KENNEWICK, Wash. — After stints of work over five years of volunteers wading through water, chopping through an impenetrable mixture of thorny blackberries and Russian olive trees, clearing brush and planting trees and shrubs, the two-mile natural greenway through Zintel Canyon in Kennewick, Wash., is now complete.
The October culmination of the volunteers' efforts was marked by the dedication of "The Spirit of America Trail," attended by approximately 200 neighbors, firefighters, police, Church members and city officials. The main trail through the canyon was dedicated in memory of all those who have sacrificed to keep America free and strong.
This "sanctuary in an urban setting," as one reporter described it, began as a 1997 Church sesquicentennial project for members of the 5th ward, Kennewick Washington East Stake.
The City of Kennewick lacked the funds to develop this unsafe, overgrown area, which had become an illegal dumping ground. When Ken Harvey, project coordinator, introduced the idea to the city council of clearing out and developing a nature trail through the canyon, using Church volunteers, the plan was met with disbelief.
"I think you should take on a more realistic project. Why don't you adopt a mile of highway to keep clean?" said Bob Kelly, Kennewick City Manager.
The city council agreed to the project, however, and the stake president, David Ottley, signed the five-year contract for the work to begin.
With vision and fixed determination, Brother Harvey began to gather volunteer forces in his ward and throughout Kennewick East Stake to turn Zintel Canyon into a place of safety and beauty. Some community organizations, such as the Rotary club, also participated.
During the five years, people of all ages got involved in the project. Approximately 500-1,000 volunteers provided 20,000 man-hours of work. At least six Eagle Scout projects were completed through the work done in the canyon.
Because of the possibility that flooding might prevent public use of the canyon, the Army Corps of Engineers and the city of Kennewick first joined hands to build the Zintel Canyon Dam — 84 feet high and 500 feet across — before the volunteers began their work.
What was facing them resembled a pioneer-sized challenge: They had to remove tons of garbage from the canyon, and cut and chop through thorny Russian olives mixed with blackberry bushes to clear a main path, activity areas, and side trails. Culvert bridges were put in, streams channeled, trees blocking the trail cut up and removed, and hundreds of trees and flowers added.
"I have never seen anything like the commitment and dedication of these people to stay with a project for five years to its conclusion," said Cindy Cole, Manager of Buildings and Grounds. "It's amazing."
Natural obstacles, vandalism and discouragement were all part of this five-year commitment.
One barrier to the cleanup was the removal of a 1940s car that had been dumped in the canyon, and stuck deeply in the mud for about 40 years. Boy Scouts got the car on its side, and pushed it a quarter of a mile to where it could be hauled off.
Vandalism in the canyon was perhaps the biggest challenge. Mushroom-shaped benches, and 100 of the 600 small newly planted trees were vandalized. Older trees were spray-painted. Forty percent of a 180-foot long retaining wall built by hand was destroyed.
"Somebody worked hard to tear this down," said Russ Burtner, director of the city's Parks and Recreation Department. "It's very disheartening to the people who worked very hard to make this happen," he said.
Like the pioneers, although greatly discouraged by the tumbled mass of rock which was once part of the wall, the volunteers refused to accept defeat. They moved in and rebuilt the wall within hours of the occurrence, making it even stronger. Television and the local newspaper offered sympathetic praise for their rebuilding efforts.