Kʰunamokwst Park Update

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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.

The Douglas Fir cone in-progress by artist/stone carver Mauricio Saldana.

Emerald Masonry is artfully arranged in the play area to provide a physical connection to the Columbia Gorge.

Stonework in the water feature.

Evergreen Skateparks has completed the perimeter walls and deck of the skatedot.

Portland’s first official nature play area is officially open!

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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Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood of Portland, Westmoreland Nature Play Area was born of the desire to update the existing outdated play area and replace it with a 100% custom nature-based play environment.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 GreenWorks was selected by Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) to update the existing outdated playground and replace it with a 100% custom nature-based play environment.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.

A 4 year-old is verifying the willow whips are secure along the creek channel.

Logs extend from the Mountain Mound (back right) and are situated to provide connection to the log tilt (back left).

Kid’s take turns at the farm pump on top of the creek mound to activate the water in the sand and water play area.

Rope helps kids climb up and down the log climbers.

Branches were trimmed by PP&R to provide better visual access through the adjacent Sequoia grove and loose parts that were used to make a make-shift fort.

Habitat Restoration Planting Day at New Light Rail Transit Center

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PMLR-Park-P&R-volunteer-planting

A community volunteer planting event was held on Saturday October 11th to restore an environmentally degraded area adjacent to the new Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Park and Ride transit center under construction at the southwest corner of McLoughlin Blvd and Park Ave. The event was well attended by local community member volunteers eager to get their hands dirty and plant hundreds of new native trees and plants, including GreenWorks staff member Shawn Kummer and daughter Aydan. GreenWorks was involved in this project’s preliminary planting design as part of the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail project. The project was made possibly by the efforts by local environmental group Urban Green and a Metro Nature in the Neighborhoods grant.

http://koin.com/2014/10/11/forest-planned-for-new-park-ride-transit-center/

GreenWorker Volunteers for The Columbia Land Trust

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The Columbia Land Trust recently enlisted the ALSA Emerging Professionals, the American Planning Association, and other volunteer groups to participate in the Schoolhouse Creek fish and wildlife habitat improvement effort. The event educated volunteers on the creek’s hydrology while promoting stewardship and restoration to youth participants. The most satisfying parts of the event included scenic views of the wetland, surveying the 3-acre site tree plantings, and removing invasive blackberry. Be sure to check out upcoming volunteer opportunities and educational events with the Columbia Land Trust here: http://www.columbialandtrust.org/get-involved/

GreenWorker Derek Sergison (back row, second from the left) posing with his fellow volunteers.

Schoolhouse Wetland

Portland EXPO Center Stormwater Green Wall Grand Opening

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A grand opening was held on October 1, 2014 at Portland’s EXPO Center to celebrate the completion of The Portland EXPO Center Stormwater Green Wall. The event was well attended by the many project partners that worked together to realize this new and innovative approach to the sustainable management of stormwater using a vertical green wall system. They included representatives from City of Portland Environmental Services, Metro and Metro Exposition and Recreation Commission members, Portland EXPO Center and the Design team led by GreenWorks and Cascade Design Professionals. The event also featured speeches of recognition by Matthew Rotchford, Director of the Portland EXPO Center; Scott Robinson, Metro’s Deputy COO and Interim General Manager of Visitor Venues; Dean Marriott, Director of the Bureau of Environmental Services; Tony Barber, Director of Oregon office of the EPA; and Mike Faha, Principal of GreenWorks. The project has received quite a bit of press recently, which can be viewed using the web links provided below.

http://www.oregonmetro.gov/news/stormwater-green-wall-gets-warm-welcome-portland-expo-center

http://www.oregonmetro.gov/news/portland-expo-center-debuts-unique-living-stormwater-green-wall

http://djcoregon.com/news/2014/09/26/stormwater-management-goes-vertical/

http://portlandtribune.com/sl/235333-100755-expo-center-adds-innovative-wall-to-vent-storm-drainage-

http://www.portlandonline.com/fish/index.cfm?a=505073&

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