A five year celebration and work party commemorating Gary Putney was a big success.

A team of about 57 folks came out to the Putney Woods Trailhead Nov. 12. Putney died five years ago on Nov. 13, 2006, two days after his birthday. Putney Woods (previously called Goss Lake Woods) was renamed in honor of the many years of trail work Putney generously volunteered.

The work party and celebration was formed to honor Putney’s dream of a trail system shared by equestrians, bicyclists, hikers and dog walkers.

People came with a variety of equipment, including two brush hogs, several loads of gravel for the picnic table site and a generator for the food provided by the Whidbey Wranglers 4-H Club.

The trailhead was upgraded, and a redwood picnic table was delivered from Yakima by Putney family members. A large overhead sign is also in the process of being upgraded. Folks also set to work clearing brush and spreading mulch around young trees. The South Whidbey Lions Club planted a new memorial tree in Putney’s honor and a spot was cleared for the existing Porta-Potty to get it away from the trail. Also new is Island County’s recent grading of the trail head parking lot.

Finally, the team of community members completed some much needed maintenance on the trail itself.