The original informational sign used to get the final coordinates is no longer available. The solution to the puzzle as originally written was found by reading the sign and filling in blanks in the following text. The text remains here for those interested in the park's history.
Friendly Grove Park is 14.5 acres of pure delight. Originally populated by Nisqually and Squaxin Island Native Americans, this property was part of 320 acres claimed by Humphrey P. O’Bryant on November 21, 1853. In March of 1861 he sold it to Daniel R. Bigelow, the prominent citizen who helped establish Thurston County. The land was cleared to make way for livestock and the farming of berries and tulips.
After WWII, local citizens built a center to fulfill the needs of the community. They named the neighborhood “Friendly Grove.” Even after the community center burned down in the early 1950’s, the name remained. In 1958, Herbert Huber, who owned the land at that time, built a baseball diamond and bleachers on the site.
Olympia purchased a portion of the property in 1997 and worked with local residents to create the park, which opened on September 18, 2002. The park includes a large play area for children, a tennis court, a skateboard court, and a half-court basketball area. There is a covered picnic area and restrooms. Bring your own drinking water
You will see evidence of the city’s efforts to revegetate the native area. Avoid bushwhacking and stepping on the regrowth of native plants such as ferns, Indian Plum, and Devil’s Club as well as the tender herbs and grasses growing in the wetland areas.
Because the sign is no longer available, you'll a walk around the park collecting numbers to determine the final coordinates. The solution will be N 47° 03.ABC' W 122° 52.DEF'
Begin at the park's entrance. There is a sign with the department's phone number. The last digit of the phone number on that sign is C.
Then explore the play area just inside the entry. Find a curved concrete wall on the west side of the play area. There are a total of 1A embossed leaves on the upper edge. On the play equipment, there are F slides that start more than 6' above ground. Looking at the large play structure, you will see E viewing bubbles on the highest level.
Now head east to the northern part of the walkway just before the wooded area. Here you will find a yellow circle with a total of B red plus blue hand prints. Then head south on the walkway to the Hopscotch game. The lowest number you find in a red square is D.
Note 1: This is a theme cache. Trade should be for pins only.The cache was started with a variety of pins and tie tacks from family as well as from other caches I have visited. Check around for any decorative, commemorative, service, or advertising pins you might like to trade.
Note 2: I spoke with Parks Department staff. You may enter the buffer zone if you avoid damaging any plants. Cache can be reached from a minor social trail. PLEASE DO NOT bushwhack. Be gentle in your search and do not damage the native ferns. Satellite reception is spotty at the cache. Take a few deep breaths, enjoy the surrounding area and use the hint while waiting for your GPS to settle.