Mirror Pond, Celilo Falls and Centennial Mills in the news

Recently, a few of GreenWorks' projects have been in the press. In early November, The Bend Bulletin published the preferred graphics for Mirror Pond. Check out the article to see what GreenWorks and Inter-Fluve have planned for the iconic site in Bend, Oregon. You can also view the graphics below.

The DJC also published two articles regarding Celilo Falls and Centennial Mills, projects that GreenWorks has been working on for some time. You can read them here and here.

Mt. Scott Creek Restoration Nearing Completion

Featured in the the Clackamas Review the Mt. Scott Creek Restoration Project at North Clackamas Park is scheduled to be completed in the upcoming weeks. To read the article, click here. Below are pictures of the construction of the confluence overlook.

Stay tuned for photos of the finished project and information about the grand opening!

The Human Access Project: Changing People’s Perception of Portland’s Largest Public Open Space

With the completion of the Big Pipe in 2011, water quality in the Willamette has improved by leaps and bounds. In the wake of this achievement, Will Levenson, head of the non-profit Human Access Project, is leading an effort to change people’s perceptions of the river and encourage recreation in the water and along the waterfront. Mr. Levenson started The Big Float, an annual inner tube float across the Willamette River in downtown Portland to bring awareness to the improved water quality. He has also organized several volunteer clean up days that have uncovered the beach at the base of Tom McCall Bowl and removed 75 yards of concrete from Hawthorne Cove on the east side of Hawthorne Bridge.

Greenworks became involved in the Human Access Project in November 2012, bringing our extensive experience designing places for people within sensitive natural environments, which focus on balancing access with habitat conservation.

This balance is certainly a key consideration as the Human Access Project gains momentum through additional community outreach and scaled interventions along the Willamette’s shores. Greenworks is honored to be contributing to this worthy cause and looks forward to witnessing the transformation of Portland’s largest public open space in the years to come.

GreenWorks Awarded USFWS Flexible Services Contract

GreenWorks is excited about the new opportunities to be presented by our recent award of a USFWS Flexible Services contract. Since it’s origins in 1871, the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s mission has been to “work with others, to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.” Similar to the USFWS, GreenWorks’ mission over the last 14 years has been to create healthy interactions between people and nature through conservation and restoration of sensitive ecosystems.

Under this new contract, GreenWorks hopes to provide services for a wide range of projects. From cultural resource inventories, to transportation plans, historic visitor centers, stormwater manuals, wetland restoration, bird blinds, and artistic fish cleaning platforms, GreenWorks will support the USFWS Service as it continues to plan and design for the “Big Six” priority public uses (hunting, fishing, wildlife photography, wildlife observation, environmental interpretation, and environmental education) on its 150 million acres of refuges.

To learn more about the USFWS Service visit: http://www.fws.gov/

Mt. Scott Creek METRO Grant Application

GreenWorks recently helped the Clackamas County Water Environment Services prepare an application for METRO’s Nature in Neighborhoods Capital Grants Program. The requested funds would finance restoration of fish habitat and provide public education improvements along Mt. Scott Creek at North Clackamas Park in Milwaukie. The lower reach of Mt. Scott Creek is important habitat for several juvenile fish species and its location, within a park heavily used by local youth, makes it a great place for environmental education installations. Proposed improvements include: 48,000 square feet of restored and protected riparian forest habitat.

4 large woody debris installations for fish habitat, including approximately 40 logs total.

320 linear feet of streambank stabilization and restoration (within the total 550 lf section).

530 linear feet of decommissioned trail.

50 linear foot pedestrian bridge for ADA access over wetlands.

2 unique and sustainably designed creek overlooks with educational interpretive signs.

1 culvert removal and bank restoration at Camas Creek confluence for fish passage.

We are all keeping our fingers crossed that funding comes through for this exciting project!

Bond Measure Dollars at Work!

The Project Pioneer Park, located in the Tualatin Hills and Recreation District, embodies some unique natural features including approximately 7.5 acres of wetlands, stream corridors, and upland forest. This park is an amenity for the surrounding neighborhood and we are excited about the opportunity to provide general park upgrades, increase habitat value, and provide an attentive approach to stewardship while creating a memorable and enjoyable recreation space.

GreenWorks Approach

The design challenge at Pioneer Park is how to balance ecological preservation and restoration with recreational uses. The park improvements should respect the natural amenities on site including hundreds of mature native trees and a seasonally wet field. We hope to offer features that keep park users’ feet a little drier and less muddy as they walk through the park. Upgraded play opportunities and ball courts will also be a priority. Our design team will be following the City of Beaverton, Clean Water Services, Division of State Lands and Army Corps of Engineers guidelines for development in sensitive ecosystems.

How You Can Get Involved?

What type of site features would you like to see in this park? How can Pioneer Neighborhood Park be improved? Come share your thoughts and ideas with us at the first community involvement workshop on March 17^th. For specific project updates, public meeting details, and general bond information please click on the link to THPRD’s website. From there, you will be able to view Pioneer Park project updates for both the park renovation and the natural area preservation.

http://www.thprd.org/bondprojects/schedule.cfm

We look forward to working with THPRD and the community to make this great park even better!

Wyeth Columbia River Treaty Fishing Access Site Breaks Ground

The Wyeth Columbia River Treaty Fishing Access Site broke ground recently with a ceremony celebrating the historic project.  GreenWorks staff attended the ceremony to celebrate as members of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Columbia Inter Tribal Fish Commission, Oregon State Parks, Advanced American Construction, and Native American Tribes engaged in the ceremonial shovel turn.  The Native American Tribes involved with the groundbreaking included the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Region, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, and the Nez Perce Tribe. GreenWorks is providing restoration and environmental improvement design for 3 sites in Oregon along the Columbia River including Wyeth Fishing Site, Celilo and Rufus.  The Wyeth site will include design of a single span bridge, roadway improvements, boat dock and ramp, restroom and fish cleaning station.  Wyeth will also include a picnic area, stormwater facilities, and campground. GreenWorks will provide design for restoration and revegetation.

Join Us for PARK(ing) Day 2009

Come see the 1 day park at NW 2nd and Couch... 9am to 5pm

  GreenWorks is proud to work with Metro as they participate in the annual, one-day global PARK(ing) Day event.  More from Metro:

"Artists, activists and communities will collaborate to transform metered parking spots in cities everywhere into temporary public parks or “park(ing)” spaces. Park(ing) Day is a powerful and creative way to re-imagine the potential of our public places by demonstrating the value of parks and natural areas, rethinking the way greenspace can happen, and helping to improve the quality of urban wildlife and human habitat. This year, Metro is tapping into the creative energy and celebrated momentum of this excellent event to educate our region’s residents about The Intertwine (the ever-growing regional network of integrated parks, trails and natural areas that will one day soon be the world’s greatest system of its kind!) and its web site launch.  Come check out our space at NW 2nd and Couch (or other Intertwine locations in Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Gresham and Vancouver, Washington) and learn more…"  

:: Visit the PARK(ing) Day Network - Portland  :: View PARK(ing) Day 2009 - Portland Metro Area regionwide map here.

 

Restoring Clara Vista Swales

Phase I of the work on the swale rehabilitation has been completed, and the following pics offer some views of the completed installation. For this grant-funded project, GreenWorks offers 50% of their time as a pro-bono service, working closely with Hacienda Community Development and our fabulous non-profit partner Verde to restore these stormwater facilities to their former lush and functional self.

The project, funded in part from Metro's Nature-in-Neighborhoods program, included educational aspects, where residents of all ages living in Hacienda properties were included in design decisions such as plantings, materials, and types of spaces that would be included. The result is truly community driven.

One issue with the original design was that there was an uninterrupted linear swale with meant that any diversion from the pathway would damage the hydrology of the site. In addition to the installation of new swale cells, the intermediate places in between were piped subsurface to allow for greater play and amenity area for residents. These are seen below, newly backfilled, and Phase II will import additional soil and re-seed these worn out areas with an ecolawn mix, as soon as the weather cools down.

Check out these pics of the before condition, where the majority of vegetation had been trampled, flow-dissipating rocks had been strewn above, and the water was ponding due to compaction of the soils. Quite a change.