Unveiling the new sign Monday afternoon at Los Alamos Project Main Gate Park, from left, Los Alamos County Deputy Manager Linda Matteson, Council Chair Randall Ryti, Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos President Doug Hamphill, Kiwanis member Rick Reiss, Kiwanis member Dennis Gill, Councilor Denise Derkacs, Kiwanis member Jack Gehre, Kiwanis member Don Casperson, Councilor Sara Scott and Kiwanis member Cindy Eaton. The sign commemorates the Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos’ efforts to make the park what it is today. Originally, the park was the east entry gate to the ‘Secret City’ during the Manhattan Project. In 1986, the Kiwanis Club, then known as the Sunrise Kiwanis, adopted the location to create a much-needed place for campers to park. The club raised more than $30,000 and volunteered hundreds of hours to improve the site. Its efforts were awarded the Certificate of Merit from Secretary of Interior Don Paul Hodel in 1986. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos President Doug Hamphill, left, makes a few remarks while County Council Chair Randall Ryti, center, and Kiwanis member Jack Gehre, who was instrumental in forming the Los Alamos Project Main Gate Park, listen. After the ceremony, Hamphill told the Los Alamos Daily Post, ‘We’re happy that the County recognized the Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos and the previous Kiwanis Club that merged to form the current Kiwanis Club. We’re very proud of the park. We are continuing to keep it up on an annual basis .. it’s a gateway to welcome people to Los Alamos.’ Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
Council Chair Randall Ryti, left, listens as Kiwanis member Jack Gehre talks about the club’s efforts to get the park created. Gehre credited the County for its help. ‘Thank you, County Council for everything did for us,’ he said. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
Scene from the sign unveiling ceremony. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
County Council Chair Randall Ryti makes introductory comments during the sign unveiling ceremony. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
