Groundbreaking Celebration, Park Name Revealed on Thursday, August 7
(Portland,OR) –
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) has begun construction on the first developed park in the Cully neighborhood. Completion is expected in spring of 2015. All are welcome to a celebration of the groundbreaking on Thursday, August 7, 2014. Portland Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz will reveal the name of the future 2.4 acre park, now being built at NE 52nd Ave. and Alberta. 1488 families who currently do not have access to a park or natural area (defined as a half-mile walk) will be served by this new park.
What: New park groundbreaking ceremony and name announcement
Where: NE 52nd Ave. & Alberta
When: Thursday, August 7, 2014, 6:30pm – 7:30pm.
Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz will reveal the park’s name, chosen by the project advisory committee. The event is free and all are welcome.
“I am happy to continue Commissioner Fish’s work to provide the newest neighborhood park in a park-deficient neighborhood, one being built with strong community support and extensive neighborhood involvement,” says Portland Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz. “I’m excited to reveal the name. The advisory committee’s goal in choosing the park’s name was to find one which reflects the community’s values of inclusion, diversity, and fun for all ages.”
The event will include Commissioner Amanda Fritz, past Parks Commissioner Nick Fish, PP&R Director Mike Abbaté, a consultant team led by Greenworks PC, Cully Association of Neighbors (CAN), Hacienda CDC, elders and other members of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Verde, partners, advocates and neighbors, PP&R staff, stakeholders, and neighbors.
Throughout the planning and design process, care has been taken to include the whole community. Portland Parks & Recreation worked to have Spanish-language translators at open houses, committee meetings, and all other occasions. All park-related documents were translated into Spanish in order to remove longstanding barriers to participation. Planning for the park began in February, 2012, with a 12-member advisory committee. This included focus groups in partnership with the Ortiz Center and Rigler SUN School. Most recently, Hacienda CDC Expresiones worked to involve kids from under-represented communities in designing some of the exciting park features. Verde and Greenworks, PC, have participated extensively with these endeavors as well.
The new park will be 2.4 acres. 1488 families who currently do not have access to a park or natural area (defined as a half-mile walk) will be served by this new park.
The project cost is approx. $2.5 million, paid for via SDCs (System Development Charges). SDCs are fees paid by developers to support the increased infrastructure required when homes and businesses are built. PP&R purchased this property – almost two and a half acres - in 2009 to help fulfill the need for park and open space within the Cully Neighborhood. This will be the first developed park in the Cully Neighborhood, an area noted to be park-deficient. With construction beginning now, Portland Parks & Recreation expects it to be ready for play in spring 2015.
Park features include:
A traditional children’s’ playground AND
An innovative “nature play” area with boulders to climb on, a slide on a hillside
Water feature – an interactive water play area
Paths for walking and jogging
Native plants
A large open lawn
Picnic tables
Picnic shelter
Park benches
Portland Loo (restroom)
Skate dot – small skateboard park with kids and beginners in mind
Lights
On-street parking
New sidewalks (thanks to the Portland Bureau of Transportation)
Rain garden – where rain water drains