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.

International Rose Test Garden Celebration

Our thanks to Portland Parks & Recreation for hosting the 100 Years of Roses event and the Accessibility Improvements Project ribbon cutting ceremony. It was a beautiful summer day in Washington Park’s International Rose Test Garden. A multitude of proud Portlanders, Royal Rosarians, families, musicians, artists, and visitors to the Rose City celebrated amid a stunning display of roses. Portland Parks Director Mike Abbate and City Commissioner Amanda Fritz spoke, and Gill Williams (the project’s Principal-in-Charge) and Mike Faha represented GreenWorks. Our thanks to the project team: PP& R Project Manager, Robin Laughlin PP&R Botanical Specialist/Curator International Rose Test Garden, Harry A. Landers Public Involvement, Maija Spencer Owner’s Representative, Suzanne Carey Contractor, Brown Contracting, Inc., Beau Biron, Project Superintendent

(Photo Credit: KLiK Concepts)

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

Mayor Ted Wheeler Declares August 2017 “International Rose Test Garden Centennial Month”

Portland Parks & Recreation is hosting 100 Years of Roses, the International Rose Test Garden Celebration on Saturday, August 26^th, 11:00 AM-8:30 PM. The GreenWorks team will be in attendance to celebrate the completion of the Accessibility Improvements Project, which removes barriers to access and provides accessibility upgrades to meet current ADA standards while maintaining and enhancing the historic character of the International Rose Test Garden. The GreenWorks team would like to acknowledge… PP& R Project Manager, Robin Laughlin PP&R Botanical Specialist/Curator International Rose Test Garden, Harry A. Landers Public Involvement, Maija Spencer Owner’s Representative, Suzanne Carey Contractor, Brown Contracting, Inc., Beau Biron, Project Superintendent

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.

Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge Welcomes Honored Guests

The Minto Island Bridge, a project 40 years in the making, welcomed its first pedestrians in an inaugural walk this past Thursday. The bridge has officially been named after one of Salem’s longtime Oregon Senate Presidents and dedicated community members, Peter Courtney. The long-anticipated bridge connects three major urban parks and more than 20 miles of trails along the Willamette River. The bridge was designed by OBEC Consulting Engineers. GreenWorks had the pleasure of developing a conceptual framework that integrated existing park features, such as the “Eco Earth” art globe, with new terraced seatwalls and complemented accent plantings. The bridge will be celebrating its grand opening in August. For more information, please visit the Statesman Journal at: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2017/04/27/peter-courtney-bridge-salem-oregon-walk-across/100951398/

Children and Nature Symposium

Ben Johnson will be taking part in two panel discussions at the Children and Nature Symposium, organized by the Intertwine Alliance. Ben will be contributing to conversations on “Rethinking Risk and Liability in Outdoor Spaces” and “Optimizing Creative Play - a New Way to Look at Playgrounds.” Event details:

Where: Oregon Zoo (4001 Southwest Canyon Road, Portland, OR 97221) in the Cascade Crest ballroom

When: Mon, Mar 13, 2017, 9:00 AM

For more info: http://www.theintertwine.org/calendar/children-nature-schools-symposium-finding-new-ways-help-our-students-thrive-0

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/children-nature-schools-symposium-and-green-schools-tour-tickets-31112227510

Washington Park Groundbreaking

Join Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz, Parks Director Mike Abbaté, and Kimberly Bown, Chair of the Friends of Washington Park International Rose Test Garden, to celebrate the groundbreaking for ADA accessibility improvements at Washington Park International Rose Test Garden.

---

Groundbreaking Celebration:

Friday, February 24 – 1:00pm – 2:00pm (speakers at 1pm)

Meet by the Rose Garden Store, 400 SW Kingston Avenue*

Free and open to all!

---

*Note: Access and parking at Washington Park is limited due to Water Bureau Reservoir construction. The best access from downtown Portland is via W Burnside St to SW Tichner Drive.

• Please view the map at this link to plan your visit: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/water/article/586276
• The Washington Park TMA also has helpful tips on getting around: http://www.explorewashingtonpark.org/construction#

Construction will begin in late February/early March and is expected to be complete by the end of May 2017. For more information about the project, please visit:

https://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/69726

GreenWorks Play Date

The GreenWorks team took a little timeoff lunch last week to visit the Playscapes exhibit at PNCA. Thank you to Stephanie of Design Museum Portland for giving us a private tour of the exhibition, which runs through December 17^th. Two GreenWorks projects are included in the exhibit: Westmoreland Nature-Based Play Area and Khunamokwst Park. Our team got to try out Playworld’s new saucer, which is on display, and had fun playing on PlayForm 7 outside of PNCE in the North Park Blocks. This Sunday, PNCA will host a kids workshop at 1pm (511 NW Broadway). Learn more at www.designmuseumportland.org