GreenWorks Bike To Work Challenge 2013

 

Biking is fun. Biking is cool. Biking is the most energy efficient form of transportation ever invented. These are just some of the reasons why GreenWorkers commute to and from work by bike. Every September, we participate in the Bike Commute Challenge, and this year we had great turnout. Our team stats included 126 trips by bike, and 1041 commute miles for the month. GreenWorks finished this year with 36.1% ridership.

To keep things exciting, we also hold a friendly internal competition. There are three categories up for grabs. “Most Days Biked” and “Most Trips” didn’t have a clear winner in these two categories this year, so the prizes were awarded to the top two riders with a 100% commute rate, Derek Sergison and Briana Danner. “Most Miles Biked” was awarded to Alex Perove (401 miles). Congrats GreenWorkers for all of the miles put in and pedaling through the rain during this year’s challenge!

Photo from left to right: Derek Sergison, Jeff Boggess, Alex Perove, Shawn Kummer, Briana Danner, Andrea Cameron, Wes Shoger, Ben Johnson

Here is a link to a fun website that lists 60+ benefits of bicycling…now hop on your bike and get to work!

Pioneer Neighborhood Park Construction Update

The rains came early this year and are proving to be a challenge for construction, but we are slowly making progress. Below are some photos that document the development. The “welcome plaza” is formed and ready for concrete, the play area is waiting for drier weather so the contractor can auger the footing holes for the play equipment, and the nature play area is beginning to take shape with the installation of exploration logs and boulders. The delivery of this friendly red-legged frog will enhance the character and add to the creative fun in the nature play area. The crushed rock forest loop path is complete.

Construction is scheduled to wrap up mid-November. Stay tuned for future updates as we work toward improving this neighborhood park.

General Contractor: Earthworks Excavation & Construction, Inc.

Client: Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District

Check out what’s on our radar in the Portland area!

Cully Neighborhood Park

Portland Parks and Recreation is moving forward with a neighborhood park in the Cully area this spring. The park will include a nature play area, picnic facilities and a Skate Dot. For more information about the park and GreenWorks’ role in its development,click here.

Gateway Green Campaign

After years of grassroots campaigning, there is opportunity to transform public land into Gateway Green, a multi-use off road bike park. The Gateway Green Campaign is underway as organizers hope to raise $100,000 in donations necessary for the project. Click here to read more and participate.

Lake Oswego 2nd Street Project Completion

Our 2nd Street project in the heart of downtown Lake Oswego has come to an end, and we wanted to show a few photos of the finished product. With the slight narrowing of the curb to curb width of the street, the City transformed the street into a beautiful modern streetscape within the core of the downtown business district. Widened sidewalks, street lights, benches, driveways, street trees, and unique stormwater planters were all delicately knitted together by the design team to deliver a streetscape project that will benefit the surrounding business community while protecting the urban watershed. This project included a number of significant design elements such as:

1. Lined stormwater planters and curb extensions that will manage approximately 1,000,000 gallons of urban runoff while protecting adjacent commercial basements
2. Structural soil tree wells that extend under sidewalk to provide and additional 10 cubic yards of additional root space per tree.
3. Efficient inlet design to ensure stormwater capture on a steep street
4. Unique low fencing around facilities patterned after fencing at City's Millennium Park Plaza

We were privileged to be part of an incredible team that included City of Lake Oswego staff, Kittelson and Associates, and 3J Consulting.

NW Harbor Avenue Design Offers Bike/Ped Friendly Concepts

GreenWorks recently presented design alternatives to the City of Lincoln City and public for the city’s NW Harbor Avenue Improvements. GreenWorks is assisting the City of Lincoln City with both a process for public involvement and design for NW Harbor Avenue improvements that are safe, accessible, and enhance civic character. These improvements support the city’s commitment to public spaces that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). GreenWorks is recommending an alternative for a more walkable, bicycle-friendly street that provides links to the city’s nearby beach access. The design also provides improvements that build on the city’s character and create better connections between neighborhoods and commercial areas.

GreenWorks Uses Werbin Park Project as Teaching Tool for Youth Program

As part of the Werbin Park development with the City of Portland Parks & Recreation, GreenWorks is supporting the Cully Neighborhood’s commitment to social equity. GreenWorks is providing outreach for underprivileged neighborhood children who, ultimately, are the true clients of this new park. The Werbin Park project is being used as a platform for teaching kids in the program about park design and the building process.  Partnered with Verde and Hacienda’s Expresiones after school program which engages 5th, 6th and 7th graders during the summer, GreenWorks is providing a series of events with Expresiones. The program consists of six weeks of activities including a site visit to Werbin Park and other similar parks. On the first field trip to GreenWorks, students learned about the design process, saw how construction drawings are put together, and participated in activities to develop their design skills. GreenWorks employees Ben Johnson, Claire Maulhardt and Jeff Boggess planned the interactive office visit with the students. GreenWorks is working with Travis Ruybal (City of Portland), Tony Defalco and Nestor Campos (Verde), and Anna Gordon (Expresiones, Hacienda) in planning the summer field trips.

AM Kennedy Park Construction Update

The weather is finally dry and AM Kennedy Park improvements are making progress. The Bridge and street improvements were installed during the winter/spring and now the park elements including the playground, picnic area, and sports field are taking shape. The park is located off of Beaverton Hillsdale HWY in Beaverton in the Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District (THPRD).

Salem's Minto Island Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge in the News

Click here to read about the history and overview, as well as some of the technical issues surrounding this transformative project in downtown Salem.

GreenWorks Project Wins APWA Project of the Year Award!

OR 213/I-205 to Redland Road Crossing was awarded the Project of the Year award by the American Public Works Association for the $25-$75 million category. Read more about the project, also known as the Highway 213 Jughandle Improvement project here.

Construction of Silver Falls Nature Play Area is Almost Complete!

Construction is nearing completion for the second phase of the North Canyon Nature Play Area at Silver Falls State Park.  This will be the first Nature Play area implemented within the State Park system.  The grand opening is scheduled this summer in early August.