The Lewis and Clark Festival Park is Under Construction!

Located in The Dalles, Oregon, the festival area is positioned on a swath of land in between I-84 and the Union Pacific Railroad. Comparable in size to approximately three Portland city blocks, this design incorporates a parking lot, and a covered picnic pavilion, buttressed by restroom and picnic facilities. This focal point forms a strong presence to Union Street as well as a stage to the "great" lawn in which events could be held. A public art feature is proposed to be located on axis with Court Street. All of these elements combined, help to establish a strong connection with the historic downtown to the Columbia River, enhancing community identity, and encouraging economic development.

Cape Horn Trail Pedestrian Tunnel Construction Project Complete

Construction is complete on the two pedestrian tunnels that now provide safe crossing under State Route 14, approximately twenty-six miles east of Vancouver, Washington. The Cape Horn Trail is a popular 7.5 mile trail with spectacular views of the Columbia River Gorge. GreenWorks, working with Wallis Engineering (civl engineering) and Kramer Gehlen & Associates (structural engineering), provided the design for the stone facing of the tunnel facades and planting design at the tunnels. The stone used on the project is local quarried basalt stone. The tunnel facades were designed to relate to other historic Cascadian examples of stone masonry found within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. To quote the Washington Trails Association,‘The Cape Horn Trail is about to become one of the prized jewels of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.’

This WSDOT project, in partnership with the USDA Forest Service was made possible by funding provided by Western Federal Lands Highway Division. The General contractor for the project was Rotschy, Inc and stone masonry work was provided by Custom Masonry, Inc.

For additional information, please visit the following websites:

Washington Trails Association

Washington Dept. of Transportation

Portland hikers Field guide

St. Louis Ponds

St. Louis Ponds is a 260 acre public open space owned by the State of Oregon and located directly on Interstate 5 just south of Woodburn, Oregon. Offering seven ponds stocked with a variety of warm water fish species, it is a popular fishing destination. GreenWorks has been commissioned through grant funding to master plan the central 20 acres of the site, with program elements including new accessible trails and fishing platforms, an education center and restroom, host sites, wet prairie & oak savannah habitat restoration zones and a new parking lot incorporating green stormwater infrastructure.

On February 4th, Mike Faha of GreenWorks met on site with the client, Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation and members of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to discuss the options and ideas that have been presented to date. Completion of the master plan is expected for later this spring/summer.

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.

New Gervais City Hall Construction Complete

Construction is nearly complete on a new city hall facility for the City of Gervais.  GreenWorks provided site design for the building’s entry way, parking area and pedestrian circulation, including site grading, layout and planting design. The site was designed so that all stormwater from paved surfaces flows through curb cuts along the parking area edges and flows into a vegetated swale, which also serves to break up and soften the impact of the paved surfaces on the site. The design team for the project was led by PIVOT Architecture and included  Balhiser & Hubbard Engineers (Civil), M.R. Richards Engineering, Inc (Structural), Moulds Mechanical Engineers and Hanna Engineering (Electrical). The general contractor on the project is JWC General Contractor LLC and the landscape contractor is SCC Earthworks.

Aspiring Landscape Architecture Students

GreenWorks hosted two aspiring student groups, sharing professional wisdom and educational guidance. For the second year in a row, Claire Maulhardt, landscape designer, has been involved with two student groups that promote the relationship between students and the Landscape Architecture profession; ACE Mentoring program for high school students (Architecture, Construction Management and Engineering) and ASLA Oregon Student Liaison.

In January GreenWorks hosted an ACE Mentoring session geared toward site analysis, site design and the urban landscape. The ACE project this year is focused on a Transit-Oriented Development. Students are designing a Visitor's Center, a Bike Shop, a Cafe, or a Yoga Studio which are part of a larger site adjacent to a light rail station. If you would like to follow the ACE students over the term, the DJC will be regularly posting photos and student narratives on their website's blog.

On Friday February 3rd, GreenWorks hosted three students from the University of Oregon Landscape Architecture Department. Claire Maulhardt and Alex Perove (GreenWorks) toured a few GreenWorks projects with Mike Weir, Leanne Wagener, and Renee Wilkinson (UO Students). Back at the office, the students were exposed to a variety of “on the board” projects and were engaged in conversations with some of the employees. This presented the students with an accurate account of what it would be like to enter into the profession of Landscape Architecture.

Playground Build Time-Lapse Video

Last summer GreenWorks joined Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation District (THPRD), the Beaverton Optimist Club, Ross Recreation and neighborhood volunteers to install new playground equipment for Forest Hills Park Playground in Beaverton.  THPRD Maintenance Department staff directed GreenWorks and other volunteers through the process, installing Landscape Structures play equipment including 4 swings, a play structure and a mobius climbing wall. Forest Hills Park was one of three area playgrounds slated for new equipment in addition to upgraded ADA accessibility improvements, new site amenities, plantings for screening and shading,  fencing and seat walls.

GreenWorks caught the installation on camera and prepared this time-lapse video of the process:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqig2Ry9_Sw&w=420&h=315]

GreenWorks Help to Connect Local Kids to Nature

GreenWorks is excited to begin the Westmoreland Nature Play Area Project with Portland Parks and Recreation. In this pilot project for the parks department we will explore what natural play means for Portland residents and what it may look like. As landscape architects GreenWorks has always been a strong supporter for integrating nature into the built environment. In the natural play area we will integrate play and children's learning with natural themes. Keep your eyes peeled for the community workshops this spring and join in the fun!

GreenWorker Showcases Art at First Thursday

Greenworks landscape designer, Azad Sadjadi, will be displaying some paintings at Graeter Art Gallery for an upcoming art show.  His work, along with Roscoe Hall II, Joseph McVetty, and Jeff Betz will showcase from February 2^nd until February 25^th.   The show is entitled “Mapquest,” and is summarized by the gallery as, “Four visionaries’ creative masquerade in search of their contemporary identity and the ambiguous plotting of a marginal address.” The First Thursday opening reception will be from 5PM-10PM on February 2^nd at Graeter Art Gallery (131 NW 2^nd Ave, Portland).

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.