527-7020     cenww-pa@usace.army.mil      www.nww.usace.army.mil



 


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Release no. 16-054