Welcome to the Parks News Section

HazelwoodParks writes "Attention Park Advocates!

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is holding a series of important public meetings, starting next week. The topic is Park System Development Charges (SDCs) and proposed changes to these fees that will help PP&R respond to the population growth in then City.

The meeting dates/times/locations are:

Monday, November 5, 7:00-8:30 pm Southwest Community Center 6820 SW 45th Ave

Thursday, November 8, 6:00-7:30 pm Matt Dishman Community Center 77 NE Knott St

Friday, November 16, Noon-2:00 pm The Portland Building, Room C 1120 SW 5th Ave

System Development Charges are one-time fees assessed on NEW development, at the time permits are issued, to cover a portion of the cost of providing the additional parks and recreation facilities needed as a result of the new development. The current Park SDC, assessed only on new residential development, covers approximately 25% of the total cost of acquiring and developing these services. It is one of the lowest in the metropolitan area, and one of the few that assesses only residential development.

Portland is proposing to increase the Park SDC so it will cover up to 75% of the costs associated with acquiring and developing to serve new development. The proposal would also assess a modest fee on non-residential development as well.

Because much of the growth has been occurring in the Central City and East Portland and is expected to be concentrated in these areas for the foreseeable future, these are the areas that stand to gain the most from the proposed changes to the Park SDC. It's especially important that residents of those areas let the Mayor and City Council know how important this additional revenue source is to them.

This is a substantial, but badly needed, increase. Because it's a substantial increase, there is likely to be resistance from a number of well-organized groups in the community. That's why it is important for the citizens of east Portland to voice their support of the proposed changes.

There will be a variety of ways to make City decision-makers aware of your support. Start by attending one of the five public meetings being held in October and November. Ultimately, there will be petitions you can sign, post cards you can mail to the Mayor and City Council members, email messages you can send, and more -- including, for those who are able, attending the City Council hearing on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 9:30 am.

For information about the proposed changes and the process, visit www.portlandparks.org.

-- Linda Robinson"

Linda Robinson writes "Citywide Parks Team Meeting Thursday, May 17, 2007 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Portland City Hall Rose Room (3rd Floor) 1221 SW 4th Ave

Topic: Asset Management at Portland Parks, including Policy/Process for Disposition of Park Land

Guests will be Robin Grimwade, Manager of Strategy, Finance and Business Development at Portland Parks, and Janet Bebb, Manager of Strategic Planning Projects.

Robin and Janet will provide a succinct overview of City property issues as they relate to property acquisition, declaring property to be surplus, and disposition of park property, including State and City statutes that govern these property decisions. The discussion will focus on Portland Parks' policy and process, in general, rather than on any specific property.

Dan Saltzman's Office writes "Portland Park's Playgrounds and Pioneer Courthouse Square: Smoke-Free on January 1st!!

Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman has signed a new Park Rule that will make Portland Parks and Recreation's playgrounds and Pioneer Courthouse Square smoke-free starting on January 1st, 2007. "This is an important step in creating a healthy, livable city." stated Commissioner Saltzman. "Making Portland's "living room" and its playgrounds smoke-free benefits our entire community."

Commissioner Saltzman has been committed to making all of Portland Parks and Recreation's children's playgrounds smoke-free in 2007. Concurrent with these park-wide efforts, Pioneer Courthouse Square's Board of Trustees forwarded the Commissioner a unanimous recommendation to make Pioneer Courthouse Square a smoke-free public space. With over 9.5 million people visiting the Square each year, Pioneer Courthouse Square is one of the densest and most visited sites in the State of Oregon.

SOLV writes "Friends of the Forest Day, Eagle Creek: Join SOLV, the National Forest Foundation and Friends of the Columbia Gorge for a fun-filled day of volunteering and celebrating, Saturday, October 7, 9 AM to 1 PM at Eagle Creek campground. All ages welcome. Register @ www.solv.org , 503-844-9571 or 1-800-33 SOLV."

lincmann writes " On the Great Pacific Flyway - CD Release Party Monday September 18 - 6:30 pm Tryon Creek State Park - 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd, Portland OR 97219 Admission: Free

Contacts: Sue Thomas, Portland Parks (503) 823- 3601 email: PKST@ci.portland.or.us Anne Rutherford (503) 235-2633 email: anne@annerutherford.com

Portland's Urban Migratory Bird Project presents a CD release party for On the Great Pacific Flyway - Songs and Stories Celebrating Portland's Migratory Birds. In a fun-filled program for adults and children alike, storyteller Anne Rutherford and a flock of local musicians and actors perform original songs and stories about the amazing variety of birds (from hummingbird to osprey) that travel thousands of miles each year passing through or stopping to make Portland one of their seasonal homes. The performance is free and open to the public, geared for ages 5 and up. All proceeds from the CD sale will benefit the ongoing work of Portland's Urban Migratory Bird Project.

Karl Dawson writes "Help care for trees in your neighborhood by becoming a Neighborhood Tree Liaison. A Neighborhood Tree Liaison is a local leader who promotes proper tree care and serves as a resource for his/her neighborhood on tree issues. To become a Neighborhood Tree Liaison you do not need to know a lot about trees. You do need to have a passion for trees, desire to learn, and the commitment to help. Classes are taught by leading tree care professionals and cover general and advanced tree issues. After graduating from the class Neighborhood Tree Liaisons work with Portland Parks and Recreation on tree projects in their neighborhood. The 2006 Neighborhood Tree Liaison class starts on September 9 and costs $20. For a full schedule and to register for the class call Portland Parks & Recreation at 503-823-1650 or visit www.portlandparks.org.

2006 Neighborhood Tree Liaisons Class Schedule Saturday classes will be outside at various locations from 9 am to 12 noon. Tuesday night classes will be from 7:00 to 8:30 pm location to be announced

Nathaniel Clevenger writes "Testimony of Gail Snyder, Executive Director, Friends of Forest Park, before City Council today, June 28, 2006:

I am here to lend my support for the PPR regional trail plan. Trails help create community; they are good for economic health as well as our physical and mental health. They provide a place for recreation, refuge, and occasionally, romance.

We know that even trails can be controversial, but ultimately we all agree: we value and support our trails. You are aware of some of the issues that arise among different user groups – from naked runners to mountain bikes to dogs – but perhaps you are not aware of the very serious problem of trail doggerel. I have a sample for you.

In our Portland City fair
Parks and trails we gladly share
What better way from here to there
While benefiting from fresh air

So Randy, Sam, Erik, and Dan
We ask you to accept the plan
Doing so will hit the mark
And did I mention Forest Park?"

Metro Parks writes "Welcome to Summer.

There are lots of great ways to ring in our sunniest season at parks and natural areas all over the region. Lend a hand at a volunteer work party, get your oars wet in your favorite river, gather around the campfire at Oxbow Regional Park, or hop on TriMet's Blue Lake Shuttle and check out the new water spray ground opening in July at Blue Lake Regional Park.

Metro's online calendar will be updated throughout the summer with new nature activities and volunteer opportunities. Check it out at www.metro-region.org/greenscene.

Enjoy!

LUNCH WITH THE BIRDS AT JACKSON BOTTOM noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 7 Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve Meet a Jackson Bottom naturalist and spend your lunch hour learning how to identify waterfowl and other birds at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve. Spotting scopes, binoculars and field guides will be provided. Meet at the north viewing shelter next to the Clean Water Services treatment plant on Highway 219 south of Hillsboro. Wheelchair accessible. Free. Registration is not required. For more information, call (503) 681-6278.

WILLAMETTE RIVER ISLANDS PADDLE 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 8 Willamette Riverkeeper Join Willamette Riverkeeper for a round-trip paddle around Hogg and Cedar islands from the Cedar Oak Boat Ramp in West Linn. Bring your own boat or become a Willamette Riverkeeper member for $35 and use their canoes and gear at no additional charge at this and other events. Free. Advance registration required; call (503) 223-6418 or send e-mail to amy@willamette-riverkeeper.org.

HERON WATCHING AT HERON LAKES GOLF COURSE 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 9 Great Blue Heron Week Urban naturalist Mike Houck and grounds manager Jesse Goodling will lead a stroll to the nesting colony of great blue herons at the Heron Lakes Golf Course. Herons have nested in the cottonwood forest at Heron Lakes for more than 20 years. The forest is full of nesting songbirds and great horned owls as well. Free. Advance registration required; visit www.audubonportland.org to register.

Anne O'Malley writes "Independent Living Resources is presenting a new event in Portland, with the backing of Portland Parks & Recreation: Portland loves a Roll in the Park! It is a benefit designed to increase disability awareness, promote accessibility in the park's system, and benefit ILR and its programs.

Organizers invite all citizens to join in as volunteers, sponsors, partners, and participants. The event itself will be held from 11:00 to 3:00, on October 1st, in three locations simultaneously: Portland’s Eastbank Esplanade, Gresham City Park, and Tualatin Hills Park. Participants will ‘wheel’ a course to completion in order to earn sponsorship money for the cause. A picnic, prizes and celebration of National Disability Month will end the afternoon.

Linda Robinson writes "The Citywide Parks Team meeting on Thursday, 4/20/06, will focus on Portland Park & Recreation's IPM Plan (Integrated Pest Management Plan).

Portland Citywide Parks Team Thursday, April 20, 2006 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Portland City Hall, 3rd Floor, Rose Room 1221 SW 4th Ave

April showers bring...weeds! So its fitting that Aprils topic will be PP&Rs Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan. Kathy Murrin will be the main speaker, telling us about IPM at Portland Parks.

Alesia Reese writes "The East Portland Neighborhood Parks Coalition meeting will focus on schools and parks. On April 25th at 6:30 PM at the East Portland Police Precinct Meeting Room members of East Portland School Districts, neighborhoods and Portland Parks will discuss the challenges of security for children, limited athletic fields and partnering with businesses, parks and schools to provide safe and fun spaces for families of East Portland."

reese writes "The Parks Committee of East Portland welcomes Metro Director David Bragdon and Commissioner Robert Liberty to its March 28th meeting. The featured topic will be the nature scape and habitat protection bond measure being presented to voters this November.

The meeting will be held in the meeting room of the Portland Police East Precinct, 737 SE 106th at 6:30 PM (entrance is on the north side of the building)."

mathmom writes "The Zomerang Poll see (http://www.news4neighbors.net/article.pl?sid=06/0 2/14/150243) will only be open until Febrary 20th, so please take a few minutes to click on and help us advocate for more citizen involvement for decisions for parks. You don't have to leave contact information, there are multiple answers of differing views all you need to do is click on one or more of them or make up your own answers if none express your view.

Just click on it won't take but a couple of minutes.

http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB224ZT738C 28

mathmom writes "Where are the People advocating for their Parks? Take the poll.

Anna Griffin wrote in her February 9th, Oregonian article

“With crowds like this, it could be hard to keep players on the road. The City Council headed to David Douglas High School last week to hear what people had to say about the city's budget. You know, a visit with the working people of east Portland, where Potter held his inauguration. A few commissioners even rolled up their shirt-sleeves for the visit, the better to look extra-manly and blue collar. But on the other side, folks saw more city staff than citizens. Only 46 people pulled themselves away from the State of the Union address (or, more likely, "American Idol") to talk city dollars. Those who did show up were outnumbered by 52 city staff members.”

In News4Neighbors January 17th edition this reporter noted a similar situation at the Parks Budget meeting of January 11th.

Mark M. Warrington, CPP writes "On Wednesday, January 18, park employees found meat laced with needles sitting beside a Mt. Tabor Park trail across the street from the main playground. Portland Park Rangers and Multnomah County Animal Services have investigated this further and have concluded the following:

The beef tongue slit down the middle and with needles in it, discovered in Mt Tabor Park on 1-17-06, was NOT intended to harm dogs. This was apparently used as part of a classic Hoodoo (Voodoo/witchcraft) ritual that calls for a beef tongue, prepared as the one we found, to put a spell or curse on specific enemies. Park Rangers exam of the tongue discovered conclusive evidence that this was the case. Accordingly, there is no reason to post a warning for dog owners.'[???]