SUQUAMISH — After years of hoping the former Old Man House State Park would come home and once again be under its ownership and supervision, the Suquamish Tribe is taking steps to ensure the property is a welcoming sight to all who visit.

Changes are happening gradually. A new bathroom is being installed and local green thumbs are planting shrubs and trimming trees, causing Old Man House to glow with a new sheen that sheds light on ancient pride.

“Right now, we’re improving the grounds, pruning trees, adding a new restroom and a little trail,” said Suquamish Tribe deputy executive director Morrie Black Eagle, adding that future improvements include the addition of story boards and an upgrade to the replica longhouse. “Our primary objective the first year was to replace the pit toilet with something nicer. We will be making improvements every year for the next three to five years.”

The property that is now Old Man House Park once served as the Suquamish winter village and the tribal longhouse was built there. The tribe received the land from the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission in June 2005. When the tribe re-acquired the land, artifacts which had been found there in the 1950s and 1960s were also transfered to the tribe.

The tribe immediately began to showcase the artifacts and the park, making its traditions come alive.

“We’re working to improve service at the park, and one of the first ways we did that was to improve the restroom,” said Suquamish Tribal Chairman Leonard Forsman. “We’re also looking at updating the interpretive panels and doing more beautification in the area.”

In the end, the tribal advisory board decides which improvements will be more likely to make the park shine, Black Eagle said. In the next five years or so, its members will be listening to ideas from the community and making requests for projects at Old Man House Park.

“We’ve received e-mails about the new bathrooms that have been very favorable,” Black Eagle said. “People appreciate the tribe upgrading the park. We are doing our best. We still have a few bugs, but overall, people are getting involved and enjoying the changes.”