Pringle Creek is a "Diamond for Sustainability"

Check out this recent article by Margaret Buranen at Stormwater: The Journal for Surface Water Quality Professionals about green infrastructure in stormwater management, featuring a recent GreenWorks project in Salem, OR! Pringle Creek Community is one of Oregon’s most low-impact residential developments, and as the first sustainable housing and mixed-use project spanning 32 acres of a total 250 scheduled for development, Pringle Creek is pioneering green initiatives in southeast Salem.

Pringle Creek is, according to the Community’s general manager Jane Poznar, “a diamond for sustainability” with its 7,000 feet of green streets, 2,000 feet of green alleys, and a newly ‘salmon safe’ creek (from which the community gets its name). Regarding stormwater, Buranen notes that Pringle Creek Community is also home to “one of the largest pervious asphalt street systems in the United States,” handling 90% of runoff onsite.

GreenWorks was responsible for collaboration on the design of the Community’s green streets and rain gardens, pedestrian pathways and greenway enhancement, woonerfs and public recreational spaces, overall landscape treatment and the Village Green open space.

The project was awarded the Land Development of the Year Award in 2007 from the National Home Builder's Association.

GreenWorks teams up with the Trail Blazers!

Check out this article by Sustainable Business Oregon editor Andy Giegerich announcing upcoming updates to the Portland Trail Blazers’ Moda Center exterior, a project headed by GreenWorks!

We have been working with the Trail Blazers Senior Director of Sustainability, Justin Zeulner, to both beautify the Center’s landscaping with native and drought-resistant plants and replenish the grounds with healthier soils and stormwater facilities, which will “reduce the [site's] landscaping water use by 20-30%” among other progressive initiatives. This work represents what Justin noted as “the first phase of sustainable projects around the arena,” and will further the Trail Blazers’ efforts for sustainability in keeping with their ideals.

Located in the Lloyd Center District, Portland’s first EcoDistrict, the Moda Center earned LEED Gold status in 2010 because of measures that reduced greenhouse gas emissions, energy usage, non-organic and non-local food sourcing, and landfill use, but they’re not stopping there.  As Justin suggests, “Every little bit helps.”

The new landscaping designs will become a reality after demolitions in the spring. Click here for more information on the Blazers’ conservation efforts.

SE Clay Green Street Project

Construction has begun on the SE Clay Street Green Street project! The Green Street spans from SE 2nd Avenue to SE 12th Avenue in Portland’s Central East-Side Industrial District. When completed, it will better connect pedestrians and bicyclists from east-side neighborhoods with the RiverEast Center Plaza (also a GreenWorks project) all the way to Portland’s popular Eastbank Esplanade. The redone renovated? revitalized? street will include storm water curb extensions, storm water planters with railroad rail check dams, and installations from local artist Linda Wysong. Custom seating will be incorporated into the storm water planter walls along the sidewalk edge, giving the corridor a more inviting, pedestrian-oriented feel.

From the beginning, this project posed planning challenges to all parties involved. Integrating stormwater management as well as pedestrian, bicycling and car travel with the project’s industrial freight access requirements resulted in unique designs for storm water curb extensions that respond to the larger turning radii required by some trucks that use the industrial district.

If you’d like to learn more about the SE Clay St Green Street project, click here!

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

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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.