Mike Danko of the City of Independence Retiring

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GreenWorks would like to acknowledge the extraordinary pubic service of Mike Danko, Community Development Director of the City of Independence, Oregon. After almost three decades with the City, Mike is retiring. GreenWorks feels privileged to have worked alongside Mike on numerous projects, including the Downtown Revitalization Project, Fountain project, Amphitheater, Veterans Memorial, Parks and Open Space Master Plan, Independence Landing, and the Soccer Complex. A true visionary, Mike’s commitment to community services is an inspiration to us all. Best Wishes, Mike!

Pictured here: Mike Danko and Mayor John McArdle

 

Happy Solstice!

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In the Northern Hemisphere, peak sunlight usually occurs on June 20, 21, or 22 of the year, giving us the Summer Solstice. In Portland, that means 15.5 to 16 hours of daylight. Enjoy the extra daylight with a bike ride along the Trolley Trail, which can be reached from TriMet’s SE Park Station on the Portland-Milwaukie Orange Line. GreenWorks provided landscape architectural services for the final design of the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail. Along the trolley trail section, GreenWorks provided trail improvements including plant selections. For more information on the Orange Line: http://catchtheorange.com/#/stations

Green is Always in Season!

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NBA season may be over, but at the Moda Center, the lush new landscape is definitely in season. GreenWorks provided services for the Portland Trail Blazers’ Moda Center Exterior project. The project enhanced the Center’s landscaping with native and drought-resistant plants, provided waterproofing, and replenished the grounds with healthier soils and stormwater facilities, reducing the site’s landscaping water use by 20-30%. GreenWorks’ Derek Sergison captured these sunrise shots

Hike Canemah Bluff!

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It’s the perfect time of year for family-friendly hike on the Canemah Bluff Overlook Trail in Oregon City. The Camas flowers have been in bloom this spring, and Derek Sergison recently visited to take these beautiful photos. GreenWorks completed this Metro project in 2016. For more information and directions, see Metro’s website: http://www.oregonmetro.gov/parks/canemah-bluff-nature-park

Gill Williams at The University of Oregon, Portland School of Architecture

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Gill went back to school this spring term, co-teaching a design studio at the University of Oregon’s School of Architecture. Co-led by Tim Smith, Principal at SERA Architects, the studio entitled Portland Green Loop: A Placemaking Armature for the 21st Century City explored how the public infrastructure of cities “can be a catalyst for the (re)generation of whole and beautiful city districts and neighborhoods, and why the public realm needs to be multi-functional from an economic, environmental, and social standpoint.” (excerpt from the syllabus) The 6-mile long Green Loop is a linear greenway envisioned for Portland’s central city area. Spanning the Willamette River and touching a variety of close-in districts and neighborhoods this pedestrian-centric facility is envisioned as a park, transportation corridor, urban placemaking catalyst, habitat and social experiment. 25 first year masters students spent 10 weeks exploring the possibilities of “The Green Loop” and the re-imagining of the neighborhoods along the alignment. Guest speakers during the studio included representatives from the City of Portland, the local development community and architecture, planning and landscape architecture practitioners. The studio culminated in two days of presentations by the students to a variety of local professionals.

Washougal Waterfront Nature Play Area

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GreenWorks was hired by The Port of Camas-Washougal to design a new nature play area. The play area will be a highlight along a mile-long trail that begins at Washougal Waterfront Park and meanders along the shoreline of the Columbia River. The focal point in the play area is a large existing boulder nicknamed “Erric the Erratic” and playful sculpture of a sasquatch pulling the boulder out of the earth. The Port is seeking a name for the sasquatch. To submit your idea, visit the website: http://portwaterfrontparks.com/sasquatch/

GreenWorks is working with NW Playground and ID Sculptures to create this unique play element.

Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge Welcomes Honored Guests

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The Minto Island Bridge, a project 40 years in the making, welcomed its first pedestrians in an inaugural walk this past Thursday. The bridge has officially been named after one of Salem’s longtime Oregon Senate Presidents and dedicated community members, Peter Courtney. The long-anticipated bridge connects three major urban parks and more than 20 miles of trails along the Willamette River. The bridge was designed by OBEC Consulting Engineers. GreenWorks had the pleasure of developing a conceptual framework that integrated existing park features, such as the “Eco Earth” art globe, with new terraced seatwalls and complemented accent plantings. The bridge will be celebrating its grand opening in August. For more information, please visit the Statesman Journal at: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2017/04/27/peter-courtney-bridge-salem-oregon-walk-across/100951398/