Portland Audubon’s Sternwheeler Tour Around Ross Island

The Audubon Society of Portland is once again offering its popular RiverFest Ross Island Tour on-board the Sternwheeler Rose.

Saturday, Aug 22, 2009
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

If you don’t paddle, canoe or kayak, there’s no better way for you and your family to get out on the river and see great blue herons, osprey and bald eagles nests–not to mention some of Portland’s most beautiful scenery–on this relaxing evening cruise.

Mike Houck from the Urban Greenspaces Institute and staff from Audubon Society of Portland will provide expert commentary and answer questions on the remarkable variety of natural sights and sounds, as you travel in comfort up through the Holgate Channel and circumnavigate Ross, Hardtack, and East Islands.

Cost is $25 per person (children 5 and under are free). Click here to register now–space is limited!

Or contact:

Ariana Longanecker
alonganecker@audubonportland.org
503.292.6855 x112

Quick Update: There will be a Public Hearing on the proposed No Wake Zone for Holgate Channel and Ross Island Lagoon, Monday, July 27th at 6 pm, in the Portland Building 1120 SW 5th Avenue, 2nd Floor Auditorium
Here is a recent letter from Mike Houck of the Urban Greenspace Institute:

Thank you for you support to date for creating a No-wake Zone in the Holgate Channel and Ross Island Lagoon. Several hundred people have written letters in support of this effort, and more than 200 people showed up to support this effort at a hearing back in May. We have sent a strong message to the Oregon Marine Board that there needs to be one location along the entire Lower Willamette River that is set aside to protect wildlife and provide a safe place of canoeists and kayakers to enjoy nature.

The Marine Board will be making a final decision on the no-wak zone petition on Monday, July 27TH.

It is essential that we have a strong turnout at this hearing and there may be opportunities for public testimony.

The Marine Board may or may not take testimony.  However, they will be counting heads.  It’s critical that there be a big turn out for this hearing.  Please come and bring others who support a No Wake Zone for the Holgate Channel and Ross Island Lagoon.

For more information please visit the Urban Greenspace Institute’s website: http://www.urbangreenspaces.org/no-wake.htm

Last week the Daily Journal of Commerce provided a short update on the progress of the new park in South Waterfront, dubbed the Elizabeth Caruthers Park.  Click here to read the article.

This Saturday the South Waterfront Sustainable Lifestyle and Transportation Committee is teaming up with SOLV and the City of Portland’s River Renaissance Initiative to clean up the river bank along the Willamette River here in South Waterfront.  If you are interested in helping out please contact Rick at sustainablelifestyle@gmail.com to sign up.

Location: Meet at the Meriwether East Tower (0836 SW Curry St.)

When: Saturday May 16th at 9 AM.

We received word from Portland Parks & Rec this week about the status of the Greenway – please see the Project Manager’s message below:

Regarding the project schedule – As many of you realize, one of the causes for the project delay, was the discovery of soil contamination.  After lengthy discussions between the Department of Environmental Quality, property owners, Portland Development Commission and Portland Parks & Recreation,  its been agreed that some additional sampling work needs to be undertaken along the greenway.   This work is expected to start in May.

In addition to the information we gather from the soil samples – we will incorporate the feedback from the discussion between the City and National Marine Fisheries that took place in late 2008.  These two additional information sources will inform the projects design so that an updated permit application can be submitted to the Army Corp of Engineers and National Marine Fisheries Service.  We anticipate being able to submit the updated permit applications in November 2009.

In October 2009, we will invite the community to review the updated designs so that you know how the project may have been amended.

Thanks to everyone for your patience and support and we work through these challenges. 

Elizabeth Kennedy-Wong
Community Engagement and Public Involvement Manager
Portland Parks and Recreation
(503) 823-5113

According to the Daily Journal of Commerce Portland Parks and Rec has decided on a name for the neighborhood park here in South Waterfront.  It will be named after Elizabeth Caruthers, one of the original settlers of this area along the Willamette River back in the 19th century.

Click here for more details.

UPDATE: Our friends over at Park Talk – the Portland Parks and Rec blog – have posted a few more details about our new park’s name.  Click here to read up.

Friend of Ross Island (and South Waterfront) Mike Houck was recently interviewed for Portland Spaces’ Burnside Blog  by author Tim DuRoche who is currently working on a series of interviews called “If I Were King of the (Urban) Forest.”  Mike has a great perspective on what sustainable development should be and he has some very nice things to say about South Waterfront.  Thanks Mike!  To read the blog post: Click Here. 

Our neighborhood park is finally on it’s way!  Portland Parks and Recreation sent out a new advisory on the state of the neighborhood park today.  It essentially details that due to the economic climate the construction bids came in UNDER projected costs, thus freeing up additional funds to add back in amenities that were originally cut due to the price tags.  Here are the amenities being added back into the South Waterfront Neighborhood Park:

> Formal Bocce Ball Court.

> Movable tables and chairs.

> Plant larger, more mature plants than originally planned.

> Apply soil amendments to all lawn areas.

>Steel edging for plant beds to help retain their form.

So – most importantly – here is the current construction schedule for the park:

March – July 2009: Construction

August 2009: Construction Complete – Urban Garden, Naturalized Area and paths open

August – Sept 2009: Lawn Establishment Period

October 2009: All Park Areas Open!

For more information and the full a release from the Parks Buearu please visit the project website at: http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=45404

What:  Two community meetings have been scheduled to give members of the public the opportunity to discuss the draft Trail Design Guidelines with Portland Parks & Recreation staff

When/Where:   6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday, January 26
Southwest Community Center
6820 SW 45 Avenue

7 p.m. to 7:40 p.m.
Thursday, February 5
East Portland Neighborhood Office
1017 NE 117 Avenue

To Attend:  If you plan to attend one of the meetings or have questions, please contact Elizabeth Kennedy-Wong, Public Involvement Manager, at Elizabeth.Kennedy-Wong@ci.portland.or.us or at 503.823.5113.

Trails are an integral part of our park and recreation system. They are used by people of all ages and abilities to exercise, relax, socialize, view wildlife, and travel to destinations such as school and work. Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) interprets the term ‘trail’ broadly to include sidewalks around parks, park pathways, sidewalks, and enhanced paths on green streets, as well as unpaved pathways in natural areas and regional multi-modal trails.

The Parks 2020 Vision plan identified “no trail standards” as an issue. It noted that trail standards are lacking for the many trail types, sizes, and materials needed in different settings. Impacts to sensitive habitat and stormwater quality and quantity must be considered.

PP&R has drafted these guidelines to aid staff in the design of trails and pathways in the entire parks system: regional trails, developed parks, and natural areas. They will also guide consultants, developers, and volunteer groups that build trails, whether designing a narrow footpath through a woodland, an exercise circuit in a lawn area or a waterfront promenade.