Full press release from Portland Parks & Recreation about the partnership with the Bureau of Environmental Services and Metro can be read here...

February 24, 2011:

East Portland’s dream of more public parks is now closer to reality. Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) has announced the acquisition of a 20-acre property located in the northeast Portland neighborhoods of Argay and Wilkes. The site, known as the Wilkes Headwaters Property, is an invaluable addition to natural area preservation and watershed protection, and will be managed by PP&R in the future as a hybrid park, one which features both a 4-acre developed neighborhood park and a 16-acre natural area.

The $1.9 million purchase was funded by a partnership which combined Portland’s local share of Metro’s voter-approved 2006 natural areas bond measure funds with equal contributions from the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services’ Grey to Green  Initiative and Metro’s voter-approved Natural Areas Program.

“We know that east Portland has long been underserved in terms of park facilities and amenities,” noted Parks Commissioner Nick Fish. “Acquiring properties in that area of the city has been a priority for the City of Portland’s local share of the Metro Natural Areas Bond.”

A community celebration will be planned for later this summer, when clean-up efforts combined with fair weather will make the site more accessible to the public.