District employees pitch in to create Fort Walla Walla Planet Walk at Fort Walla Walla Park

April 24, 2008
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Mike Gobel, Walla Walla High School Math Teacher and Football Coach, and Marci Knauft, Lincoln Alternative High School Instructor, were part of the Sherwood Trust Leadership team that has provided another family attraction at Fort Walla Walla Park - the Fort Walla Walla Planet Walk. Blue Ridge Elementary also sponsored Neptune, which is the planet closest to the school.

This coming Sunday, April 27th, Fort Walla Walla Planet Walk is celebrating the installation of this new family activity that runs along the bicycle/walking path that connects Blue Ridge Elementary with Fort Walla Walla Park. We are celebrating in conjunction with Fort Walla Walla Museum's FREE Admission Day between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at the "sun" at 2 p.m. Museum guests can pick-up a map at the museum's entrance. Greeters will also be located by the Fort Walla Walla Ampitheatres parking lot between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The Sherwood Trust Leadership Class of 2007, in partnership with Fort Walla Walla Museum, the City of Walla Walla, and Eagle Scout Jacob Harold and Boy Scout Troup #305, has installed the Fort Walla Walla Planet Walk. The Planet Walk is located along the bicycle/walking path south of Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center.

The Fort Walla Walla Planet Walk is a new educational exhibit, as well as a new opportunity for family fun. Its location is convenient for Fort Walla Walla visitors, Blue Ridge Elementary students, Children's Museum visitors, V.A. Medical Center patients and visitors, as well as valley residents and tourists.

The 8,996 foot trail is an educational model of the 3.7 billion mile solar system. This walking/biking exhibit is scaled to represent the actual distances between the sun and the eight planets.

Both entrances to the Planet Walk feature a replica of the famous Lunar Landing painting, as seen nationwide on the cover of TV Guide the week that Astronaut Neil Armstrong took Mankind's first steps on the moon. The painting was created by Walla Walla resident Norman Adams. The original artwork is part of the Adams collection, housed at Fort Walla Walla Museum.

Fort Walla Walla Planet Walk is celebrating its grand opening in conjunction with Fort Walla Walla Museum's annual admission-free Open House on Sunday, April 27th, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on that day near the Planet Walk's sun, located near Fort Walla Walla Amphitheatre.