Coulee Corridor supporters celebrate tourism signs
Grant County Commissioner Carolann Swartz listens to Sun Lakes State Park Manager and Coulee Corridor Consortium Chairman Denise Felton Friday at Lake Lenore.
Supporters gathered Friday at Lake Lenore Caves State Park to mark the newest improvement to the Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway.
LAKE LENORE — Supporters gathered Friday at Lake Lenore Caves State Park to mark the newest improvement to the Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway.
They watched the dedication of the Lake Lenore interpretive panels, celebrating many months of volunteer work.
The panels are four signs sitting atop basalt rock bases. They show information about the landscape, history and culture of the area.
Now they’re ready for Grant County’s busy summer tourism season.
“There’s always more improvements to make, but this really helps tell the story of this area,” said Ephrata’s Jim Pritchard, a Coulee Corridor Consortium (CCC) member. “(The tourists) really understand what it is without having someone to tell them.”
CCC member Mark Amara, of Moses Lake, called the event a culmination of hard work from many different people.
There is more to the project than just the panels, said CCC Chairman and Sun Lakes State Park Manager Denis Felton.
He noted other improvements at Lake Lenore Caves State Park, such as trails, a toilet and kiosks.
“There are a lot of neat additions besides the panels,” he explained.
“Clearly the members, partners and stakeholders want to preserve, protect and promote the byway,” Felton added.
He thanked the following people for their help with the project: Eastern Washington University professor Bill Kelley and his graduate students, Paul Meyer and Mike McKee, of the state Department of Transportation, Tim Alling and Ken Caylor, of the CCC, former state parks employees Amy McDougall and Steve Wang, Noel Designs, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservations and project manager Corinne Isaak.
Keith Young, of Young’s Welding in Electric City, helped by assisting with the basalt bases and building the panel bases.
The CCC is always looking for volunteers, Felton said.
“We can promote this area and make it the most recognized and traveled throughout the U.S.,” he commented.
For more information, visit www.couleecorridor.com.