Ernie's Garage property in Manson to be sold locally for a public park

Property at 91 Wapato Way in Manson to become 'community green-space.'

A nearly one-half-acre piece of property in Manson will remain in local hands and be developed as a long envisioned community green-space with an awesome view of Lake Chelan.

The former location of Ernie’s Garage at 91 Wapato Way in Manson will be sold to the non-profit Lake Chelan Community Services Council with funding from a group of community donors.

The Chelan-Douglas Port Authority had right of first refusal on the purchase of the property. Port Commissioners decided Tuesday not to proceed with the purchase, handing the deal over to the Lake Chelan Community Services Council. The community group Village Green, and the council are also behind the effort to move forward with a long standing vision.

"It will be a public park area and the people that have been involved in it, it's been a dream that has been in process since '87," said Larry Hibbard, who represents the investment group. "The next step is to close on the property which we will do by the end of the month . Processes are all in line to do that."

Hibbard agreed that it's a testament to the power of community.

As for re-development of the property, Hibbard says, "The first phase, I anticipate, will be community group volunteers coming in and doing the initial clean-up."

The .44 acre property was purchased for $750,000.