Rotary helps preserve Comeford Park pavilion

The pavilion formerly in Comeford Park will preserved thanks to a grant from the Marysville Rotary Club.

Comeford Park is scheduled to receive a number of improvements over the next couple of months that will change the look of the area.

Initially, the pavilion was going to be demolished, but thanks to work from the Marysville Rotary Club it is now in storage until it can be moved to another park.

The Marysville Sunrise Rotary donated the pavilion for Comeford Park originally. Rotary member Harv Jubie helped to build the pavilion with support from the city of Marysville at the time.

“It’s a historic piece in downtown Marysville and we felt it needed to be preserved,” said Rick McCarthy, president of the Marysville Sunrise Rotary. “The city did a great job getting the permitting done for this work."

McCarthy’s contracting business helped to disassemble the pavilion on Feb. 21 and 22.

“We made sure that all of it is preserved and safe now,” he said.

McCarthy said that Jubie did an excellent job putting the pavilion together the first time.

“He did not intend for that to come apart,” he said. “It was a definite challenge taking it apart in pieces.”

He was also impressed with the precision of the building.

“As a fellow contractor you want to measure the roof to see how square he got it originally,” said McCarthy, who said it was less than an eighth of an inch off on each side.

“I’ve never seen a roof that square,” he said.

The pavilion is currently at the city’s public works storage. McCarthy said the current plan is to put it back up again at the Rainier Vista park that is currently owned by the city but undeveloped.

“When we re-erect it at Rainer Vista I hope we will be able to put as much care into it,” said McCarthy.

The 22-acre park is near the Ebey Waterfront Trail and Sunnyside Boulevard.

The city hopes to one day add amenities to the land and make it a more official park.

“They’re coming up with a site plan right now,” said McCarthy, who added that the pavilion will now likely be a part of the future plans for that park.

City officials and Rotary members were glad to be able to keep the piece of the old Comeford Park.

“They were all really happy to be able to preserve the pavilion,” said McCarthy, who added the Rotary received appreciation from city officials.

“As a Rotarian and a local business owner I’m thrilled to be able to serve the community,” he said.