Marshall Park Dedication This Weekend!
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Khunamokwst Park Opening Date
/Khunamokwst Park is set to open this Saturday, April 25th! You can find more information here. Head on over this weekend and check it out!
Nature-Based Play in the Press
/Check out the links below to see the most recent articles about our exciting nature-based play area projects around Portland!
This Metro Parent article includes a map of nature play areas in the Portland metro region and stars 8 GreenWorks projects: The All-Natural Playground
The Oregonian on Marshall Park: Q&A: Creator of 'Children at Nature Play' signs hopes to get more kids outdoors
Landscape Architecture Magazine on Westmoreland: Go Wild, Oregon Child
Independence Parks Master Plan
/GreenWorks has been working with the City of Independence to update their Parks and Open Space Master Plan. The plan will examine the changing recreational needs of the larger, more diverse population while also incorporating modern recreational trends. The update will also develop a new list of goals and tasks to ensure that the City can provide for the future recreational needs of the community. Two public open houses have been held to engage the community in determining future park and open space needs.
Khunamokwst Park
/Cully’s newest park is scheduled to open early spring of 2015. The park’s diverse play areas have a distinctive blend of traditional and nature-based play with swings, prefabricated climbing boulders, a low flow water feature, and a universally accessible play structure. The playground structure was conceptualized to feel like a tree fort next to the signature Douglas Fir tree in the heart of the park. The park also includes a picnic shelter with an eco roof, 3000 square foot skatedot, and a large open lawn.
Roger Tilbury Memorial Park – Phase 1
/After several years of planning and design, Phase-1 of Roger Tilbury Memorial Park has just received Substantial Completion. This neighborhood park in the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District (THPRD) is unique due to its large size, topography, and natural features. With neighborhood outreach and support, GreenWorks designed a plan for the entire site that provides much needed neighborhood access and connectivity through the park while protecting the wildlife habitat and a stream corridor. Phase-1 includes neighborhood access along the north side of the property, an accessible trail system, a small open lawn, traditional play area, nature play areas, and places to sit and enjoy the natural area. The nature play areas are inspired by the sites remnant Christmas tree farm and wildlife found on the site (Bobcats). Douglas Firs were felled from the remnant tree farm in order to create a healthier, diverse habitat, the accessible trail network, and places for nature play. A future Phase-2 will include an extension of the trail system and a 100’ long pedestrian bridge crossing a stream to connect to the neighborhood along the southern portion of the property. For more coverage of the park, visit http://www.pamplinmedia.com/bvt/15-news/244917-112256-playing-with-nature.
Kʰunamokwst Park Update
/Construction at Kʰunamokwst Park is well over the half-way point and is starting to show off some the features. Much of the sidewalks are paved, and the skatedot and stonework in the water feature and play area are nearing completion. One of the main features of the park includes a stone carving of a Douglas Fir Cone which will be placed in the play area for kids to climb. Images below show progress on some of the main features.
Portland’s first official nature play area is officially open!
/On any given day, Portland’s brand new nature-based play area at Westmoreland Park is packed with up to a hundred kids playing in the sand and water area, climbing on the boulder and log climbing features, or building forts with large sequoia branches. Parents are not only watching the imaginative play that all the natural elements inspire, but are also participating with the kids to explore the play area’s unique features. Located in the Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood of Portland, Westmoreland Nature Play Area was born of the desire to update the existing outdated play area and replace it with a 100% custom nature-based play environment. The total play area is approximately one acre and allows families to build their own play experience. The project received a 2014 Honor Award from the Oregon Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects. GreenWorks was selected by Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) to update the existing outdated playground and replace it with a 100% custom nature-based play environment. PP&R recognized the value in nature-based play for local children and proposed that the Westmoreland Playground be a pilot project for a natural play environment. GreenWorks worked with the client, public, and design team to define how nature-based play would function for this particular site. The design team included environmental artist, Adam Kuby. Adam not only helped envision individual artistic elements within the park as play features, but also collaborated with the design team on the overall conceptual design of the playground that represents the restoration of the adjacent Crystal Springs.
Westmoreland Construction in Full Swing
/Construction of the Westmoreland Nature Play Area is in full swing and will be completed next month. Cascadian Landscapers is the General Contractor and have done a wonderful job crafting the organically shaped water mound, creek channel, and sand play area. The water mound is comprised of concrete cubes salvaged from the Crystal Springs Creek Restoration project. Adam Kuby, the project’s artist, along with Star Masonry recently installed log and boulder climbing features that are quite spectacular in their scale and composition. Oregon Log Homes fabricated the logs including cutting them to lengths and installing metal brackets for structural support. The Westmoreland Nature Play Area is a pilot project for Portland Parks & Recreation’s Nature-Based Play Initiative. GreenWorks worked with PP&R, the public, and design team to create a unique setting that encourages creative play with the use of natural elements such as sand, water, boulders, and logs. GreenWorks developed a master plan and construction documents that will serve as a model for the region for developing a large scale nature playground targeting all ages and abilities.
