By RYAN LANCASTER
Staff Reporter
Medical Lake's Lakeland Village is holding an annual open house and “Old Fashioned Fair” for members of the public on Thursday, July 15 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Planned indoor and outdoor activities include craft and food booths, train and hayrides, a petting zoo and antique cars on display. Entertainment will be provided by musicians, dancers, drummers, gymnasts and Shriners clowns.
“This is a push to get people aware of what Lakeland is all about,” said former Lakeland employee Marjorie White, who has volunteered to help with the fair for the past 27 years. “It's a tradition since Lakeland opened years and years ago.”
Lakeland is one of five remaining Washington state residential habilitation centers for people with developmental disabilities and the only one in the area, located in south Medical Lake on Highway 902.
Opened in 1915 as the “School for the Feeble Minded,” Lakeland initially housed 252 males before female residents moved to the site two years later. The population increased to 620 by 1918 and by 1938 had reached an all-time high of 1,654, according to information provided by the facility.
Lakeland was renamed Eastern State Custodial School in 1947 and the purpose of the facility has since changed from care and custody of children and young adults to providing treatment for an adult population aged 18 to 80-plus years.
State budget cuts and a trend toward community housing has decreased resident numbers dramatically in the past few years, but White said there are still many people living at Lakeland. The facility also offers temporary respite beds and dental services for disabled individuals living in area group homes.
Plenty of parking will be available at Thursday's free event, organizers said, and public transportation is available through Spokane Transit.
For more information call 299-4171.
Ryan Lancaster can be reached at [email protected].
Reader Comments(0)