POSTED OCTOBER 22, 2020
(Portland, OR) –
Portland Parks & Recreation is happy to announce that the Parks Replacement Bond funded improvements at Creston Park are complete and the playground is now open to all visitors. The project includes a rubberized play surface, a new ADA-accessible park drinking fountain, ADA-accessible park benches, and an ADA-accessible pathway.
Project funding came from the 2014 Parks Replacement Bond and System Development Charges (SDCs which are revenue from development fees), not General Fund tax dollars.
The revitalized Creston Park playground now features
- New swings for individuals, small children, and groups
- A climbing net, embankment and tube slides, a spinner, and many more fun challenges for a range of ages
- ADA-accessible playground features, including adaptive swings
- ADA path improvements into and within the park
- New drinking fountain and bike racks
- Park benches and ADA-accessible picnic area
“The play area and accessibility improvements at Creston Park will provide an amazing experience for all park visitors,” says Portland Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz. “This is the 47th of 52 Parks Replacement Bond projects to be complete, showing PP&R’s continued focus on delivering on promises made to voters in 2014. It’s wonderful that the Parks Replacement Bond helped fund such a terrific project, designed with significant input from the community.”
Portland Parks & Recreation completed the improvements with extensive community engagement around park features, planning, and design. Nearly 3,000 homes are within Creston Park’s service area. This is the ninth of ten playgrounds to be fully renovated by the 2014 Parks Replacement Bond. Gabriel Park will be the site of the final Bond playground project.
“We need parks and places to play and relax - now more than ever,” says Portland Parks & Recreation Director Adena Long. “Portland Parks & Recreation is grateful for the community’s investment in their parks system, and we are honored to be able to deliver this amazing new playground to the Creston-Kenilworth neighborhood.”
The Parks Replacement Bond was overwhelmingly approved by Portland voters in 2014, and funded some of the most critical needs of Portland’s aging park system. Projects include renovated playgrounds, tennis courts, restrooms, ADA/accessibility improvements, roof replacements, bridge repairs/replacements, seismic improvements, swimming pool repairs, and more.
The Creston Park project included $1.1M in Parks Replacement Bond fund, approximately $950K from Park SDCs (one-time fees from construction), and $290K from the PP&R ADA Transition Plan Program.
Almost the entire playground is open at this time; but a few features remain fenced pending a few final touches can be added. Please keep out of closed areas for safety.
A community celebration will not be held at this time, due to public health guidelines on large gatherings; however, PP&R playgrounds are open for play. PP&R asks that the public practice physical distancing, wear face coverings, wash their hands regularly, and stay home if you don’t feel well for any reason. Find the latest information on PP&R COVID-19 related closures and cancellations at portland.gov/parks/covid-19-updates-closures-and-postponements.
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