When friends came to visit our cabin, we searched for things to do close-by in the town of Bailey but newspapers and magazines only told us to go do things somewhere else. The ads and articles said, “Go to Breckenridge, go to Evergreen or Fairplay”. So I spent time searching for interesting things in Bailey and got ideas from Diane Glover, Jerry Humphrey and Jim Sapp. One place they suggested I check out was McGraw Park and the Park County Historical Society. I remember visiting a dusty, lonely park back in 2007 and walking across a railroad bridge with rotted wood that creaked and cracked as I walked across. Then I heard about a trail being built on Morrow Mountain on the hill across that bridge and we helped them several times along with several other groups, including the Colorado Mountain Club, Volunteers for America and even my Colorado State Forest Service pals.
Douglas Stephens showing off a set of stairs
Sue Glenn finishing a path
The Colorado Mountain Club built these stairs on Morrow Mountain Trail
Each year we saw more improvements at McGraw Park. Those improvements motivated us to come back more often, meet others at the park and help with more projects. Lots of folks now are asking to help improve Bailey’s own park right on the Platte River but something happened six years ago that really got the ball rolling.
Sometimes one person can make a difference in a town that ripples for years:
The person in this case was Susan Lambert. Susan Lambert, her husband Wayne and the members of Destination Bailey, a part of the Platte Canyon Chamber of Commerce, came up with an idea to improve McGraw Park and approached Pat Mauro, who was the president of the Park County Historical Society. Pat liked the idea so Susan Lambert looked for funding to add public bathrooms at the park. The plan also installed new decking across the Keystone Bridge, added flagstone paths, information signs, a kayak launch and two miles of trails on Morrow Mountain.
But after these improvements were finished it didn’t stop there. Susan Lambert’s idea still reverberates with volunteers who come to help – even those that don’t know what she did. What she started has improved the town of Bailey and motivated others to offer their help too.
Susan Lambert as an individual has had a positive impact on all of us in Bailey. It’s great to have folks like that.
But the volunteers didn’t stop. Here are just some of the other volunteer projects that have improved McGraw Park since then.
The group Bailey Trails renovated the River Walk Trail, then Pinecamers donated two benches.
The group Bailey Trails renovated the River Walk Trail, then Pinecamers donated two benches.
Volunteers created a bridge at a shady area near Crow Creek for a picnic table and bench.
Kids like to play here.
Marilyn Boccuzzi has added annuals to planters for years. Jane and Jerry Burke, Linda Henley and Linda Wood have also given their time for years at the park.
Volunteers add more perennials and the gardens get bigger each year at McGraw.
Dan Hughes, Jim Glenn & Larry, Keriba and Solomon Blattel finished a path between Crow Creek Bridge and the Annex.
Pat Mauro leads tours of the caboose and teaches kids railroad history. Susan Lambert approached Pat Mauro when he was president of the Park County Historical Society with the idea to propose a grant for McGraw Park.
Left: Allen McGlone is fixing up the Wren Cabin which was built by his father, Dolly McGlone.
Craig & Karen Christenson at the Entriken Cabin – one of the first cabins in Bailey and the gem of McGraw Park.
Karen Christenson organizes history presentations and fundraising dinners to support the work at McGraw Park and is the current president of the Park County Historical Society. Karen’s fundraising pays for our programs.
The Flume published an article about the dedication of a plaque, memorial tree and flagstone path honoring Harold Warren, the first president of the Park County Historical Society.
Local Boy Scouts plan to extend the flagstone path next spring as an Eagle Scout project.
Future plans
Volunteer and director Craig Christenson designed plans to re-organize the McGraw Park Annex to display photos, history and artifacts and to move toward our goal of having a history museum.
One big future goal:
Save the Barnett Cabin – also one of the oldest in Bailey.
If we wait too long -
