Longtime Tri-Cities councilman and volunteer with a passion for Columbia Park dies

Longtime former Kennewick councilman and tireless community volunteer Paul Parish died Saturday morning at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland.

Parish, 87, was named Kennewick Man of the Year for 2009 in recognition of the time and energy he spent making Kennewick a better place. Those who nominated him called him a “sterling example of a volunteer.”

He served on the Kennewick City Council for 24 years, retiring in 2019.

“Those of us that had the honor and privilege to work with Paul know that he was a driving force behind making the community a better place,” said Kennewick City Manager Marie Mosley in a message to city leadership Saturday. “He truly cared about the city of Kennewick and the staff.”

The Kennewick council honored him at his last council meeting in 2019 by renaming Columbia Park Trail along the Columbia River in Kennewick “Paul Parish Drive” in recognition of Parish’s service to the city and his advocacy for the park and the activities there.

He was a planner, a leader and a “do-er,” according to his nomination for Kennewick Man of the Year.

“If you are waiting on me, then you’re standing in the way,” Parish used to say.

He had a talent for getting things done, whether by leading projects, contributing money or getting his hands dirty.

“On any given day you might find him on a road grader or hip-deep in a trench with shovel in hand working to improve irrigation or some other aspect of a public park facility,” the nomination said.

Parish joked when he accepted the Man of the Year award that if his employer Bill Lampson knew how much of his equipment Parrish had loaned out free to worthy groups, he might have fired him.

“He was the type of person that made things happen and stepped back from the limelight, always looking out for the greater good,” Mosley said in her message.

Columbia Park was a passion, and he was the driving force behind many projects to improve the park, contributing his time and money, motivating others to follow his example, and tapping his wide network of connections.

His work at the park included serving as pit chairman of the Tri-Cities Water Follies and helped with the Regional Veteran’s Memorial in Columbia Park. He also held leadership positions with the park’s Playground of Dreams, J&S Dreamland Express, the Family Fishing Pond and the 21-acre all sports field, according to the nomination.

He was instrumental in making many of the iconic projects in Kennewick a reality, not only at Columbia Park, but also at Southridge, including the 911 Memorial and the GESA Carousel of Dreams, Mosley said.

He worked on numerous other causes, including donating time and money to the Kennewick Police Advisory Team.

His contributions helped replace an aging police dog and provide training for police motorcycle officers.

He also provided support and leadership on road improvement projects, including Steptoe Street and Bob Olson Parkway in Kennewick.

“But perhaps the most admirable characteristic of Paul Parish is his unselfish, kind heart,” the nomination said. “He is continually coming to the aid of seniors, children, veterans, special needs people and those who cannot help themselves.”

In one example, he retrofitted and donated a wheelchair to allow a student to be mobile.

He grew up in Benge, Wash., and graduated from Washtucna High School in 1954, according to Tri-City Herald records. He was a veteran of the Korean War, serving as an Army sergeant.

This story was originally published June 17, 2023 at 1:23 PM.