Martin Road Park Hill Renamed for DPW’s Don Gattes
(Crystal A. Proxmire, July 25, 2013)
The hill at Martin Road Park was a passion of Don Gattes, a 16-year veteran of the Department of Public Works. Gattes worked tirelessly to fill in ruts, replace grass and maintain the hill so that children and adults could enjoy it for sledding and for climbing.
On July 29, 2012, Gattes was called into work to help fix a broken water main. On his way to the job site he suffered a fatal heart attack. Co-workers were saddened and stunned. Gattes was born and raised in Ferndale, and was a dedicated employee.
At their July 22 meeting, Ferndale City Council voted unanimously to honor Gattes by re-naming the hill the “Don Gattes Sledding Hill.” His family is planning to host a memorial there on the anniversary of his death.
