Cully Update: Construction Begins on NE 72nd Ave Greenstreet

Excerpts Re-posted with permission by Anna Gordon of Living Cully

Running north from its intersection with NE Killingsworth, today’s NE 72nd Ave is one of Cully Neighborhood’s many forgotten streets – an 860lf crumbling asphalt street with no stormwater infrastructure: no curbs, no storm sewer, no sumps, and a shoulder that collects and ponds stormwater. It ends at the entrance to the Community Garden, but lacks sidewalks, appropriate lighting, and other pedestrian safety features. Verde, together with minority-owned contractors Colas Construction and Raimore Construction, began rebuilding NE 72nd Avenue in late 2015, and anticipate that we will complete construction by April 2016.

“Enhancing local infrastructure contributes to community pride, safety and future opportunity.”

— Luis Lopez

PPF asked Luis Lopez, Project Engineer at Probity Builders about the project. He explained that the project's design goes well beyond city requirements and includes other benefits like 9 bio-swales, 1 storm water facility, 11 pervious (porous) vehicle parking stations and sidewalk, and native plantings throughout the entire street. As Lopez said, "My favorite feature of the street is the vehicle parking areas. The street incorporates pervious parking areas that benefit neighbors while helping manage stormwater."

By building NE 72nd Greenstreet, Verde improves water quality, educates youth, provides diverse and local green job and business opportunities, improves pedestrian and bicycle mobility, and tests a community-based model for Greenstreet development. "The 72nd Ave Green Street improves and benefits a community long overlooked and underserved.  Enhancing local infrastructure contributes to community pride, safety and future opportunity,"said Lopez.

Verde hopes to complete the project by next month, and we look forward to celebrating their new gateway to Cully Park together.

 To see the original post visit the Living Cully Website

New Footbridge Campaign Chair and Case Statement

New Footbridge Over Burnside Chair Charlie Swindells

The Foundation is in the midst of a campaign to build a footbridge over Burnside where the iconic Wildwood Trail crosses from Washington to Forest parks.  Local attorney and philanthropist Charlie Swindells recently joined the effort to chair the Footbridge Over Burnside campaign. We asked Charlie to describe his passion for parks and why he supports the footbridge project.
 
How have Portland’s parks played a role in your life?
A couple days after my family moved to Portland in 1974 (my summer before 5th Grade), my mom took me to Hoyt Arboretum.  She wanted to ease my shock of "moving to the big city” by exposing me to the extraordinary beauty there.  I decided maybe Portland wouldn’t be so bad after all!
 
Since then, my lifelong enjoyment of Forest Park has been measured in dog years — three dogs have been my personal trainers on the Wildwood Trail since high school, and my newest hiking partner is named Marsha.  Her ecstatic first day on Wildwood after moving from a kennel in San Francisco is probably my favorite park memory. 

Why did you decide to chair the Footbridge Over Burnside campaign?
I am excited to serve as the campaign chair for the Footbridge Over Burnside because my wife and I drive through the Wildwood-Burnside intersection daily.  Even from inside our cars we can feel (and share) the fear and frustration of trail users waiting to "make a run for it."  With current traffic levels, the Wildwood Trail is now effectively closed at that intersection for most trail users most of the time.  The Footbridge is an elegant solution that will be a destination in its own right for generations to come.  
 
What do you think a robust park system does for Portland?
Portland's parks mean different things to different people, but the connection they provide to our Pacific Northwest natural heritage is something we all share in common.  The Portland Parks Foundation is vital to enhancing our parks network by leveraging private financial resources while serving as a focal point of critical public support.  
 
Why do you support the Foundation?
Parks can be too easily short-changed when diverse constituencies are lobbying aggressively for scarce public dollars.  As our region becomes more intensively developed, we can’t afford to neglect this community life support system.  Support for the Portland Parks Foundation ensures that our invaluable park system is maintained and expanding to serve future generations. 

Securing South Park Blocks' Future

Friends of South Park Blocks at Parke Diem

Walking through the South Park Blocks, it is easy to see why visitors and residents alike find them alluring. The South Park Blocks combine art, architecture and beautiful gardens to engage the visitor in Portland’s history and future all in just a few steps. Cultural institutions like the Portland Art Museum, Oregon Historical Museum, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, Portland State University, many historical churches and two farmer’s markets all call the park home.

That is why Gunnar Sacher and David Newman got together in 2011 to improve and protect this important community resource. The Portland Parks Foundation started supporting the Friends of South Park Blocks (FoSPB) in 2014 by sponsoring garden bed improvement in the Lincoln Block. Today, the Friends of South Park Blocks serve as an example of the positive difference involved citizens can make in parks, and the Foundation is proud to call them a partner.

“The South Park Blocks are not your traditional park – they are the heart of where Portland started, and today are the first cultural address for people visiting,” said Mr. Sacher. The
group works to improve the South Park Blocks’ safety, beauty and the park’s overall support in the community. The list of projects they’ve completed is long and includes: planting new garden beds, facilitating business utilization of the parks, conducting a research project to find the best turf for its high-use and shaded lawns, supporting healthy trimming of the tree canopy, improving and maintaining its rose beds, patrolling and reporting illegal activity in
the park, conducting educational park ‘safety summits’ with local officials, businesses and residents, and recruiting volunteers to give time to clean and maintain this heavily used park.

Their work on park safety was one of their first, and continues to be a priority for the group today. “To be accessible, parks need to be safe for everyone. That is why one of our first projects was to support creating the city-wide park ranger program,” said Mr. Sacher. Unfortunately, due to limited resources and re-prioritization of other parks the Friends of South Park Blocks saw a decrease in park ranger patrols in the past year. As a result, the group reinvigorated the idea of Safety Summits with local officials and residents to talk about how to decrease illegal activity in the park and increase overall safety. So far they’ve learned what regulations exist, how those rules are enforced and collected incident metrics. FoSPB will continue the summits in 2016 to come up with ideas and volunteers to maintain and encourage new positive social activity and minimize unwanted social behavior in the park.

In the coming year FoSPB hopes to recruit more of the approximately 3,000 neighborhood residents (not including nearby PSU students) to give back by supporting their campaign to install new fencing in the Lincoln Block, increasing positive activity in the park through the foot patrol or other community events, and leading new maintenance teams to beautify the park. “If you live and use services in the neighborhood, you should also give back and participate. We want to feel safe and comfortable in our neighborhood, and this is the best way to contribute and make that happen,” said Mr. Sacher.

The Portland Parks Foundation is excited to support the Friends of South Park Blocks outreach efforts this year. You can keep tabs on their work or to volunteer your time by visiting the Friends of South Blocks here.

Romantic Park Picks

Do Valentine’s Day the Portland way by taking your significant other outside in a park this year.  Here is a list of our top romantic park spots to get you in the mood.

Photos courtesy Portland Parks & Recreation

1.      Chinese Garden New Year Celebration: gardens illuminated by hundreds of lanterns and traditional music and performances combine for an unforgettable evening.

2.       Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden: The pathways and bridges guiding you and your sweetheart around this spring-fed oasis are romantic any time of year.

3.       Leach Botanical Garden: The quiet paths and magical plants spanning Johnson Creek in this historic botanical garden will enchant your valentine.

Photos 5 and 6 courtesy Portland Parks & Recreation

4.       Tanner Springs Park: Renew your love at the site of an unearthed wetland pond once buried beneath the industrial landscape.  While small, this park allows plenty of space for quiet reflection and sweet nothings.

5.       Washington Park Rose Garden: This park always has a way of blooming love in the hearts of Portlanders and visitors alike any time of year. Step into the Shakespeare garden and recite your favorite sonnets for an added romantic effect.

6.      South Waterfront Park: If you haven’t been to the new park space along the south waterfront it is a perfect date night destination.  Get in early for a waterfront dinner and then digest on alcove seating surrounding garden planters and pools. Skip stones from the south waterfront beach to round out the experience.

Photo 7 courtesy Metro; Photos 8 and 9 courtesy Portland Parks & Recreation

7.      Broughton Beach: Romance is in the air at this beach.  A sandy beach and sailboats slicing through the majestic Columbia River makes for a perfect stroll arm-in-arm.

8.      Laurelhurst Park: The weeping willows and paths around the lake in Laurelhurst Park are a picturesque backdrop for a budding romance.

9.     Peninsula Park: Over 10,000 crocus blooms will delight you and your date in this historic park known for its summer rose displays. If it is drizzling during your visit, the National Heritage designated pavilion is a great place to sip hot chocolate and overlook the gardens.

Parks Building Community

Som Nath Subedi, Parks for New Portlanders manager, accepting a 2015 Spirit of Portland award with Commissioner Amanda Fritz.

To find out more about how you can get involved, contact Som Nath Subedi at som.subedi@portlandoregon.gov or visit the program’s website.

According to a recent report by the City Budget Office, roughly 15% of Portlanders were born in countries other than the United States– that puts the Rose City right in line with about 50 other large U.S. cities. Unfortunately, for many of our newest Portland citizens, parks and community centers are literally a foreign concept.  That is where one of Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R)’s newest programs, Parks for New Portlanders, steps up to welcome immigrant and refugee families into our public park spaces and programs.

The Parks for New Portlanders program started about a year ago to help immigrant and refugee families engage with and to utilize their city’s parks and recreational programs via PP&R.  Since its inception, it has conducted soccer and basketball tournaments which cater to immigrants and refugees, along with culturally-specific community gatherings in Portland’s parks.  The program also hired seven Community Youth Ambassadors to help organize culturally-specific recreational activities for their communities.  In the Parks for New Portlanders Program’s first year, it attracted youth and families from around 40 countries and their disparate cultures, gaining important momentum for this year’s goals. The program made a welcome video in 10 different languages watched by 50,000 people last summer.

Why is culturally-specific programming in parks and recreation so important? Parks are one of a handful of places that belong to all citizens, and are one of the hallmarks of America’s democracy.

“Our community lives, eats and invests together. They are our valued partners, rather than just some needy population,” says Som Nath Subedi, PP&R Program Coordinator for Parks for New Portlanders.  “Parks for New Portlanders is a way for our city’s immigrant communities to connect to their new home. It shows them that even though they are newcomers, that the city and all it offers belongs to them.  City activities belong to them.  City resources belong to them.   We believe in recreation and access for ALL Portlanders. And PP&R is leading that effort.”

Regardless of economic status and backgrounds, people come to parks to be social and to meet neighbors, celebrate with family, to exercise and take needed respite from worries; to connect with nature.  However, if parks and recreational activities are an entirely new concept, it can be difficult to access or enjoy these public gathering spaces.

“Many refugee families come from very difficult and dangerous circumstances to start their new lives in Portland.  Parks can help with the healing process and show them that they are welcomed in their new home,” adds Subedi. “This program bridges the recreational gaps and provides opportunities for access to Portland Parks & Recreation services and activities.”

Subedi knows this experience first-hand. He immigrated to the U.S. in 2008 after living 20 years in a Bhutanese refugee camp in Nepal after being forced out of his native country of Bhutan. As he said in a recent Oregonian article, when he first came, “Daily life was very unpredictable. From using a bus to grocery shopping, and being unemployed and trying to find a job, made each day overwhelming for us. We would easily become lost on big crowded streets filled with cars and big buildings. Anxious and tired, we realized that we had no idea how complex living in America would be." Som hopes his work with PP&R will help new families integrate and flourish in Portland.

This coming year the Parks for New Portlanders program hopes to expand its programs to reach even more families.  The Portland Parks Foundation looks forward to following this program’s successes and supporting our local parks that are the center of our communities.  To find out more about how you can get involved, contact Som Nath Subedi at som.subedi@portlandoregon.gov or visit the program’s website.

Coaching in the Community

It is impossible to refrain from cheering on the sidelines as coaches Brian Christiansen and Curt Miller guide their 3rd grade basketball team through a series of drills, play and even antics at practice.  Every Thursday and Saturday this winter you will find these two unsung heroes focusing the unbound energy of their 10-child team into positive recreation and teambuilding.

Brian and Curt are two of the nearly 475 volunteer coaches that lead about 3,750 children each year through Portland Parks & Recreation’s sports team programs.  The basketball and volleyball leagues are just a few of the recreational programs Portland Parks & Recreation runs throughout the year in its network of community centers.  As parent Greg Rice put it, “Coaches like Brian have the skill set, and love what they do.  The kids gain confidence and you can tell.”

Just like his father, Brian started coaching over 4 years ago when his son Colby began playing basketball.  While Brian went on to play with other teams all the way through college, he still remembers his youth league days, “To this day, my dad was my best coach.”
Out of all of the basketball teams in Portland, Brian picked coaching with the Portland Parks & Recreation leagues because, “Everyone here gets to play and develop skills.  We keep it light and fun so the kids see playing sports and exercise as something they can do the rest of their lives.”

While the teams change each season, Brian still sees some of his previous players around East Portland Community Center.  “I’ll never forget my first year coaching.  One of my team members was such a sweet kid with a huge passion for basketball, but he didn’t really get the team concept.  It was wonderful seeing him pass the ball and enjoy being part of the team by the end of the season.”

Brian enjoys working at Nike where employees are encouraged to support the communities where they live, work and play.  “We believe in supporting our communities, and to especially help our kids enjoy being active.  I love seeing kids have fun and also grow through these experiences. As a volunteer coach, I also get to show kids how much we care about their growth and wellbeing.”

Portland Parks & Recreation is continually seeking qualified coaches for its sports leagues. Interested volunteers can sign up through the Portland Parks Foundation in the WE Portal or contact Rick Cantu at 503-823-5126 or rick.cantu@portlandoregon.gov to get more information and sign up.

Top Winter Hiking Trails

Winter is one of the best times to get out and enjoy the many trails our 215+ parks offer.  The combination of cooler temperatures and fewer crowds make hiking a great winter season sport.  Show us your favorite winter hiking trails by posting your pics here and we’ll keep a list of the best spots on our website for future urban hiking enthusiasts!

1. Forest Park: Of course.  With more than 80 miles of hiking reverie, it is easy to experience nature up-close in this park.
2. Powell Butte: The varied terrain and views of surrounding mountains in this 612 acre park are well worth the climbs on this extinct volcano.
3. Marquam Park: The Marquam Trail climbs steadily through SW Portland connecting several parks on its path through the lush forest of fir, hemlock, cedar and maples.  Most hikers end for a welcome rest at the vista point at Council Crest Park.
4. Marshall Park: If you are looking for a less-traveled traverse of Tryon Creek, you should try Marshall Park.  The creek provides a small waterfall and tranquil music throughout this 25 acre hiking area.  If the trails here leave you wanting for more, the next park listed below is very close by.
5. Tryon Creek State Park: 8 miles of hiking trails and a wonderful visitor center are the jewels of this 658 acre state park.  It is one of the only state parks that doesn’t require a fee, but parking can be difficult so it might be best to access via bike if possible.
6. Woods Memorial Natural Area: The trail in this park boasts only 2% non-native plants thanks to the diligent work of volunteers from the neighborhoods surrounding the park.  Woods creek also provides a greater opportunity to see native wildlife as well.
7. Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge: Anyone who knows birds knows about Oaks Bottom.  At the time of its protection, it was one of the only remaining marshland in Portland.  Continual restoration has made it a park that changes dramatically with the seasons and promises each season’s varied winged wetland companions.
8. Washington Park: Home to Hoyt Arboretum and many of Portland’s most iconic memorials and gardens, Washington Park has a little of everything for the day trekker. History, art, beauty and paths for contemplation.

Find out information about these trails and more by clicking here.

Discover Portland's First Rose Garden

Contributed by Yvonne Boisvert

It’s surprising in this great city of park lovers that many residents have not yet discovered Peninsula Park Rose Garden. Once they do, however, they immediately fall in love with what is often described as a hidden gem. Nestled in the heart of historic Piedmont neighborhood, this formal French garden has delighted visitors for more than 100 years.

Level grassy paths and wide brick walkways were key to making Portland’s first public rose garden a strolling pleasure when the site opened in 1913. And ever since, Garden visitors have enjoyed a profusion of blooms from more than 5,000 roses during a season that typically runs from late May through October. A lovely central fountain, graceful lantern posts and an octagonal bandstand – a Portland Historic Landmark – complete the setting.

Friends of the Garden, formed in 2012, have spent the past three years building a dedicated volunteer crew, increasing awareness of this historic treasure and highlighting the need to preserve it for future generations. The Friends also devote significant effort to supporting the surrounding neighborhoods, sponsoring community events and collaborating with local organizations on a variety of causes.

Tending the roses during bloom season is one of our most important tasks. In 2015, for example, our volunteers contributed nearly 2,000 hours to keeping the Garden in peak condition. In addition, the Friends and our volunteers host a number of interesting community activities, including free rose classes, our newly launched winter speaker series, Art in the Rose Garden and Garden tours, as well as support for North Portland Sunday Parkways, Portland Festival Symphony and Parke Diem.

If you are looking for a way to brighten the grey days of winter, please join us on January 22, 2016 at 10 a.m., when noted author Donald Olson will discuss his latest book, The Pacific Northwest Garden Tour. Mr. Olson will speak at the June Key Delta Community Center, 5940 N Albina Avenue, across from the Rose Garden’s main entrance on N Ainsworth Street and N Albina Avenue. This event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. To register, visit penrosefriends.org or email penrosevolunteers@gmail.com

We’ll also have opportunities for you to get hands-on experience when we hold our winter climbing roses class, spring pruning and replanting days that usually take place in late January through early March. If you prefer warmer weather, you are welcome to lend support during bloom season and for any of the popular events the Friends sponsor throughout the season. To keep updated, visit our website, http://penrosefriends.org or follow us on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/penrosefriends.

Making Space for Parks

Building cranes raise up to the grey clouds as Portland’s population continues to climb.  According to the Portland State University Population Research Center, Portland added nearly 12,000 residents in 2015.  Projections show population continuing an upward trend and housing is already becoming an issue.  Another issue that rises with increased population is accessible public park space for new residents and their families.

This is just one of the thoughts that came to mind when listening to a talk given by William J. Hawkins III last month at the Friends of Peninsula Park annual meeting.  Mr. Hawkins talked about his recent book, The Legacy of the Olmsted Brothers in Portland, giving a history of how Olmstead’s visit and vision turned Portland into a city of parks. 

Portland in the late 1800s was booming even more than Portland today. Leaders of the city came together to set up a city system for the increasing population. In 1903, John Olmstead, son of Frederick Law Olmsted whose accolades include New York’s Central Park, came to Portland on a whirlwind trip to establish a vision for Portland’s park system. 

While the original design for Portland’s park system included connecting parks along park boulevards like the Terwilliger Parkway in southwest Portland; the vision wasn’t fully realized.  However, what was created remains a park landscape that rivals the best in the nation and has swelled to meet the ever expanding footprint of our city.

During this current building boom, it is important to remember the importance of parks in Portland’s landscape to maintain the character and livability of our city.  As Mr. Olmstead wrote in his plan for Portland, “All agree that parks not only add to the beauty of a city and to the pleasure of living in it, but are exceedingly important factors in developing the healthfulness, morality, intelligence, and business prosperity of its residents.”

The Foundation remains a great advocate to maintaining that vision for Portland’s parks in the face of multiple demands on public funding and spaces and we encourage others to protect park spaces with us.  Looking out at the crowd of Peninsula Park friends it was easy to see we already have great group of park supporters leading the way.

More Information:
Check out our calendar to attend public meetings about park developments in your neighborhood.
Watch the recent PBS Documentary on Frederick Law Olmstead and his work across America: http://watch.thirteen.org/video/1887541606/
Follow this bike trip of the original Olmstead boulevards: http://bloomingrock.com/2013/08/28/why-portlands-visionary-olmsted-park-plan-of-1903-yields-big-benefits-today/