Project Updates
To receive project updates, email maija.spencer@portlandoregon.gov.
September 2023
There will be a sidewalk closure on the eastern side of Parklane Park starting next Monday, September 18, 2023. See map:
During work/school hours (7am - 5pm), flaggers will be present to ensure safe access around the closure.
How long will this last?
It is expected to last from Monday, September 18 - Tuesday, September 26, 2023.
Why is this needed?
A new water water meter vault and electrical service will be installed to support the new, expanded Parklane Park.
May 2023
Well drilling will begin in the northeast corner of the undeveloped park starting around the week of May 15, 2023. Drilling will end in mid-June 2023.
What are the impacts to you?
- There will be noticeable noise for extended periods between 7am – 5:30pm Monday – Friday.
- Primary impacts will be continual noise from generators, air compressors, and well drill bit banging.
- Sounds will be well within the decibels allowed under City of Portland noise code, but it will be sustained over the day.
How long will this last?
Work is expected to last up to a month.
Why is this needed?
The old irrigation well installed in 1952 by the former rock quarry operator is at the end of its useful lifespan and needs to be replaced to provide long term water service for the new park. A new 300 ft deep irrigation well will be installed that will provide irrigation for the entire park.
April 2023 - Parking Changes Coming to Main Street
Beginning Monday, April 3, 2023, no parking will be allowed on the north side of Main Street along the edge of Parklane Park during park construction.
Why is this needed?
We are coordinating with Safe Routes to School staff and are prioritizing the safety of school children who live within walking distance of Parklane Elementary and Oliver Middle Schools.
Removing the street parking on the park side will allow us to provide a safer experience around this active construction site for everyone in the neighborhood, especially children walking to school.
What’s ahead?
A future phase of construction will include some street improvements adjacent to the park, and that may require additional temporary adjustments to ensure everyone can get around safely. We will communicate with neighbors in advance.
Once Parklane Park construction is complete in Fall 2024, on-street parking along Parklane Park will be restored. The park construction includes a parking lot for the park and paved pathways along the southern edge of the park and throughout the park.
March 2023
Construction of the entire 25-acre Parklane Park is anticipated to begin the week of April 3, 2023. We want to thank the community for your patience, as we know this park development has been long awaited!
When construction begins, the playground, Loo, sports field, basketball court, and other park amenities in the existing southern 5-acre Parklane Park will be closed for public use until the new park opens. Please use caution when driving, walking, and biking around the active construction area.
The new park will include a playground, splash pad, basketball and tennis courts, soccer fields, community events pavilion, covered picnic areas, community garden, skate park, dog off-leash area, paved walking paths, additional restrooms, parking, and hundreds of new trees. View a rendering here.
The anticipated park opening date is late Fall 2024, though the landscape areas, including soccer fields and dog off-leash areas, will likely need to remain closed until the grass becomes fully established by Summer 2025.
September 2022
Since our last update in July 2022:
- The early construction work this summer was completed ahead of schedule!
- The 20-acre northern section was graded as preparation for the next phase of construction and is currently about 12" below the final finish grade elevations.
- 'Surcharge piles' (large amounts of soil) were added to compact the soil to prepare for construction of the event pavilion / half-court basketball and picnic shelters.
- Hydromulching (spraying a mixture of tackifier and fibrous material) was completed to prevent erosion over the winter.
- Drawings were submitted for building permit review.
What's next?
- Cost estimating and subcontractor bidding will begin this fall.
- Over fall and winter, drawings and calculations will be reviewed for the required building permits, and revisions will be made to address comments for final approval and building permit issuance.
- Contract negotiations and City Council approval of the main construction contract will follow.
Full Construction Work Starts Spring 2023
With the early construction work completed ahead of schedule, there will be a pause in construction work over the fall and winter. Full construction of the park, including the existing 5-acre park area, is anticipated to begin in Spring 2023.
When construction resumes in Spring 2023, the playground, Loo, sports field, basketball court, and other park amenities in the existing southern 5-acre Parklane Park will be closed for public use until the new park opens.
The anticipated park opening date is late Fall 2024, though the landscape areas, including soccer fields and dog off-leash areas, will likely need to remain closed until the grass becomes fully established by Summer 2025.
March 2022
We are pleased to share an update about our progress on the development of Parklane Park. There has been a lot of behind-the-scenes work and some changes to the overall design, but the project continues to move forward.
Project Challenges
Several costly and unforeseen site issues materialized during design development as more became known about the site. One major issue is the former rock quarry on the undeveloped 20-acres that was filled in with a variety of materials, which impacts stability of the site’s soils.
However, the largest single impact on the project is construction cost inflation, which has skyrocketed due to the pandemic. This has led to significant worldwide supply chain issues, labor shortages, and increased costs of all construction materials.
Design Update - March 2022
View a larger image of the updated design
Adjustments were made to the design to address construction issues and reduce project costs. This includes:
- Two grass soccer fields replaced the lit synthetic turf fields
- A second Portland Loo replaced the custom architectural restroom building
- Overall developed area was reduced by approximately 5 acres on north side, creating a larger buffer for park neighbors
- Traffic engineering study to identity on-street parking availability in consideration of PBOT’s current and upcoming projects compared to the new park’s forecasted parking needs; west parking lot was removed
- Local Improvement District (LID) as a funding mechanism for Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) to perform the design and construction of the on-street parking and multi-use path improvements along park’s street frontages
- Features like sport courts and the skate park were moved out of the former quarry fill area to reduce construction costs and ensure structural stability of these hard surfaces
- Additional funding was added to the project to close the budget gap
We appreciate the community’s patience as we continue to work through these issues. While the design has changed, the overall program elements for the park has not changed, and we have kept the community’s vision of this park as the guiding direction for our work.
View a presentation of the updated park plan (March 2022).
Project Background
The site of Parklane Park was once used as an airfield, and then as a gravel quarry which was later filled with remnant debris in the 1990s. When the surrounding subdivisions were built in the 1970s, the triangular 5 acre parcel that is now Parklane Park became a Multnomah County park. Local residents planted many of the trees and installed red and white striped playground equipment, which gave the park its nickname “Candy Cane Park.”
In 1993, the park was transferred to Portland Parks & Recreation. In 2001, the City purchased an additional 20 acres to the north, the site of the former gravel quarry. The Parklane Park Master Plan was completed in 2009 and created a plan to guide the construction of the expansion. In 2016, a Loo was installed near the playground with 2014 Parks Replacement Bond funds.
There is a significant lack of parks and open spaces and a shortage of recreation facilities in the neighborhood. When fully developed, Parklane Park will serve 2,237 households, including 407 of which do not currently have ready access to any park or natural areas.
During her tenure as Parks Commissioner, Amanda Fritz launched the development of Parklane Park with $16M in SDC funds. The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant cost escalations due to inflation, labor, and supply chain issues. Because of this, Commissioner Carmen Rubio approved an additional $13.7M in SDC fund during her oversight of the Parks Bureau, for a total of $29.7M funding. This will allow for the completion of nearly all elements identified in the 2009 Master Plan (except for the aquatic center).
Project Overview
The currently developed 5-acre portion of Parklane Park includes an accessible play area, a basketball court, a Portland Loo, and a softball field. The new funding will allow for ADA improvements to the entire park, plus park improvements for the site's undeveloped 20 acres on the northern side. Funding is sufficient for the completion of nearly all elements identified in the 2009 Master Plan (except for the aquatic center).
The 2009 Master Plan will be a guide for the design, and improvements may include:
- Playground improvements
- A skatepark
- A gathering area and picnic shelters
- A Portland Community Garden
- Tennis court
- Dog off-leash area
- An extensive recreational path system
- Large open meadow
- Landscaping and trees
- Sports fields (such as soccer and baseball)
Through a Project Advisory Committee and Community Gathering events, the community will help guide the development of the design for the expanded park. The first step of the community engagement process will be to check in with the Project Advisory Committee and the broader community about the Master Plan's features to see if any priorities have changed.
Project Advisory Committee Members
Asia Saechao, Benjamin Lostheart, Courteland Benson, Dasha Foerster, Jeb Hubbs, Jonathan Cruz, Kit Becker, Matt Wood, Mercedes Herrada, Riley Renner, Ron Clemenson, Roxie Sprick, Sabrina Wilson, Selenny Santiago, Sogene Mah, Terence Stilin-Rooney.
Project Timeline
Design Concept and Community Engagement
- October 14, 2019: PAC Meeting #1
- October 29, 2019: PAC Meeting #2
- November 5, 2019: Community Gathering #1
- Presentation Materials (pdf) | Comment Form Summary (pdf)
- January 21, 2020: PAC Meeting #3
- February 12, 2020: Community Gathering #2
- Presentation Materials (pdf) | Comment Form Summary (pdf)
- March 9, 2020: PAC Meeting #4
- Presentation Materials (pdf)
- May 28, 2020: PAC Meeting #5
- July 20 - August 2, 2020: Online Design Reveal and Self-Guided Tour (July 25, 2020)
- Presentation Materials (pdf) | Comment Form Summary (pdf)
- March 9, 2022: PAC Meeting #6 (final meeting)
- Presentation Materials (pdf) | Meeting Notes (pdf)
Construction Documents, Permitting, Construction, and Completion
- Design Development: Fall 2020 - Spring 2022
- Land Use Process: Winter 2021/22 - Spring 2022
- Permitting: Summer 2022 – Fall 2022
- Contracting: Winter 2022/23
- Construction:
- Summer 2021 - Fall 2021: Soil movement and tree removal work in 20-acre fenced area
- Spring 2022 – Fall 2022: Additional soil movement and site preparation work in 20-acre fenced area
- May 6, 2023 - Groundbreaking Celebration
- Spring 2023 – Fall 2024 – Construction of full 25-acre park, including closure of existing 5-acre park
- Tentative Opening Date: Fall 2024*
*Soccer fields and other landscaping areas will need additional time to establish grass and will open for full use in Summer 2025.
Receive Project Updates
To receive project updates, email maija.spencer@portlandoregon.gov.