Vulcan Lakes facts and figures

Construction is underway on the beach house at the Vulcan Lake site. (Travis Haughton)

Construction continues on Crystal Lake's $14.37 million recreation area at Vulcan Lakes.

Work began this summer to turn the former gravel pits northwest of Rakow and Pingree roads into a 40,000-square-foot beach, swim area and island recreation park.

Motorists driving past the site can see progress being made, but from afar, the size and scope oft he project are difficult to comprehend. Recently, Eric Helm, the city's deputy city manager, gathered some construction facts and figures for the Northwest Herald that put the work in better perspective.

Before the project is completed next summer:

138,715 cubic yards of soil will be excavated

3,150 cubic yards of sand will be used to create the beach

1,895 trees and shrubs will be planted

1,156,060 square feet of area will be seeded with native wildflowers

20,948 native plants will be planted

509 tons of landscape stone will be used to create the amenities