Join Portland Parks and Recreation and GreenWorks this Saturday, March 17th, for a Fun-Filled day at the Westmoreland Nature Play Workshop!

A fun, interactive chance

for you and your children

to explore nature based play.

How does a nature based

play area differ from

a traditional playground?

Portland Parks & Recreation

is designing the City of Portland’s

first nature based play area in

Westmoreland Park.

Who: All ages welcome and encouraged to play! Come rain or shine, the event is indoors!

When: Saturday March 17th -10am-2pm

Where: 5040 SE Milwaukie Ave. and SE Mitchell St. Tri-Met bus #19

RSVP: Portland Parks and Rec or call Elizabeth at 503-823-5113

More information: www.licenses.ci.portland.or.us/parks/index.cfm?c=57822&

GreenWorks Collaborates on New Park Design

After assisting the City of Wilsonville receive an Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) grant in 2011, GreenWorks commenced detailed design work on Engelman Park. Given the current economic challenges Cities and Park districts are facing in our region, this project represents a successful collaborative effort with multiple City departments including planning, engineering, natural resources, and park’s maintenance to plan and design a low maintenance nature-based park that meets the needs of the community. The framework of the neighborhood park revolves around large specimen trees that include Doug Fir, Engelmann Spruce, and a lone Red Oak. The trees and spaces in-between embody the spirit of the park as an urban forest in which sensitively placed paths, native plantings, seating areas, and nature-based playgrounds will be welcomed amenities to the Montebello neighborhood and help connect the residents to nature. Funding for the park not only includes an OPRD grant, but is also comprised of private donations and volunteer efforts which will establish an example for park planning in our new economy. The park is scheduled to open this summer.

A Neighborhood Shows Support for Their New Park

GreenWorks recently conducted the first of two public workshops for the Anderegg Property Park in the City of Damascus. The purpose of the open house was to engage the community to learn what they would like to see in their new neighborhood park. The event was well attended with residents and children from the Trillium neighborhood who were all excited to hear about the plans for a park and provide feedback on what they would like included in the design of the park. Children were also allowed to participate and provided imaginative designs for their vision of a park as illustrated in the image below. The park is a joint partnership with the City of Damascus and the North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District.

FINAL DESIGN: CAROLWOOD PARK PLAYGROUND UPGRADE

Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District (THPRD) has posted the final design renderings for the new playground design at Carolwood Park.  The park district is replacing another old and out-of-date playground in a continued effort to maintain recreational opportunities for young people that are up-to-date, safe and fun.  GreenWorks helped THRPD develop a new playground design based on feedback from a public meeting and an online survey conducted earlier this year. In addition to the new playground equipment, new site amenities include:  an ADA accessible pathway and ramp, a bench and picnic table. The new playground will be completed this summer. THPRD is looking for volunteers in the neighborhood to help with installation. More information can be found on the park district website.

SE Clay Street Green Street Open House

Join GreenWorks and the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services at Indent Studios for an Open House discussing SE Clay Street Green Street this Thursday the 13^th from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. The Open House will present the latest information on the project and answer questions about the community impact of the new green street. GreenWorks worked with the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services on the streetscape design for 12 block section ofSE Clay Street in the Central Eastside Industrial District (CEID). The new green street will provide a pedestrian friendly corridor from Ladd’s Addition to the Eastbank Esplanade.

We hope to see you there!

For more information visit:

http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=47012&a=367456

GreenWorks Competes in Bike to Work Challenge

The results are in! GreenWorks participated in this year’s Bike Commute Challenge, totaling 1239 miles during the month of September. The Bike Commute Challenge takes place every September in Portland – putting workplace against workplace to see who can commute the most by bicycle. GreenWorks finished this year with 68% ridership.

GreenWorks also held its annual internal Bike Commute Challenge with “Most Days Biked” awarded to Azad Sadjadi (19), “Most Trips” to Andrea Cameron (100%), and “Most Miles Biked” to Alex Perove (418 miles). Congrats to GreenWorks for your miles put in and hard work in this year’s challenge!

Oregon City's Jughandle Project Breaks Ground

Oregon City’s Jughandle Project broke ground last week kicking off construction for a project that aims to improve safety and reduce traffic congestion on Highway 213 at the I-205 interchange.  GreenWorks joined the City of Oregon City, ODOT, the Federal Highway Administration, METRO, Clackamas County, OBEC Consulting Engineers, and MOWAT Construction for the celebration last week in Oregon City.   GreenWorks developed planting and irrigation plans for this gateway into Oregon City. More information can be found here: http://www.jughandleproject.com/

Congrats to our teammates and the organizations involved that make this project a success, one that improves Highway 213 while building the area’s infrastructure and facilitating future economic growth. “

Gresham Celebrates Arbor Day with a New Arboretum

“Today, April 9, is Gresham’s Arbor Day,” Gresham City Officials declared last Saturday in Gradin Park.  The City of Gresham, community members, and GreenWorks gathered Saturday in a dedication and ribbon cutting for Gresham’s new Arboretum at Gradin Sports Park.

An idea that grew from an Urban Forestry Community forum in 2009 to Saturday’s dedication, the new Arboretum will hold vast recreational and educational opportunities for the City of Gresham.  Designed to showcase Gresham’s natural landscape and trees that thrive in winter, spring, summer, and fall, the Arboretum will be home to nearly 400 trees and 300 varieties upon completion.  Saturday’s dedication was followed by tree plantings with City Officials, tours of surrounding trees, and recertified Gresham’s membership in the Arbor Day Foundation’s “Tree City USA” program.

GreenWorks provided Master Plan development and design drawings for the Arboretum at Gradin Sports Park.  Construction for the arboretum will be done in phases as the sports park is developed.

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!

Three New Playgrounds in Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District

THE PROJECTS Kids in the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District will soon have three new playgrounds to enjoy. The parks district is replacing old and out of date equipment at Forest Hills Park, Raleigh Hills Park and John Marty Park. GreenWorks is helping THPRD develop playground designs and solicit feedback from the public. Along with the playground designs will be upgrades to ADA accessibility, the addition of site amenities including benches and picnic tables, planting for buffers and shading, fencing and seat walls.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

THPRD and GreenWorks held public meetings earlier this year to get feedback on the playground designs as well as receiving feedback on the internet. The neighbors are excited about the new equipment and were able to steer us in the right direction for the design of their new park. Below are some of the drawings developed by young neighbors of John Marty Park.

The playground should be ready to enjoy this summer!