Growing our Future: Planting Bohemia Park

(Note 11-19-08: Day of Planting was a great success! – click here to watch a slideshow of this event…)

The public is invited to a planting party at Bohemia Park, Cottage Grove’s newest and largest park, on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the corner of 10th and Main Streets, Cottage Grove.

People of all ages will plant a thousand bulbs and more than a hundred trees along the northern and western sides of the park. Both bulbs and trees will be available for a donation on Saturday. The cost for bulbs is five for $1. A 6’ to 8’ tree will be planted in honor of each the park’s $1,000 donors. These leadership donors may select their tree, determine its placement and plant it themselves if they wish. Steppingstones acknowledging each of these contributions will be placed in the park at a later date.

Free refreshments will be provided and a brief program will be presented at 11 a.m.

The City of Cottage Grove and the Bohemia Foundation have teamed up to develop the 14-acre former OP&E Railway yard into a park that, when complete, will feature:

  • A 2,000-seat outdoor amphitheatre;
  • A 3-acre pond and river system;
  • Group picnic shelters and playgrounds;
  • Paved and lighted paths for walking, jogging and biking; and
  • A heritage museum and community center.

Bohemia Park was inspired by L.L. “Stub” Stewart, a Cottage Grove native, three-term state legislator, and owner of Bohemia Lumber Co. A parks and wildlife advocate, Stewart envisioned a large community park in his native Cottage Grove where residents could enjoy the beauty of the valley and also learn about the history of the region.

Through Bohemia Foundation, Stewart spearheaded the project and secured the initial funding to purchase the property. Stewart died in 2005 at the age of 93. The Bohemia Foundation then joined forces with the City of Cottage Grove to raise the necessary funds and develop the park.

Earlier this fall, the Wildish Company and others laid the physical foundation for Bohemia Park, by moving the earth and shaping the park’s various sections.

Phase I of the park is expected to be ready for use by the public by next summer, which is also the 50th anniversary of Cottage Grove’s Bohemia Mining Days and the state’s 150th birthday.

Contacts:
Christina Lund: 953-5377
Faye Stewart: 954-4061 or 942-0870