By Sophia Kecskes

Thomas Cully Park in Northeast Portland is soon be transformed, thanks to a grant the Metro Council awarded last Thursday.

With a $577,000 grant, the park won’t look like the 25-acre landfill it currently is for much longer. The renovation plan calls for walking trails, a soccer field and basketball court, picnic areas, a community garden, parking, and a sidewalk connecting the park to a safe crossing of NE Killingsworth Street.

The grant will allow us to take a big step forward in fulfilling the dream of Portland Parks & Recreation's Cully Park Master Plan, bringing a much-needed new park to the Cully neighborhood.

The Nature in Neighborhoods capital grants program has invested more than $6.6 million in local natural areas since it began in 2006. Grants are designed to help nature thrive in urban communities.

Cully Park dream moves forward

Larry Bingham in The Oregonian

Nature projects across the region get $1.7 million boost as Metro Council awards six Nature in Neighborhood grants

Laura Oppenheimer Odom on oregonmetro.gov