John Bothell only wished his mother could have been there Wednesday morning to see it happen.

Still, it was a big thrill for him and other members of the Bothell family to be on hand to watch the City of Auburn dedicate Dorothy Bothell Park at 5701 Lakeland Hills Way SE.

Dorothy Marion Bothell, Auburn’s first woman councilmember, died at age 101 last August after a lifetime of activity with local and regional civic and service clubs. She served on the Cemetery Board, the Auburn Garden Club and was past president of the Soroptimist Club. She also was the matriarch of the longstanding Bothell Chevrolet dealership on Auburn’s auto row.

"To be on the City Council at the time she was on it was an interesting experience to say the least, and with quiet determination and leadership, she lead the way," said Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis.

Now she leads the way again as the first woman to have an Auburn park bear her name.

"My mother would have been extremely proud to have this park named after her," John Bothell said. "She did a lot in the Auburn community and was very active. This is a real tribute to her. The nice thing about it is it's going to be a lasting tribute here after we are gone."

Bothell's second son, Howard, was too ill to attend the ceremony.

Located next to the Lakeland Hill Community Center, the park offers three picnic tables and four sitting benches. A playground for children features a swing set, climbing boulders, climbing pets and hidden dinosaur bones for the little ones to uncover.

A partnership among the City of Auburn, Tucci & Sons, and Eagle Scout projects from Scout Troop Nos. 323, 401 and 510 built the three-acre park.

"It's a walk-to park really geared for neighbors who surround the park," said Daryl Faber, director of Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation. "It links a three-mile walking trail with kids' toys. And there's plenty of open space here to fly a kite or throw a Frisbee."

The City held the ceremony in conjunction with Arbor Day at the new park site.

City officials, along with volunteers from the Auburn Parks Board, Auburn Tree Board and Auburn Garden Club and representatives from the state Department of Natural Resources planted a Serbian Spruce in recognition of Arbor Day. The Auburn Garden Club paid for the tree.

Auburn is recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation as a TREE CITY USA, which recognizes communities that effectively manage their urban forest and meet four TREE CITY USA standards. The standards include having a tree governing body; maintaining a comprehensive community forestry program that spends at least $2 per capita on the urban forest; maintaining a tree care ordinance; and holding an annual celebration related to Arbor Day.

For more information about Arbor Day, tree planting, or parks in Auburn, call 253-931-3043 or visit www.auburnwa.gov.

Contact Auburn Reporter News reporter Robert Whale at rwhale@auburn-reporter.com or 253-833-0218, ext. 5052.

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