Parks
In the beginning, Mayme Shaddock Park was just an acre of land located at the corner of what is now Park Street and Second Avenue. With an abundance of underbrush, the lot looked more like an overgrown forest than a place to picnic and play.
Through the dedicated work of many volunteers and contributors, the Park now contains a covered Picnic/Kitchen Area with benches, eight barbecues, kitchen table area, swing sets, horse shoe pits, a sand filled volleyball court, asphalt walking trails and restrooms. Volunteers also added plants and shrubbery and a Rose Garden was established.
Napavine Community Park was added in 2001. It contains three Regulation Ballfields, a Field House, Bathrooms, a Concession Stand as well as a Day Park with childrens' toys. The Park has adequate room for the addition of two more Ballfields, Tennis Courts, RV Parking and a Recreation Center.
Robert Cook Day Park was established on property donated by the Cook family in 2002, on the West side of town, between Grand Avenue and 2nd Place. It contains a basketball Court and a swing set.
Cultural and Recreational Activities
Napavine is a family oriented community that promotes and encourages a large number of recreational activities designed to foster a wholesome family life.
In December 1973, the newly formed Napavine Jaycees submitted a request to the Washington State Jaycees to conduct a three-day celebration as a Chapter Project.
A Committee, which included the Napavine School Boosters, chaired by Jerry Owens, was formed and the dates of July 12th through 14th were selected. The Napavine K-12 Student Body was asked to submit ideas to name the Festival. The name Napavine Funtime Festival, submitted by Val Gruver, was chosen.
Plans were made to have a Princess Napawinah Coronation, teen dance, Carnival, parade, logging show, dunk tank, concessions and a street dance.
The first Napavine Funtime Festival was a huge success and continues to this day with events such as the big Parade, Drag Races and Burnouts, Softball Tournaments, Dances and numerous booths and concessions.
The Festival has also been the sponsor, along with Napavine Fire District #5, of the annual "Christmas on Parade", that has been held on the first Saturday of December, each year, for the past 26 years. Included is the lighting of the "Triangle" in the center of Napavine.
Funds generated from the Festival support the yearly Easter Egg Hunt and Halloween Party. Other contributions have included a project to fully furnish the interior of an Aid Car, including a "Jaws of Life" for Napavine Fire District #5. Over $25,000 was donated toward the construction of the Grandstand of the Napavine School District Football Field.
In the 1990s, the Jaycees Chapter was discontinued and the Napavine Funtime Festival was taken over by a group that Incorporated and continues to operate it to this day.
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