Products Archives - Washington Rock Quarries

Reimagining Tolt Avenue | A Carnation Story

October 23, 2023

by Eve Hart

You would probably recognize the Carnation name off of a can of sweetened condensed milk. After all, that’s the origin of the town’s name. But some locals prefer the original name: Tolt.

Occupying just over one square mile with a population of 2,220, you wouldn’t be the first to dismiss Carnation as a blip on a map. For the past century, the main street of Tolt Avenue has been less of a Disneyland-kind-of main street and more of a rugged thoroughfare. But over the years, passionate Carnationites banded together to elevate Tolt Avenue to the charming main street it is today.

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Bringing Back Lower Wapato Creek | A Wetland Restoration Story

September 26, 2023

by Eve Hart

Millions of acres of American wetlands have been destroyed since the late 1700s, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Early settlers viewed wetlands as disease-ridden swamps that impeded travel and agricultural development. Their solution was to drain the wetlands and turn them into farmable land.

In the mid 1960s, the port was growing in Tacoma. Shipping channels were being expanded, and more land was needed for industrial activities. Like many wetlands in the area, Wapato Creek was diverted into a channelized ditch. Its former path was filled with material removed from the waterways, solving both the need for expanded waterways and more land. The channelized ditch ran along 12^th Street East in Fife, then followed Alexander Avenue west to a culvert that feeds into Blair Waterway.

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Reaching New Heights: Armorstone on Hoover Dam’s Memorial Bridge

June 26, 2023

by Eve Hart

Almost 900 feet above the Colorado River, the views from the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge are spectacular. Tourists have a panoramic view of the Hoover Dam and the blue-green waters of the river, which travel from the top of the dam to the bottom. This technological marvel is surrounded by red rock canyons, providing a stark contrast between industry and nature.

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Washington Rock Celebrates Meeker Days at the Market

June 19, 2023

by Washington Rock

Washington Rock continued its annual tradition of sponsoring the Meeker Days Sandbox over the weekend. This year, we also hosted an information booth at the Puyallup Farmer’s Market on Saturday in Pioneer Park.

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Washington Rock Gift Cards Now Available

November 30, 2022

by Eve Hart

We’re excited to announce that gift cards are available for purchase! They feature a beautiful new design by artist Zoe Radford. Our gift cards make the perfect stocking stuffer

Our new gift cards feature art by Zoe Radford.

gift card sitting on table top — Our new gift cards feature art by Zoe Radford.

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Drawing the Story Out of Stone: Sculptor Tom Small

October 28, 2022

by Eve Hart

In front of the community movie theater in Friday Harbor, a perch welcomes anyone who passes by. It’s not your everyday park bench: it’s sculpted granite, refined in its well-formed lines and polished surfaces, yet preserving a natural form in its organic waves and curves. Like its creator Tom Small, it is solid, stable, and unpretentious. It invites viewers to pause and enjoy a few minutes’ rest and peace.

One of Tom’s sculptural benches sits in front of the movie theatre in Friday Harbor. Photo courtesy of Tom Small.

The bench is one of sculptor Tom Small’s first public pieces. Seeing people seated on it brings Tom a sense of fulfillment when he ventures into town, and it reminds him of his primary goal in stone carving.

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Customizing Beach Rock for Lowman Beach Park

September 27, 2022

by Eve Hart

Lowman Beach Park is small, but according to locals, it’s a hidden gem with incredible views. On a warm day, you might come across sunbathers taking in the rays, children playing on driftwood logs, or paddle boarders setting off from the shore.

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Lawnless Landscaping: Using Gravel for Paths, Patios, and Gardens

August 16, 2022

by Eve Hart

Lawns require so much water and care that some homeowners look for lower maintenance landscaping ideas. In this article, learn about how three of our clients have used our gravel to create stunning grass-less landscapes.

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How Do I Make a Gravel Surface Wheelchair-Accessible?

July 25, 2022

by Eve Hart

Daniel Burnstein of Brooklyn, New York had a unique dilemma: his client wanted to be able to use the backyard with a wheelchair. Concrete work and pavers can be expensive, and Daniel liked the rustic charm of gravel.

His question: Can gravel surfaces be wheelchair accessible? The answer is yes—if they meet certain standards.

Washington Rock, with the help of landscape architect Clayton Beaudoin, researched the topic and came up with guidelines for making gravel surfaces wheelchair accessible.

Our goal is to make these guidelines as easy as possible to follow, so we created a simple guide below. Then we included additional resources, such as a Glossary of Terms and Research Notes.

Check out the companion piece to this article, “Designing for Diana: How We Made Gravel Wheelchair-Accessible in Brooklyn,” to read about how we used our guidelines to help Daniel create a gravel-accessible backyard. The project is summarized in the video below.

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How Many Cubic Yards Do I Need? | How to Calculate How Much Gravel, Sand, or Soil You Need

May 11, 2022

by Eve Hart

Figuring out how much topsoil or gravel you need is a tricky business. Below I’ll take you through how our material calculator works and how much various trucks can carry. Be sure to check out our new video for step-by-step instructions on calculating how many cubic yards of material you need.

To visualize how many cubic yards or tons a pickup truck or dump truck can carry, check out our post, “What Does a Cubic Yard Look Like?”

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