Cashmere honors park land donors with plaques

CASHMERE -- The city of Cashmere has installed plaques to honor two families who made significant land donations for public parks.

In 1919, E.C. Long donated three-quarters of an acre from his orchard to establish what is now known as Cottage Avenue Park. The park, which once featured a bandstand for weekly concerts in the 1920s and 1930s, now plays a crucial role in the city's Tree City Program.

O.G. France bequeathed 4.82 acres to the "Citizens of Cashmere" in his last will and testament. Following a 1947 Superior Court ruling, the property was vested to the Town of Cashmere in trust for public recreation. Initially named "Cashmere Play Grounds," the area is now called Pioneer-Simpson Park and includes a playground, picnic sites, parking, and two softball fields maintained by the Cashmere School District.

These historical land donations have significantly contributed to the city's recreational spaces, providing residents with valuable community resources for over a century.