By Don Murtha[singlepic=314,320,240,,right]
Visitors to Mount Angel’s Oktoberfest this year will notice a familiar gathering spot has received a makeover.
On Aug. 31, city officials, volunteers and contributors attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at Mount Angel’s new Saalfeld Park. The site was the home of the late Henrietta Saalfeld, whose family donated the property to the City of Mount Angel to be used as a relaxing place for residents and visitors.
The Saalfeld family also contributed financial support to the city to hire landscape architect Linda Richardson to design the park. Along with members of the Mount Angel Park and Tree Board, Richardson created the park’s design with walking paths, stone raised planter beds and landscaped flower beds. The Mount Angel Oktoberfest board reserved Saalfeld Park for the Prostgarten.
In a joint meeting between the Oktoberfest Board and the City Council in February, the Saalfeld Park became a project for development by the two organizations under the direction of Councilor Karl Bischoff and Oktoberfest President Chris Bischoff.
Oktoberfest volunteers have donated 262 hours of volunteer work and 57 hours of equipment use at the park. Local businesses have donated plant materials, equipment, tools, bark dust and labor. Mount Angel Mayor Rick Schiedler thanked more than three dozen individuals who volunteered labor and equipment to make the project a reality.
Schiedler said there are still items needed to complete the park, including picnic tables, a handicap ramp, bird baths, metal benches, sculptures, lighting, trellises and fencing totaling $94,800, for which the city is seeking donations.
