Fall City Arts announced on April 9 its plans to bring the city’s Art Park back to life, pending community funding.

The park, located on the west side of The Vintage Flea in downtown Fall City, was established in 1995 by Barbara Center, in an effort to unite the community through creative activities such as Shakespeare in the Park, performances and craft markets, according to the Fall City Arts website.

“It used to be a hub for get-togethers, events and activities, but it hasn’t been getting the attention it deserves,” said Krimsey Lilleth, president and treasurer of Fall City Arts. “So, we want to bring it back to life.”

Leadership at Fall City Arts shifted from Center to Lilleth in 2022. Still, the organization remains committed to building community, invigorating imaginations, encouraging creativity and fostering friendships through various art, science and culture events within the rural town.

While changes are coming, Lilleth said Art Park has a solid foundation on which the Art Park Committee — led by Jess Buttermore — can work.

“When they did the original work, they laid down flagstone pavers around the whole thing, put in wooden flower beds and planted a bunch of perennials that are still thriving there,” Lilleth said. “We want to get the landscape back in shape, re-do the back fence with planter boxes, get some heavy-duty tables so people can enjoy the space and put in a mini stage for musicians to come play.”

The Art Park Committee asks the community to donate time, lumber, plants, or money to the project. Fall City resides in unincorporated King County, so it lacks access to city funds.

“We want the space to feel alive and useful,” Lilleth said. “Right now, we are in phase one, which is getting the park into shape enough to make it fun to be there. Later, we want to involve more local art and incorporate things that local kids are learning or display local organizations’ work on a rotating basis.”

The Art Park fundraiser has raised nearly $3,000 of its $4,000 goal — a bulk of which will go toward lumber and landscape additions, according to the website.

Fall City Arts hopes to utilize the skill and time of community members willing to donate labor to complete the project as they reach their funding goal.

A complete project list for which the funds will be used and a link to a fundraising page can be found at www.fallcityarts.org.

A rendering of the Art Park post-revitalization. (Drawn by Jess Buttermore)