Progress at Reed's Crossing!

Reed’s Crossing is a master planned community developed by Newland Communities. The community will be constructed over the next 15 years and will comprised of single and multi-family residential, commercial, mixed use and high-density residential development with associated roadways, utilities, stormwater facilities, trails and open space. Reed’s Crossing comm is approximately 460 acres and it is part of the South Hillsboro Community Plan, Hillsboro, Oregon.

For an update on the latest progress at Reed’s Crossing Greenway Park, check out the video below!

Ben Johnson Presents on Nature Play at Design Museum Mornings

Last Friday GreenWorks was delighted to host Design Museum Mornings: Nature Play in the City at the Center for Architecture in Portland's Pearl District. Drawing an enthusiastic crowd of about fifty—everyone from early childhood education professionals and community organizers, to fellow landscape architects and nature play experts—the event included a fun social session with breakfast provided by GreenWorks followed by a comprehensive lecture on Westmoreland Nature-Based Play Area by GreenWorks' Landscape Architect, Ben Johnson.

Ben, who has gained a reputation as a nature-based play specialist, began by sharing academic research on the subject, including the benefits of risky play and exposure to nature at a young age, before moving on to the vision and design process at Westmoreland. He outlined the successful Public Engagement process lead by Elizabeth Kennedy-Wong at Portland Parks and Recreation, who brought the community together early on to support the project and also described Adam Kuby’s role as the project Artist who had an integral role throughout the visioning and construction phases.

From the structural integrity of the massive logs and boulders, which are meant to encourage balance and climbing, to the carved stones which capture the journey of rain water, every detail of the space was carefully analyzed through multiple lenses including sustainability, safety, childhood development, and design.

GreenWorks had a fantastic time working with Design Museum Portland, a pop-up museum whose mission is to "educate the world about design," and look forward to following their work around the city.

Missed the lecture? Interested in learning more? Check out our award-winning work on Westmoreland's Nature-Based Play Area here and here!

GreenWorks Hosts Independence Riverfront Programming Open House

GreenWorks is currently developing an advanced conceptual plan for IWP east of the existing amphitheater. The concept design will include proposed connections to Independence Landing Waterfront Park to the south and integrate with Riverview Park to the West. As part of this effort, the GreenWorks team hosted a series of Open Houses on the topic of potential programming opportunities for Riverview Park. The events, which were hosted at Independence Public Library and St. Patrick Catholic Church, drew around 160 participants and gave the design team an opportunity to connect with community members and leaders, and to kickoff exciting conversations about the future of Riverview Park.

A Day In The Life Of A Landscape Architect

On Friday, February 2nd GreenWorks hosted three students for the University of Oregon’s Landscape Architecture Department for their Shadow Mentor Day. This annual program invites students to visit firms and agencies throughout Oregon and Washington to experience what a day in the life of a professional landscape architect looks like.

The day kicked off with a tour around the GreenWorks office and an introduction to the team, followed by presentations about current work on the boards. There was an opportunity for the students to share their portfolios, ask questions, and even get messy with a mini design charrette for a current waterfront project.

The students were invited to meetings, as well as accompanied GreenWorks staff on site visits to nearby Spring Park and Westmoreland.

Later, as the students wound down at a hosted happy hour, they shared stories from their experiences on the job and networked with professionals in the local industry.

Design Workshop for Gateway Green

GreenWorks recently held a Design Workshop for Gateway Green, a once forgotten 24-acre parcel located at the confluence of I-205 and I-84 in Portland, Oregon. During the workshop the advisory committee was encouraged to provide feedback on desired programming, circulation, and general layout of the park. By utilizing a mix of tactile objects such as post-its, colored string, and movable icons, participants were able to discuss the pros and cons of various layouts and engage in dynamic conversations about the project. GreenWorks gained an insurmountable amount of feedback from the experience, and is excited to use the information as guidance while navigating the project’s ultimate design.

GreenWorks is Silver Certified

GreenWorks is excited to announce it's official recognition as Silver Certified through the City of Portland's Sustainability at Work program. The program offers three levels of certification to recognize Portland business’s positive impact on the environment and the community. We look forward to working with the City of Portland on our journey towards Gold Certified! For more information on how to green your workplace, please visit: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/sustainabilityatwork/  

Lake Oswego – Tigard Water Treatment Plant Grand Opening

The GreenWorks team was in attendance at the Lake Oswego – Tigard Water Treatment Plant’s Grand Opening August 31. The Lake Oswego - Tigard Water Treatment Plant was expanded to serve future demands forecasted for the Lake Oswego and Tigard service areas and is also now an emergency supplier of water to the City of West Linn. GreenWorks provided landscape design for stormwater management, address visual impacts in residential areas, and to provide amenities for neighborhood use. Amenities included a neighborhood trail linking neighbors to the north and south where no street exists, public open space for neighborhood use including an amphitheater seating area, and native woodland enhancements. GreenWorks actively met with the adjacent neighbors to hear their concerns about the project and with the broader community at workshops to describe landscape / site design elements for public comment. GreenWorks would like to acknowledge the team: Joel B. Komarek, PE, CWRE | Project Director | Lake Oswego-Tigard Water Partnership Dick Talley, PE, PMP | Area Manager | MWH, now part of Stantec Tom Lebow | Construction Manager | Brown and Caldwell Catherine Dummer | Construction Administrator | Brown and Caldwell Ryan J. Imel | Project Manager, General Contractor | Slayden Constructors, Inc. Sean Curley | Landscape Contractor | SCC Earthworks

Angelo Planning Group Honored at DJC Building Diversity Awards

Our friends at Angelo Planning Group were honored last night at the DJC's Building Diversity Awards ceremony. Darci Rudzinski, Cathy Corliss and Matt Haste were there to accept this award that celebrates outstanding COBID firms. Congratulations APG!

Celebrate Salem’s New Pedestrian & Bicycle Bridge

A community parade and ribbon cutting ceremony will be held to celebrate the opening of the new Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge on Wednesday, August 2. Festivities get underway at 4pm. This project is the culmination of years of planning and effort by the City of Salem and Salem’s Urban Renewal Agency to achieve the community’s vision of connecting three major urban parks and more than 20 miles of trails via two pedestrian bridges over the Willamette River. This goal became a reality in part after the renovation of the historic Union Street Railroad Bridge, which connects West Salem’s Wallace Marine Park with Riverfront Park downtown. However, completion of the Minto Island Bridge and adjoining multimodal trail is the last critical link.

For design and permitting, the City of Salem hired OBEC Consulting Engineers with GreenWorks. The design integrates context-appropriate, safe infrastructure for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other trail users. Special thanks to Bob Goodrich, PE of OBEC and Aaron Kimsey, PE, Senior Project Manager at the City of Salem for including us on this great project.

The Big Float 2017! And more waterfront opportunities with the Eastbank Crescent project!

The Big Float is this weekend! The event is a part of the non-profit Human Access Project, headed by our friend, Will Levenson. Find out more about the event at: http://www.thebigfloat.com/ At THE HAPpenning Big Float Pre-Party last month, Mayor Ted Wheeler, Brett Horner (Portland Parks and Recreation), Kaitlin

Lovell (Bureau of Environmental Services) Mike Lindberg (former City Councilman) and Sallie Edmunds (Bureau of Planning and Sustainability) unveiled the Eastbank Crescent Project. The Eastbank Crescent is located between the Hawthorne and Marquam bridges on the eastbank of the Willamette River. The purpose of the project is to create a recreational destination and a fish and wildlife habitat refuge. The project is a collaborative effort between City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, Bureau of Environmental Services (BES), Portland Development Commission, Portland Parks and Recreation, GreenWorks, Mayer-Reed, and Flowing Solutions. Based on existing conditions analysis, constraints and opportunities, two concepts were developed including maximizing recreation and maximizing habitat. GreenWorks, with sub consultant, Inter-fluve Inc., was task by BES to enhance in-water nearshore habitat for ESA-listed fish, restore riparian and upland habitat for birds and wildlife, and incorporate river habitat education opportunities. An array of habitat treatments were considered including laying back the riverbank to create more habitat by vegetating with native plants, undulating the shallow water area with alcoves or backchannels to enhance fish habitat and creating viewpoints and access for education. The concepts were presented to stakeholders and the public in spring and summer of 2016 and to City Council on June 7, 2017.