Cape Horn Pedestrian Undercrossing Awarded APWA Project of the Year

The American Public Works Association (APWA) has awarded the Cape Horn Pedestrian Undercrossing project the “Project of the Year” award for structures less than $5 million in cost. This Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) project, located on SR 14 at the west end of the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area, provides two safe pedestrian tunnel crossings for trail users of U.S. Forest Service Cape Horn Trail.  GreenWorks, working with Wallis Engineering (civil engineering) and Kramer Gehlen & Associates (structural engineering), provided stone masonry design for the entrance facades of each of the tunnels. The stone used is indigenous to the area and in accord with the natural surroundings. The stone and stone masonry pattern used was given careful consideration to provide consistency with other historic examples of stone masonry construction in the Gorge Scenic Area.  In addition, GreenWorks provided vegetation restoration enhancements at the tunnel entrances using native plants. The Washington Trails Association has stated that the Cape Horn Trail is about to become one of the prized jewels of the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area.  GreenWorks was honored to be a part of this project which will serve outdoor enthusiasts of the region for generations to come.

For more information on this award and the project, visit the APWA Reporter.

Also, you can enter ‘Cape Horn’ into the search function of our blog to find past Cape Horn Project entries which chronicle the construction.

East Metro Connections Plan

Over the last few weeks, the Troutdale, Wood Village, Gresham, and Fairview Councils and the Multnomah County Commission all unanimously endorsed the East Metro Connections Plan. Metro Council will take action on the East Metro Connections Plan as an agenda item at approximately 3:30 p.m. in Metro Council Chambers on Thursday, August 9, 2012.

GreenWorks assisted Kittleson and Metro in the East Metro Connection Plan as a part of the regional planning effort. The East Metro Connections Plan is the first mobility corridor refinement plan to come out of the 2035 Regional Transportation Plan. The Plan has implemented a new approach to allocating limited transportation dollars to ensure regional transportation investments, support local land use, community and economic development, and the environment. The plan has been a 2‐year effort to understand present and future transportation challenges and prioritize solutions that reflect community values and the future plans and aspirations of each city. The plan includes a systemic look at each of the north/south and east/west arterials in the plan area to identify needs related to:

• Road capacity and safety
• Freight operations, capacity and safety
• Modes such as transit, biking and walking
• Related public and private investment

The process is intended to allow Metro and local governments to be strategic and efficient by prioritizing transportation projects that achieve multiple outcomes. There is approximately $14.4 billion in transportation projects identified in the plan for east county. Project goals include: healthy communities, equitably distributed benefits and burdens, improved access and protection of parks and natural resources, improved transportation system, economic development opportunities and safety and security improvements.

We congratulate Metro, Wood Village, Troutdale, Fairview, Gresham, Multnomah County, ODOT and Kittleson on this milestone planning achievement.

Read more about the East Metro Connections Plan in the Oregon DJC.

Phase Two of Design Begins for Trillium Creek Park

The City of Damascus approved the Concept Plan and funding for the next phase of design and construction for Trillium Creek Park.  GreenWorks completed the Concept Plan in March after a successful public involvement process that included strong support and enthusiasm from the local community.  Construction Documentation will continue through the next nine months in order to bid and construct the project next summer. This project represents a successful collaboration between the City of Damascus and North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District. It will be the first neighborhood park within the City limits.

Tanner Springs Park Featured in the Oregonian

Tanner Springs Park , designed by Atelier Dreiseitl and GreenWorks, is one of five finalists for the Urban Land Institute's Amanda Burden Urban Open Space Award. Judges from the ULI selection committee came to Portland to assess Tanner Springs on July 20th. The winner will be revealed at the institute's Fall Meeting and Urban Land Expo, Oct. 16-19  in Denver.  "The $10,000 prize  is reserved for a public open space that changes or revives its surrounding community" (Daley;2012). The Portland Pearl district park contains wetlands which attract wildlife, treat runoff from the surrounding area and provide a scenic and serene setting for downtown park goers. More about the park and the award is featured in an article from The Oregonian that  ran Wednesday, July 25th.

Click here for the article.

Construction Nearly Complete on the Lewis and Clark Festival Park

Kirby Nagelhout is wrapping up construction at The Lewis and Clark Festival Park in The Dalles. Construction of the $2.9 million park began in November 2011, and on Friday, July 13^th, Mike Faha and Alex Perove performed a final walk-through, inspecting the irrigation and planting design. Cedar Landscape, Inc. is the licensed landscape contractor that installed the entire site’s irrigation, planting, and the concrete unit pavers in the main plaza. Strong roof lines from the building, the trees, and expansive green lawn are some of the park elements that are visible from the freeway. These elements create an attractive buffer between I-84 and the railroad, and establish a green identity for the city of The Dalles. The grand opening of the park is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, September 6, 2012.

We would love for you to join us at the opening of the city’s newest community park!

Westmoreland Park Open House

GreenWorks recently hosted an Open House for the Westmoreland Park Nature Play Area. The event took place at the Westmoreland Park site, where the current plan was “painted” onto the ground so that individuals could “walk through” the design to better understand how the different play areas would feel once built. Kids and adults had a lot of fun visualizing these future elements of the park. Comments from the public obtained at the Open House are being incorporated into the final design. You can view a draft of the preferred option below:

You can read more about the project and nature based play areas in The Oregonian and on the Portland Parks and Recreation website.

New Park Coming to the Cully Neighborhood

The Werbin Property is a 2.4 acre site located on NE 52^nd Ave between Alberta and Wygant Streets just a few blocks North of Rigler Elementary School in Portland. Over 60 enthusiastic community members contributed by showing up and voicing their opinions at an Open House for the next developed park in the Cully Neighborhood. As a consultant to Portland Parks & Recreation, GreenWorks put together three distinct design options that demonstrate different approaches to how the park could be developed and used. These drawings were presented at a recent Open House. Feedback received from the Open House and online surveys will inform the final design later this summer. More information about the park can be found here.

ASLA and AIA Oregon EP Greenroof Tour

Greenworker Claire Maulhardt, along with other ASLA and AIA Oregon Emerging Professional (EP) members, organized a great educational event on June 13^th, Local Innovation in Greenroofs.  The sold out event was a green roof tour of three Portland buildings, followed by a lecture/discussion lead by Tim Nash of Columbia Green hosted at the Center for Architecture. Speakers on the green roof tour also included Casey Cunningham, City of Portland’s Sustainable Stormwater Division, and Trent Thelen, landscape designer of The Indigo Building green roof. The speakers talked about the plants, wildlife and technology of greenroofs.  The event met ASLA Oregon EP committee’s goal of encouraging professional enhancement.  Participants were given a unique opportunity to further their education and connect with fellow landscape designers and landscape architects. Greenworkers Danae Davison, Derek Sergison, and Azad Sadjadi were among the 25 participants. This tour was ASLA Oregon’s Summer 2012 EP 101 Series event and was sponsored by Willamette Graystone and Columbia Green.

Special THANKS to Christopher Olin, Desirae Williams, and Emily Hull all their efforts in making the event a success! AND to the other EP Committee members for helping us staff the event.

Grant High School Community Garden Construction Complete!

Northeast Portland Community Gardeners are happily planting, watering, weeding and harvesting food from their plots at the Grant High School Community Garden. The Environmental Club at the High School teamed up with Portland Community Gardens to transform a 7,700 square foot piece of lawn in the front of the school to a garden for the surrounding community. GreenWorks provided the garden design to maximize plot size, provide clear circulation, and create an aesthetically pleasing space that fits the context of the historic architecture of the school and neighborhood.

Lane Community College Health and Wellness Facility

A few GreenWorks employees recently visited the Lane Community College Health and Wellness Facility at Lane Community College in Eugene to see how the completed project is progressing. The facility functions as the northwestern gateway to the main campus integrating the new facility and existing campus. Clear circulation and a sense of arrival accentuate the overall design, which incorporates stormwater treatment solutions. Exterior spaces are active and engaging areas that translate health and wellness to the landscape.