Metro Design Standards

The Parks and Natural Areas Levy, passed by the region’s voters in 2013, created an opportunity to bring high design standards to Metro’s parks and natural areas around the metropolitan area. These standards are the foundation that will guide the design and implementation of dozens of projects throughout the life of the levy, establishing the signature elements of Metro’s parks. This can best be accomplished with these standards, which provide a firm foundation from which to make decisions and proceed with a clear process. This site furnishings standard document ensures that the selection, purchase, and installation of all site furnishings for projects within the levy process and beyond will reaffirm the Metro Compass, Metro Values, and overall vision for the levy work. The standards were developed in the fall of 2013, through a collaborative process involving a cross-departmental committee of Metro staff and the professional services of GreenWorks, PC. The document was completed using observation, inventory of existing site furnishings, and input from staff. Over the course of four stakeholder meetings, the committee refined the final list of furnishings, commented on the merits of existing Metro site furnishings, reviewed an inventory of several other park systems’ site furnishing standards, and refined GreenWorks’ initial recommendations.

 

Simpson Pavilion Plans Unveiled

On Tuesday Dec. 17, GreenWorks and Opsis Architects presented concept drawings for a multi-purpose recreation pavilion to the Bend Parks & Recreation Department (BPRD) Board of Directors. The approximately 30,000 sf covered, open-air pavilion will host a variety of activities, including a seasonal NHL-size ice rink from November through March, and multi-sports courts including tennis, basketball, and pickleball from April through October. The 3.3 acre site will accommodate the iconic pavilion structure and support facilities that will house a lobby, customer service area, restrooms, & locker rooms, as well as an “eco” parking lot and entry plaza. In addition, a courtyard green and flexible lawn spaces adjacent to the pavilion will provide outdoor spaces for a variety of community events. Click here to watch a brief local news piece that aired the evening of the presentation. Click here for the BPRD project web site for additional information.

Happy Holidays from GreenWorks!

Mike Abbaté Honored by American Society of Landscape Architects at National Meeting

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) Director Mike Abbaté received a prestigious fellowship from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) last week at ASLA’s national conference in Boston. As GreenWorks co-founder and friend, we congratulate Mike for his dedication to the profession. His 27-year career in the Pacific Northwest is distinguished by exceptional design, leadership, and management in all of his professional and volunteer endeavors. Click here for more details. Congratulations, Mike!

Zidell Yards Green Infrastructure Scenarios wins ASLA Oregon Honor Award

On Friday evening, landscape architects from around Oregon gathered at the annual ASLA Oregon Design Awards event to celebrate work from around the state.  A wonderful group of jurors donated their time to review the project submissions and determine the winning entries.  We were excited to hear that our Zidell Yards Green Infrastructure Scenarios project won an Honor Award in the Analysis and Planning category.  The project was an incredible team effort led by GreenWorks that included the US Environmental Protection Agency, City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services, ZRZ Realty Company, and TetraTech.  We are humbled to have been part of such a challenging project and been recognized among so many high quality award submissions.

Grand Opening Celebration at Mt. Scott Creek

From left: John Ludlow, Clackamas County Commissioner; Jeroen Kok, NCPRD; Mary Rose Navarro, METRO; Paul Savas, Commissioner; Mayor Ferguson, City of Milwaukie; Gail Shalom, Clackamas County WES

GreenWorks recently attended the grand opening celebration of the newly improved lower reach of Mt. Scott Creek within North Clackamas Park. GreenWorks staff attended the opening along with members of CCSD#1 and partners North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District and the City of Milwaukie. GreenWorks partnered with InterFluve, Inc. to enhance ecological functions and diversity for fish and wildlife, improve water quality in the creek, improve watershed health awareness, provide community stewardship opportunities, increase educational opportunities, and enhance community access to nature.

New amenities at the site include:

• Log jam overlook, trail and new pedestrian bridge

• In-stream restoration and creekside plantings by volunteers

• Overlook deck

• Interpretive signage

<img data-preserve-html-node="true" class="size-full wp-image-10435 aligncenter" alt="5650-resized" src="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ae7afd3b105982d79d627e8/5b75be18a8d7a597e42f629f/5b75be77a8d7a597e42f711b/1534443127259/5650-resized.jpg?format=original" width="500" height="332" /

Groundbreaking at Trillium Creek Park

 

City of Damascus and North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District recently celebrated the groundbreaking at Trillium Creek Park. Trillium will be the City’s first full-fledged neighborhood park consisting of a large playground, basketball court, picnic area, and open lawn all developed within a one acre footprint. The layout of the park provides a balance of uses and a playground that is inclusive for children of all abilities. The playground design incorporated an accessible path that will lead children to an high point on the site connecting them to a playground structure that sits five-feet high above the surrounding playground.

After working with the City, NCPRD, and community over the last two years developing the concept and construction drawings for the park, we are excited to see the project moving forward and getting built. T-Edge Construction is the contractor.

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.