Volunteer with Friends of Peninsula Park Rose Garden for the next “Wonder Weeders” work party at Peninsula Park!

 

The Wonder Weeders help reduce or eliminate herbicide use, and contribute to the overall beauty and health of the garden. They are essential to the success of the North Portland rose garden.

 

You don’t need to have the “greenest” thumb to be a Wonder Weeder. Just commit to at least an hour of weeding and bring your own weeding tool and gloves.

 

Being part of Wonder Weeders is a great way to connect with the community, be outdoors, and help maintain one of Portland’s oldest public gardens.

 

Wonder Weeders meet once a month to weed the garden.The next weeding party is June 3. Email penrosegarden@gmail.com for more information.

 

Don’t forget to join us on June 27 for the Peninsula Park Centennial Celebration from 11 am - 11 pm!

 

Wonder Weeders Work Party

Peninsula Park Rose Garden

June 3, 8 am - 12 pm

 

This afternoon, Nick was proud to attend the Grand Opening of The Fields Park in Northwest Portland!

 

The Fields was created through a partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation, the Portland Development Commission, and the Pearl District Neighborhood Association. The Fields is the third park outlined in the Portland River District Park System Urban Design Framework Study. The four parks included in the Framework were Jamison Square,Tanner Springs Park, The Fields Park, and a potential Riverfront Park.

 

The celebration featured a Native American blessing of the land, a poetry reading by Founding Co-chair of the Pacific Northwest College of Art Barry Sanders, and artwork done by local school children.

 

Along with being a fantastic outdoor space for people, The Fields is a great place for your dog. The Fields was created with our four-legged friends in mind. It features different amenities for dogs of all shapes and sizes.

 

The Fields Park is located at NW 10^th and Overton. Come out and play!

The popular $5 5K run/walk series starts up again this Sunday at Fernhill Park!

 

5K run/walks are scheduled in neighborhoods around Portland from May to October, and are a great way for you to stay in shape for a great price.

 

The series started last year, and brought over 2,000 runners and walkers to races around town. This year, we are planning for even bigger turnouts. Portland Parks & Recreation has added more courses for all types of athletes - some flat, and others with more challenging inclines.

 

The race on Sunday is sold out, but the waitlist is still open. If you are interested in running you can visit the $5 5K series page on the PP&R website to be added to the waitlist.

 

You can also enjoy other fun activities like climbing a 40-foot rockwall, music, various kid activities and much more.

 

Lace up, cut loose, and have fun!

 

Can’t make it this weekend?  Visit PP&R’s website to sign up for a future race!

 

$5 5k run/walk

Fernhill Park

Sunday, May 19

9:30 am - 10:30 am

Last week, we were proud to announce that Legacy Emanuel Hospital has generously donated $200,000 to add a water feature to the makeover of Dawson Park.

 

The North Portland park was featured the Portland Observer this week, highlighting the $2.1 million renovation scheduled for the park. The interactive water feature, as the Portland Observer reported, was “originally suggested by neighbors during extensive public involvement and heavily supported.”

 

Other renovations to the park include a large central lawn area, a new playground, flowering plants, new picnic areas, barbeque grills, and much more.

 

The park will also include art panels by local artists that tell the history of the park as an important center for the African-American Community.

 

Nick was proud to partner with Legacy to make the fountain feature part of the park’s remodel.

 

As Nick said about the renovation, “the generous gift from Legacy Emanuel will greatly add to the amenities and improvements at Dawson Park, and will be a neighborhood treasure for generations to come.”

 

Renovation for the park is scheduled to begin this fall.

 

Dawson Park Love

In the Portland Observer 

  

photo courtesy of the Portland Observer

 

 

Dawson Park Improvement Brings Resources to the Neighborhood Hit Hardest by Gentrification

Bruce Poinsette in The Skanner News

 

Dawson Park Love

Mike Leighton in The Portland Observer

 

New Pearl District affordable apartment highlights misperception of neighborhoods wealth

Sara Hottman in The Oregonian

 

Hales, Cogen Strike Deal over Crisis Center, Needle Exchange Program, Other Services

Denis C. Theriault in The Portland Mercury

 

Hales Cogen Reach Budget Deal that Funds Mental Crisis Center

Aaron mesh in Willamette Week

 

Court Intrigue- How Will Charlie Hales Divvy up the Bureaus?

Denis C Theriault in The Portland Mercury

 

Sunday Parkways roll into new era

Jennifer Anderson in The Portland Tribune

 

Sunday Parkways draws thousands of cyclists to outer Southeast Portland

John Killen in The Oregonian

 

Portland park rangers build bridges to the homeless

Tracy Berry on KGW.com 

Join us this evening for a public hearing on the proposed 2013-14 City budget.

 

This year, the City is facing a $21.5 million shortfall. Mayor Hales asked all City bureaus to develop a budget proposal with a 10% cut.

 

On April 30, Mayor Hales released his proposed budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year, which includes a number of difficult cuts.

 

Tonight’s public hearing gives you the chance to have your voice heard. Tell us what programs and services are most important to you. The hearing will begin at 6:30 pm in Council Chambers in City Hall.

 

Public Hearing on City Budget

City Hall, Council Chambers

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Tonight

On Monday, the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recognized the City’s efforts to preserve affordable homes in our community. “Getting It Done” describes the Portland Housing Bureau’s campaign to preserve the affordability of 11 key buildings with expiring federal rent subsidies by the end of 2013.

 

“Three years ago,” the story reports, “housing prices in downtown Portland were soaring, effectively shrinking the supply of affordable housing, forcing those who couldn’t pay out of the area. With assistance from HUD, the Oregon Department of Housing & Community Services, the Portland Housing Bureau launched its “11x13” initiative, promising to stem the tide and preserve the inventory of affordable, privately-owned and publicly-assisted housing in downtown. Looks like that promise was kept.”

 

Partnering with other government agencies and our exceptional non-profit partners, we focused our energy on the 11 buildings at risk of converting to market rates. Together, we helped non-profit partners acquire these buildings, renovate them, and renew their contracts with HUD to keep the rent subsidies in place for 20 more years.

 

In April, we were proud to announce that thanks to the hard work of many partners, we successfully met our goal, preserving the affordability of more than 700 apartments across the 11 buildings and ensuring that more than $160 million of federal rent subsidy remains in our community over the next two decades.

Don’t forget to join us on Friday for the Grand Opening of Portland’s newest natural area and dog park - The Fields Park!

 

The Fields was created with your four-legged friends in mind. The park’s design followed neighborhood desires – for both human and furry visitors. The Park is located at NW 10^th and Overton, and features different amenities for dogs of all shapes and sizes.

 

The grand opening begins at noon. Join us and enjoy live music, art by neighborhood school children, light refreshments, and plenty of play time.

 

We’ll see you and your dogs there!

 

The Fields Park Grand Opening Celebration

NW 10^th and Overton        

Friday, May 17

Noon

The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) has organized its First Annual Portland Police Bureau Youth Summer Camp!

 

PPB Officers and high school and college athletic coaches will work with campers to develop specific sports skills and foster good sportsmanship.

 

During the day, campers will go to motivational assemblies, learn skill development for different sports, and put those skills to use while playing their favorite sport. Lunch is served daily to every camper. There is something for everyone at camp: baseball, fishing, cheerleading, journalism, and much more

 

Camp runs from June 17-21, 9 am – 2:30 pm. The cost is $35, or a reduced rate of $20 for families that qualify for free or reduced lunch during the school year.

 

Don’t miss this chance to participate in a really fun opportunity during your summer break from school!

 

For more information on the summer camp contact Deborah Monk at (503) 823-4849 or click here for the application.

 

Portland Police Bureau Youth Summer Camp

June 17 – 21, 9 am – 2:30 pm

Marshall High School

3905 SE 91^st   AVE

$20 - $35

Warm summer days are just around the corner, and that means it’s time to get ready for Portland Parks & Recreation’s 2013 Summer Free For All!

 

Join us June through September for live music, movies, and other festivals all while enjoying your favorite neighborhood park.

 

Thanks to our many sponsors who’ve made this year’s awesome Summer Free For All possible.

 

To see the full Summer Free For All schedule, visit the Portland Parks & Recreation website.

 

We’ll be there -- hope you will too!

 

On Saturday, Nick enjoyed a convertible ride in the 51st Annual St. Johns Parade.

 

Since 1962, the North Portland neighborhood has celebrated its rich history with a springtime parade.  This year, neighbors embraced the parade theme "Vintage Family Fun."

 

Nick was joined by the Goldberg family - Cody, April, Harper, and Lennon.  Last year, we celebrated the grand opening of Harper's Playground in Arbor Lodge Park.  The fully accessible playground was spearheaded by the Goldberg family in honor of young Harper, who has a rare condition called Emanuel Syndrome.

 

Thanks to St. Johns for hosting such a fun event!

 

Some photos courtesy of Bill Barry

This Mother’s Day kicks off the 2013 Portland Sunday Parkways season!

 

Sunday Parkways is a great way to stay connected to your community while being healthy and active. Walk, bike, or roll down city streets and participate in tons of fun events along the way.

 

This Portland event started in 2008 with 15,000 participants and a single 6 mile bike ride through North Portland. The series has grown more popular each year. Record numbers showed up last year, with 103,350 people traveling 41.3 miles throughout the city. Last year, we also added a walk-only route.

 

The first ride is this Sunday in the Lents neighborhood in East Portland. The event starts at 11 am and is a total of 7 miles.

 

Add a little extra something to your ride by wearing a costume, playing music, or even have a group theme. It’s all about you having fun and staying healthy.

 

To see a full listing of the 2013 season visit the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s website.

 

East Sunday Parkways   

May 12, Mother’s Day

11 am - 4 pm

Free!

 

  

Multnomah County homeless report says at least 56 died on street in 2012

Dana Tims in The Oregonian

 

The O Takes Its Shot at Bureau Assignments. Here's Ours!

Denis C. Theriault in The Portland Mercury 
 

Mayor Charlie Hales holds the bureaus a bit longer: Portland City Hall Roundup

Brad Schmidt in The Oregonian

 

Portland Parks & Recreation and Portland Parks Foundation Announce Legacy Emanuel Medical Center Donation to Dawson Park Water Feature

on PDXtraffic blogspot

 

Veterans such as Lecester Shakier find places to live thanks to broad effort to cut homelessness

Mike Francis in The Oregonian

 

Throwing Away the Truth- The Fight Over the County Crisis Center Is More Complicated Than We Know

Denis C. Theriault in The Portland Mercury

 

Legacy Emanuel Medical Center donates $200,000 to install water feature at Dawson Park

Casey Parks in The Oregonian

 

Appeal to the Baseline- The retail politics of the Hales budget creates winners and losers

Aaron Mesh in The Oregonian

 

Mt. Tabor Community Garden Officially Opens

Allen Field in the Southeast Examiner

 

Hacienda CDC hosts open house for recently completed futsal court

Larry Bingham in The Oregonian

 

Habitat for Humanity seeks volunteers in Northeast Portland

Larry Bingham in The Oregonian

 

City park rangers tell Mayor Hales they want a union

Don McIntosh on NWlaborpress.org

 

Portland artist Natalie Sept's portraits celebrate 'unseen' restaurant dishwashers

Kelly House in The Oregonian

Yesterday, we were pleased to announce that Legacy Emanuel Hospital is investing $200,000 in a remodel of Dawson Park in North Portland.

 

Their generous contribution will help install an interactive water feature in the park.

 

The water feature is just one of the new amenities that will be added to the park. With the neighborhood in mind, interpretive panels will also be installed in the space to share the park’s rich history.

 

The remodel design was created through extensive community outreach. Now, thanks to Legacy Emanuel, neighbors will see their vision come to life.

 

“The generous gift from Legacy Emanuel will greatly add to the amenities and improvements at Dawson Park, and will be a neighborhood treasure for generations to come,” Nick said about the Legacy Emanuel’s donation.

 

The remodel for Dawson Park is scheduled to begin this fall.

 

 

Legacy Emanuel Medical Center donates $200,000 to install water feature at Dawson Park

Casey Parks in The Oregonian

 

Portland Parks & Recreation and Portland Parks Foundation Announce Legacy Emanuel Medical Center Donation to Dawson Park Water Feature

On pdxtraffic blogspot

Today, The Oregonian featured a story about our community rallying to support homeless veterans.

 

The story, by Mike Francis, illustrates the barriers faced by our veterans who are unable to afford to rent a home.

 

The HUD/VASH voucher program provides rent assistance to homeless veterans through its Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8). The Portland area received 305 of these vouchers, but they help with rent assistance only.

 

VASH doesn’t pay for application fees, security deposits, and other costs associated with moving into a home.  Those costs have been a barrier for many veterans, and they have not been able to use their VASH vouchers.

 

As Mike Francis wrote in his story, “For want of a nail, in other words, a battle to house veterans was being lost”

 

The City was proud to partner with United Way,Multnomah County, and Home Forward on “Operation 305” – an effort to ensure our veterans used each of those 305 vouchers. Each partner invested $10,000 to help cover moving costs for HUD/VASH holders, and help them overcome the roadblocks to secure a home.

 

Operation 305 has been a success – in fact, we surpassed our goal.

 

Thanks to a great team effort, 308 veterans now have a safe, affordable place to call home.

 

Special thanks in particular to the Portland Housing Bureau’s Ending Homelessness Initiative Manager Sally Erickson and her team for their outstanding work.

 

Veterans such as Lecester Shakier find places to live thanks to broad effort to cut homelessness

Mike Francis in The Oregonian

 

photo courtesy of The Oregonian