Ellensburg Insider

Sunday, October 1, 2023

Fall Cleanup Days

Fall Cleanup Days are here! Ellensburg residents who are also Waste Management customers can participate in Fall Cleanup Days from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 1-Oct.7, 2023, at the Ellensburg Transfer Station at 1001 S. Industrial Way. If you did not already receive a card in your mailbox, contact the City of Ellensburg at 509-962-7230. The card will allow you to take one trip to the Transfer Station to dispose of household garbage and yard waste. Regular disposal fees apply for bulky items such as tires and appliances.

Waste Management customers within City limits who are unable to take garbage to the transfer station because of disability can request curbside collection of extra garbage during Cleanup Days. All appointments must be scheduled 72 hours in advance, and waste must be placed at the curb on the day of pickup. Call the City of Ellensburg at 509-962-7230 to schedule.

New Pet Relief Station In Downtown

Downtown Ellensburg now has a pet relief station at 4th Avenue and Pine Street. This project was a partnership with the City, Ellensburg Downtown Association, and Ryan Kellogg, a local business owner.

Reed Park Open House

For more than a year, the City has been working on a park master planning process for Reed Park to address longstanding community concerns about pedestrian safety, park behavior, and driving behaviors of those entering, exiting, and using the park. Addressing these concerns with a new park design was requested in September 2020 by community members who live near the park and deal with these challenges every day. No plan has been adopted yet by the City Council.

Reed Park Master Plan Design Goal: to improve park safety by expanding non-motorized access opportunities to and within the park, while still maintaining existing park elements that make Reed Park unique to the community.

What has been done?

The process has included a community survey, three stakeholder meetings, and two community meetings. A preferred plan was presented to City Council on March 6, 2023, but was not adopted. The City Council referred it back to the Parks and Recreation Commission to consider and mitigate impacts the park plan has on the American Legion.

Based on the feedback since the March 2023 meeting, RWD Landscape Architects—the park design consultant—has been developing a new “hybrid” option for the community to consider. Two upper loop concepts were considered by the Parks & Recreation Commission at their September meeting and will be the basis for this “hybrid” plan, expected to be ready in early October.

A public open house to review Reed Park Master Plan options is scheduled for October 18, 2023. Members of the public are invited to attend this open house from 6:30-8 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers, 501 N. Anderson Street, to review previous versions of the Reed Park Master Plan design options and comment on the new hybrid option as well. Community feedback will be incorporated into a future Master Reed Park Plan which will be considered by the City Council later in the year. There is no requirement to adopt a Master Plan by a specific deadline. Once a plan is adopted by the City Council, no changes will be made until funding is secured.

Learn more

The Citizen’s Academy provides an insightful look at the job of an Ellensburg Police Officer. The six-week program is open to residents of the Ellensburg community interested in learning more about their police department, crime concerns within Ellensburg, and the role of a police officer in enforcement of laws. A variety of topics will be covered, including: department history, criminal law and investigations, patrol procedures, use of force, domestic violence, and more.

Learn more

Learn About Solar Eclipses At The Library

Join the Ellensburg Public Library and CWU Professor of Physics & Science & Mathematics Education, Bruce Palmquist, for a free presentation about the solar eclipses of 2023 and 2024.

6-7 p.m. October 5, 2023

Hal Holmes Community Center

Attend and receive a free pair of eclipse glasses while supplies last.

Properly Dispose Of Leaves To Prevent Street Flooding

Fall is here, and this is your friendly reminder to properly dispose of leaves. Please do not rake or blow leaves and debris into the street. Did you know that raking or blowing leaf litter and other yard debris into the street or storm sewer can cause drains to plug and cause flooding?

Place yard debris in waste bins provided by Waste Management or take yard debris to the Ellensburg Transfer Station, Mon-Sat from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Proper disposal of yard debris will help keep your neighborhood looking clean, the storm waters clear, and the lakes and streams healthy.

Coffee With City Council

Stop by the Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce on Main Street for a cup of coffee and conversation with two members of the City Council on October 18 from 9-11 a.m.

Did You Know?

The Ellensburg Public Library sponsors a Spanish/English Conversation Club every Monday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Hal Holmes Community Center? Learn a new language for free!

Save The Date

Fall Cleanup Days 10/1-10/7

First Friday Art Walk 10/6

Join the Ellensburg Arts Commission, artists, and downtown venues for First Friday Art Walk from 5-7 p.m.

The Good Life Community Discussion 10/3

Join a community discussion, offered by the CWU EthicsLab and the Ellensburg Public Library from 6-7:30 p.m. at Hal Holmes Community Center.

The Solar Eclipses Of 2023 And 2024 10/5

Learn about solar eclipses at this free program from 6-7 p.m. at Hal Holmes Community Center.

Reed Park Open House 10/18

Members of the public are invited to attend an open house from 6:30-8 p.m. at City Hall to review previous versions of the Reed Park Master Plan design options and comment on the new hybrid option.

Halloween Storytime At The Library 10/31 *Costumes Suggested

Put on your Halloween costume and head to the Ellensburg Public Library for a free Halloween-themed storytime at 10:30 a.m.