Building The Portland Landscape

You can keep up with and give your input into Portland's Park Projects here.

More goes into building a park than most of us can imagine.  While creating a small garden this spring, I began to understand the time, effort and resources that go into making a small spot of beauty and utility within the city. Now multiply that area by over 11,000 acres and you have a clue to the intensity of the design process that goes into Portland’s parks.

The materials, landscape and park features all create something that community members want to recreate in and enjoy.  Like most wildlife, humans need places of shelter and beautiful lush greenery to feel relaxed in parks.  Water features create comfort and cooling areas during hot summer days.  In this TED Talk, Amanda Burden talks about how she reinvigorated New York through parks.

View: How Public Spaces Make Cities Work

Photo courtesy Friends of the Highline

From Brownfield to Soccer Field

By Julia Benford

One of the greatest features of parks is the way that they bring people together. Take a stroll around a Portland neighborhood park on a nice day and you’re likely to see children playing, joggers and dog-walkers getting some exercise, and people lounging in the grass while soaking up the sun. Parks provide a space where neighbors can socialize and relax at the same time, making them ideal for community-building. We spoke to Kari Christensen, director of the Brownfields Initiative at the Oregon Department of Public Health, about the role of parks in creating healthy communities.

What is the Brownfields Initiative? What impacts does it have on local communities?

The Brownfields Initiative works to clean up abandoned spaces in Portland and around Oregon, turning them into spaces, like parks, that the general public can use. In the process, we solicit a lot of input from the community about the kinds of places they’d like to see brownfields turned into. One project that we’ve been working on is the Salmonberry Trail, which will replace an abandoned rail line in Tillamook with a new trail for cyclists and pedestrians. These kinds of projects help the community prosper by bringing in visitors and business opportunities.

How do parks benefit communities here in Portland?

Parks have enormous benefits, particularly when incorporated into park-deficient communities. The new Cully Park in Northeast Portland has involved the whole neighborhood in the planning process, soliciting the input of community organizations like Hacienda CDC and Verde. Neighbors were able to collaborate to address safety concerns, building trust in one another. The park also sourced labor from within the community, providing jobs for low-income residents.

What impacts do parks have on community health?

When people think of health, they typically picture biological health-- doctors, medicine, feeling better when you’re sick.  But health has multiple dimensions. Parks support holistic health, giving people tools to help their well-being and avoid getting sick in the first place. Not only do they provide opportunities for physical exercise, they also have mental and social benefits. Being out in nature helps people relax and manage stress, and having a park in the neighborhood allows community members to get to know one another in a casual setting. These aspects of parks promote overall well-being.

The next time you feel the urge to get out in nature, try looking up parks in your neighborhood! Visiting local parks is a great way to meet new people, whether you’re playing a game of pick-up basketball or chatting with other parents as your kids use the playground. And keep updated here on the progress of Cully Park in NE Portland. You can help us make it happen by donating to the effort today!

Nancy Hebb Freeman Grants

Nancy Hebb Freeman

This Fall the Portland Parks Foundation created a new small grant program, which will help local parks complete improvements and add new features such as fountains and playgrounds. The grant program is named after Nancy Hebb Freeman by a generous donation from the estate of Nancy Hebb Freeman who passed away in August 2015 and left a bequest to the Foundation. Nancy loved Portland’s parks, and she and her family wanted to continue that legacy.  To honor her memory, we wanted to share Nancy’s story and her relationship with Portland parks.

Nancy Hebb Freeman grew up on the east coast but fell in love with the West. Here, she met her partner Ray Siderius, who very kindly gave us the material to write this little bio. Both Nancy and Ray greatly enjoyed spending time in the outdoors, and went on frequent walks in Forest Park, Hoyt Arboretum, Macleay Park, Gabriel Park, and many other parks around Portland. Along the Wildwood Trail in Forest Park, they would make little bets on the mileage markers-- whoever guessed the number closest to the one on the mileage marker would have to buy the other a cup of coffee. For Nancy, Portland’s parks were a place to not only get some exercise, but to find peace of mind as well.

Portland’s parks also provided inspiration for one of Nancy’s greatest passions: art. Nancy studied art in college and found a passion for Pacific Northwest landscapes when she moved to Bellingham in 1990. She continued to draw inspiration from parks in and around Portland, and she greatly enjoyed painting from nature. Her partner Ray Siderius writes, “I think the time in nature was an essential part of Nancy’s spiritual life."

We are honored that Nancy left everyone a parks legacy and look forward to crafting a small granting program in the next year that serves those that love our parks the most - the volunteers that work every week to keep our parks beautiful.  You can carry on Nancy’s legacy of appreciation for Portland’s parks today by exploring one near you. Take a page from Nancy’s book and make bets with your friends and family on the mile markers in Forest Park! Or you could continue her love of art by taking a class at the Multnomah Arts Center, which is run by Portland Parks & Recreation and features outdoor classes as well. Nancy’s pressence brightened the lives of the people around her, and we’re grateful that her legacy continues to live on at the Portland Parks Foundation.

Top Fall Colors

Bryan Aptekar Lands Stewardship Operations Coordinator for Portland Parks & Recreation

Bryan has worked for PP&R for 15 years, in various roles. He’s a former environmental educator, who currently works with park partner groups and helps to manage our treasured green spaces. For more of Bryan’s writing and his photography, see his website, Edge of the Road Beauty.

By Bryan Aptekar

All photos © by Bryan Aptekar

Do you feel it?  You must have noticed the whiff of fall in the air.  The briskness of the breeze, the quick drop of the temperatures at night, and the hint of color around town. And of course, for those of you with your own deciduous trees to care for, the need to get the rake ready for the season.

I think fall is my favorite season in Oregon, with the colors, the smells, and the drop in temperatures. Our parks in Portland offer a place to enjoy the best of fall colors for everyone – from a rigorous hike or a stroll, to playing in a pile of leaves with the little ones.  Working at Portland Parks and Recreation has its perks – one of them being to get top notch advice from world class horticulturalists.  What follows are suggestions from myself and some of my colleagues about just some of the many places to enjoy the show that our urban canopy puts on for us. Many of these sites are also hosting Parke Diem work parties, so links to those efforts are included.

1.)  Starting our tour of fall splendor downtown, lets first stop at Chapman and Lownsdale Squares, also known as the plaza blocks, which were Portland’s first parks.  They feature several large old elm and gingko trees, both of which turn a brilliant yellow in the fall. The gingkoes in these parks bear fruit, a small cherry-like yellow berry. While some cultures find the seeds inside these both tasty and medicinal, the fleshy part of the fruit has a pretty strong smell, similar to what one might step in at a dog off-leash area. So, watch where you step.

2.)  Also downtown one can enjoy strolling through the South Park Blocks. These parks feature a large number of old elms, among other species, that provide some great fall colors. Check out the landscape beds across from the Portland Art Museum to see the great work of our staff and the Friends of the South Park Blocks.  Or join them for a volunteer Parke Diem project.

3.)  There’s a good reason that the Pittock family perched their mansion in the west hills.  The views from the Pittock Mansion are simply stunning, and this is a great place to enjoy fall colors.  Up close, you can enjoy a variety of maples and other showy fall plants on the grounds of the mansion. Then wander out to the overlook and see the riot of color that blankets the landscape across the valley all the way to Mt. Hood. Parke Diem project information.

4.)  One other west side place that has to be visited for a dose of fall color is the Hoyt Arboretum in Washington Park. This tree museum has literally 2000 species of trees from around the world, so there are many places to enjoy fall here. Our curator recommends the Japanese larch grove along Fisher Lane, for a walk or a drive. These are deciduous conifers, so they lose their needles each season, but not before turning yellow then orange.  There are many trails that feature various tree families, each with their own delights to discover. For more information, visit the (free) Visitor Center, run by the Hoyt Arboretum Friends.  There are two Parke Diem projects at Hoyt, one on Friday, and another on Saturday.

5.)  Moving across the river to the east side, one could start at Laurelhurst Park, built in the Olmsted tradition of meandering paths through large trees. A visit to the south side is where you can find the black tupulo trees, famous for their brilliant fall display, ranging from purples to scarlet reds. Check out the fall colors reflected on the pond, or follow your nose to find the fragrant smells of the fall-blooming sweet osmanthus, or fragrant olive, an evergreen shrub found on the north side of the park. Parke Diem project information.

6.)  Irving Park in NE Portland has lots to discover for the whole family.  The splash pad will be off at the end of September, but the playground, off-leash area, tennis and basketball courts, ballfields, and many paths take you on a nice stroll through a variety of oaks, maples and other trees that should give a good show. Look for the golden yellows of the Norway maples.

7.)  Traveling further north, a must visit spot is the Columbia Children’s Arboretum. This site is a favorite with our environmental education staff as a place to celebrate fall color with the little ones.  So, grab the kids (or let loose your inner child) and come kick up the leaves, have a picnic, and enjoy some fresh picked apples from the trees that harken back to this park’s orchard days. Parke Diem project information.

8.)  Still further north, Pier Park offers a range of recreational opportunities from ball fields and picnicking, to a skatepark and Portland Parks & Recreation’s only disc golf course.  It’s near station # 4 that you’ll find a whiff of cotton candy or burnt sugar smell as you walk by the katsura trees that have a showy apricot color when they change colors. Try crushing the leaves for a stronger scent. Parke Diem project information.

9.)  You can also find (and smell) the katsura trees at the Leach Botanical Garden, as well as many other showy fall colors. Look for vine maples, ginkgoes (without the berries!), and other great specimens around the Manor House and on the trails. Here too you can learn and shop at a (free) Visitor Center, managed by our nonprofit partner. Stop by to learn about their educational programs for people of all ages and hear about the exciting Upper Garden Development Plan. Parke Diem project information.

10.)               For a more global view, consider heading up to Rocky Butte, a natural area, the summit of which is called Joseph Wood Hill Park.  Whether you hike or bike up, to get your blood pumping, or you drive up, the reward will be the same. The views from the summit of Rocky Butte offer a great perspective across the landscape, particularly north and east across the Columbia River. Parke Diem project information.

Nike Gives Back at Parke Diem

We are gearing up for Parke Diem on October 14 & 15 and wanted to take a moment to thank one of our biggest supporters from the beginning - Nike. Parke Diem is Portland’s largest citywide volunteer event for the city’s parks and Nike has supported the event since its inception with t-shirts and other gifts for volunteers across the city.

More than 1000 volunteers are joining forces at 58 community gardens, neighborhood parks and natural areas across Portland for Parke Diem’s fourth year. Teams of Nike employees will be volunteering with their colleagues and families throughout the city showing their support for our wonderful Portland park system.

As part of its 15th anniversary celebration, the Portland Parks Foundation is also awarding $11,228 in micro-grants to support Parke Diem projects this year and is hoping to raise a total of $15,000 to invest in parks. Installing new trail railings in Forest Park, renovating the display garden at Leach Botanical Garden and installing and winterizing garden beds in 57% of Portland’s community gardens are just some of the exciting Parke Diem projects supported by PPF funds.

“Portlanders benefit so much from their parks, and Parke Diem is a great way to give back,” says Portland Parks Foundation Executive Director Jeff Anderson. “We're also pleased to be able to give micro-grants to support Parke Diem’s grass-roots projects--they may be small compared to the $11 million of investments we’ve made in parks and park programs since 2001, but the community volunteers make a little go a long way."

Thanks to Nike sponsorship and volunteers, Parke Diem will be a citywide event to remember. Don’t miss your chance to sign up today and give back to the Parks we all love!

Parks for Prosperity

In his TED talk, Chicago community organizer and artist Theaster Gates says about his effort to revitalize his neighborhood, “I think beauty is a basic service.” One organization in Portland, Living Cully, epitomizes how beauty is born from the people of a community and their dreams for the future.

The many community members and organizations that are part of Living Cully started out in 2010 envisioning better lives for their neighbors.  As they say, “Through its work in NE Portland’s Cully Neighborhood, Living Cully reinterprets sustainability as an anti-poverty strategy by concentrating environmental investments at the neighborhood scale and braiding those investments with traditional community development resources.”

Living Cully is benefiting everyone in the Cully neighborhood, and those benefits are rippling out into the rest of Portland by doing something radical – building a sustainable livelihood not piece-by-piece, but TOGETHER.  They are focusing on the economic, housing, environmental, health, transportation and leadership aspects of their community as one project with many parts instead of separate parts alone.

Partnering with one of the Living Cully organizations, Verde, the Portland Parks Foundation is helping Verde revitalize Cully by turning a landfill into a park for the community.  Having a destination park in Cully will bring jobs, opportunities for new business, raise the health of families in the area, and provide a beautiful area where community can convene. Please consider joining the effort by donating today or volunteering today.

View: How to Revive a Neighborhood With Imagination, Beauty, and Art

Photo by Jason Smith, courtesy University of Chicago

Top FREE Summer Swimming

Thanks to PP&R for the information and Instagram followers for pictures - see their handles at the bottom.

When the weather finally gets hot in Portland, parks have got you covered. 14 Splash Pools, 7 interactive wading fountains, and 7 open outdoor swimming pools make for many days of summer fun for you and your family.  We’ve highlighted 10 of our favorites below; making special mention of the outdoor swimming pools that have free admission times for the public.

Whilst researching this blog, we came across some interesting Portland history.  The Parks Department first started developing the outdoor swimming pools as public bathing facilities.  In the early 1900s few people in Portland had bathrooms or could afford running water to bathe.  A private company ran a series of floating bath houses on the Willamette for many years, but after they turned over the keys to the newly formed Parks Department in the early 1900s, department officials found the facilities unsanitary due to public sewage flowing into the river often right next to the bathhouses.  Most pools at the beginning were ether separated by sexes with one pool for men and one for women, or hosted alternate bathing days for women and men.

1. Bill Naito Legacy Fountain: [Pictured Above] Operates 6:30am - 8pm Monday-Friday in warm months    
The Bill Naito Legacy fountain is named after a revered Portland business and civic leader whose name is also on the street that borders the Willamette River through downtown.  A poem etched on the fountain honors Portland’s immigrants and diverse cultural influences that have shaped the city. “. . . a port city harbors their hopes – and a fountain flows here in their memory.”

2. Creston Outdoor Pool: Free Swim Time – Mondays from 1-4 pm
This SE Portland pool enjoys a whole host of summer activities to keep adults and children active and swimming.  Children with good swimming skills can sign up for the summer swim league, and on August 20th at 7:30, Creston will host one of the Dive-In Movies. See the full schedule of dive-in movies here.

3. Dawson Fountain: Visitors just need to push the button at the picnic shelter to turn on the fountain
Installed in 2014 as part of the renovation of Dawson Park, the fountain includes 21 spray nozzles sequenced with a timer to allow interactive movement of the water and water saving capabilities. A series of seed-shaped seating elements are inscribed with the unique history of the neighborhood.

4. Jamison Square Fountain: Operates 8am - 10pm in warm months
As from an underground spring, water flows between stone joints into shallow pools in this fountain.  Surrounding art pieces and grassy areas make this fountain one of the most beautiful and playful fountains in Portland.

5. McCoy Fountain: Operates 11am - 9pm in warm months
McCoy is the first decorative municipal fountain in north Portland. The playful “guessing” water feature sits at the south end of McCoy Park in the New Columbia neighborhood. The fountain sprays at random intervals from different jets making it a fun fountain for all ages.

6. Montavilla Outdoor Pool: Free Swim Time – Tuesdays from 1-2:30 pm
Montavilla is filled on most hot summer days with families and fun. Teenagers are welcome to enjoy FREE swimming Monday-Friday throughout the summer from 1-4pm.  Montavilla is also reaching out to offer FREE Teen Beginner swimming lessons this summer as well.  Families can sign up for swimming lessons by contacting the pool directly.

7. Peninsula Outdoor Pool: Free Swim Time – Thursdays from 1-2:55 pm
Located at the first community center of Portland, the Peninsula Pool has served the northeast Portland community for over 100 years.  The pool also hosted Humboldt Penguins in 1957 when they arrived from Antarctica before the zoo was ready with their new home.

8. Pier Outdoor Pool: Free Swim Time – Fridays from 1:45-4:30
Located in one of Portland’s best parks, Pier Pool will offer a special Water Safety Day on July 28th from 2-3:30 to teach kids and parents alike boat and swimming safety practices and life vest fitting.  The afternoon will finish off with a splash contest and prizes.

9. Sellwood Outdoor Pool: Free Swim Time – Wednesdays from 7:20-8:50 pm
Set in the serene and historic Sellwood Park, this pool was the first pool built by the Parks Department and has been in continuous use by the public since 1910.  In the pool’s modest beginnings, women and men alternated days that they used the pool. Now everyone can swim and splash together every day of the week.

10. Teachers Fountain: Operates 8am - 10pm in warm months
Teachers Fountain is Portland's newest municipal fountain. It is "Dedicated to all who educate and inspire." The fountain is a playful but elegant display of arching jets and low burbles that run downhill into a shallow pool.

Photo credits - find these folks on Instagram:
1. @lemongingertea
2. @lydialauer
3. @zeus_71
4. @tk421_m
5. @scowlinginpdx
6. @melmaemay
7. @sarahherbold
8. @mscrican
9. @smakbarnett
10. @lawrencetravels

Top Summer Camps

Photos courtesy Portland Parks & Recreation

Got a little behind on that summer camp planning? Not to worry – Portland’s Parks Bureau has you covered.

This is the first ‘Top 10’ blog that was nearly impossible to narrow down to just 10. The 350+ options I had to leave out (Mandarin Camp, D.I.Y. Nature Camp) of this list looked fascinating, fun and educational. Portland Parks & Recreation really outdid themselves providing Portlanders with affordable and amazing experiences for children this summer. My picks below and the 350+ others can be found on the easily searchable activities database here: https://apm.activecommunities.com/portlandparks/Home

1.    Daily Destinations [Pictured in header]
Make every day a field trip! Use public transportation to explore & investigate the beauty of the region around us. Discover new places & experience familiar ones while increasing your knowledge of our area through tours, games and other activities. Let's go!

2.    Adaptive Recreation
Summer is for everyone in PP&R’s great adaptive recreation programs. Learn to skateboard, go hiking and enjoy all that Portland’s parks provide in these fun and engaging camps all summer long.

3.    GirlStrength and Skate Like A Girl
Power up this summer with girl-focused camps on self-defense techniques, self-confidence strategies, and skating skills.

4.    Kindergarten Readiness Camp
If your little one is starting school this fall, you might think of this camp as a good refresher of all those skills they need to become a great part of their new classroom.

5.    Capture the Flag, Pickleball and Other ‘Traditional’ Sports
Portland Parks & Recreation really knows how to get kids to be active.  Multiple sports camps across the city mix it up and teach students different sports each day and every week.

6.    W.I.L.D. Camps
Wilderness Insight Learning & Discovery - W.I.L.D. Get your little ones out into the urban forest to learn more about rocks, trees and the wildlife that call our urban parks home. Great for that adventurous soul who loves our nature parks.

7.    Jr. Lifeguard, Swim Instructor, Camp Leader and Babysitter Trainings
Nothing better than making a little extra money during the summer. Get your teenager ready for future job success in these job training sessions for pre-teen and teenagers.

8.    Carnival of the Orchestra and Other Music Camps
The Community Music Center never ceases to make music discovery fun and interactive. Your child will be tooting their own horn by the end of the summer with the music skills they’ll learn here.

9.    Finger Painting to Choreography
Look no further than the Multnomah Art Center for inspiration and instruction for your little dancer or artist. All mediums and forms can be explored this summer at the MAC.

10.    SUN Community School Camps
Expanding the service area beyond Portland Parks & Recreation facilities, the SUN Community School camps provide opportunities to explore cooking, theater, arts, environmental adventure and sports recreation.  There is something there for every kid in every neighborhood this summer.

Now go out there and get into some fun before summer is over!

Steps for a 15-Minute Nature Break

Photos courtesy OSU Master Naturalist Program

Portland is home to thousands of acres of natural areas with interesting flora, fauna and geology to discover around every corner.  In an effort to get Portlanders out to enjoy their natural areas, we teamed up with an OSU Master Naturalist Program student, Kenneth Cobleigh, to write a series of seasonal blogs about parks through a naturalist's eyes. See the steps below for your 15-minute nature break today!

---

Ken Cobleigh is a systems engineer and author with a strong passion for the natural world and how humans fit into it.  His favorite park to spend time is Hoyt Arboretum and he is currently enrolled in the OSU Master Naturalist Program to expand the breadth and width of his nature knowledge.

Have you ever been 'lost' in the woods?  I have, and it wasn’t because I didn’t know where I was on a map; rather I was lost in the wonderful world of nature that surrounded me.  As I have gotten older, I have had to moderate my pace due to painful arthritis that restricts my movement.  But in addition to the changes in my physical body I have come to realize that I have been missing out on the real beauty and the subtlety of the natural world by rushing through it to reach a destination.  Now I walk slowly and deliberately and with a passion to discover new things.  

I am studying to become an Oregon Master Naturalist, a program offered through OSU extension service, and in doing so have been instructed to increase my observational skills.  This includes using more than my eyes to see, and this process is very enlightening to me.  
To contemplate even a small part of the extreme complexity of the natural world is a daunting task. For example, I am in awe of the numerous interrelationships between species in a given ecosystem that may take decades or even centuries to fully comprehend.  And what drives this life-long adventure? Primarily careful, recorded observations!  A journal for notes, sketches, ideas, questions, etc. is a great tool and is indispensable for the naturalist.

Here is a simple exercise that anyone can do in a short time – say 15-20 minutes.  First, pick a place, maybe one of your favorite parks or natural areas or even your own backyard.  Then find a peaceful spot to settle into.  Your chosen spot should be off the beaten track a little so you are not interrupted.  Sit on the ground or on a log.  Relax and close your eyes.  What immediately happens?  You feel deprived of a very primary sense – your sight!  But don’t fret; in a few minutes you will acclimatize.  

As you do this exercise, do more than just sit and enjoy the peace.  Ask yourself questions such as:

• What is the current microclimate like?  Is it cold, warm, moist, dry? Am I in a field, the woods, on a mountainside? Am I near water? How does the local geography shape this microclimate?

• How does the ground feel – rocky, soft, sandy?  How does the local geology impact what I feel?

• What sounds am I hearing?  Which are natural and which are man-made? If in the woods, listen for branches rubbing or the wind whispering through the needles and leaves.  Pay attention to the birdsongs and what direction are they coming from.

• What direction is the wind coming from; how strong is it; how does it fluctuate?

• What am I smelling?  Is it floral, pungent, or foul smelling?

• What can I feel?  How does the bark of the log I am sitting on feel?  Is it deeply furrowed, slightly furrowed, or smooth?

Upon opening your eyes, see how many of your observations make sense from a visual perspective. Begin your walk again.  Move slowly and quietly. Use your eyes to scan the ground for animal tracks. Pay attention to the texture and the color of the foliage and the diversity and activity of the fauna of your chosen spot. Now integrate all of your senses together.  What is the story this place is trying to tell you?  You are on your way to a much deeper understanding and appreciation for the nature that surrounds you.

I encourage you to do this numerous times until all of your senses are working together in harmony to perceive the natural world around you in detail.  I guarantee this to be a very satisfying journey!

Parks Instead of Pills

Photo courtesy Portland Parks & Recreation

Parks just make people healthier.  Exercising outside instead of in a gym increases levels of vitamin D, decreases stress and a general feeling of mental ease and revitalization.  In a study of over 21,000 urbanites across many European countries, researchers found that access to green space and recreational areas greatly reduced socioeconomic health inequalities in neighboring communities, while financial services, transport, and cultural facilities had no similar effect. This fun Trust for Public Land video below outlines the top 8 ways that parks benefit our health.

View: 8 Ways Parks Improve Your Health

Video and Image courtesy Trust for Public Land

Of the many reasons people site for not exercising, time and money are a few of the most quoted. Parks create places for people to recreate and exercise for free and close to home. Instead of stretching on a section of sidewalk or dancing Zumba in your neighbor’s front yard, parks provide us with a comfortable place to exercise together that is safe from traffic or other disturbances. We encourage you this summer to get out and join one of the FREE exercise classes in our parks or simply grab a friend and meet in your favorite park for some much needed exercise this summer.  It will make your mind and body much happier.