Join us as we meet at South Waterfront Community Relations (address below) and go on an adventure to the Portland Japanese Garden.  We will combine streetcar, MAX, and trail walking to reach the garden, then go on a self-guided tour of our world famous Japanese garden.

The walk from Washington Park Max Station to the Portland Japanese Garden is approximately 2.4 miles round trip in length and includes steep and potentially muddy terrain.  Please wear sturdy shoes, dress in layers, and bring drinking water.

**Please RSVP to Heather Bayles at 503-972-3289 or heather@southwaterfront.com.

If you would like updates about walks, please join the South Waterfront Walks There Google Group at: http://groups.google.com/group/swfwalksthere.

Tuesday, January 17, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Meet at South Waterfront Community Relations
Atwater Place, Unit 115
0841 SW Gaines Street, Portland, OR Map It

WALK IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC; STREETCAR FARE WILL BE COVERED; MAX FARE IS $1 HONORED CITIZEN/$2.10 ADULT; JAPANESE GARDEN ADMISSION IS $7.75 HONORED CITIZEN/$9.50 ADULT.

With the permission of Williams & Dame Development and the work of Hoffman Construction Company, the 40-foot-tall, 8-ton steel osprey platform pole was moved on Thursday, December 1 from its 2011 site on Portland City property, to the adjacent land parcel privately owned by Williams & Dame Development.

250+ concerned citizens signed petitions, made donations, and/or sent emails to City of Portland asking that the pole be retained in the successful 2011 location.  Though the requests were denied by the city for various reasons, a temporary site was made available on adjacent land owned by Williams & Dame Development.  There will be ongoing discussions and requests for the City of Portland to designate a permanent location for the osprey in the north end of the Central Greenway, as the osprey pair have chosen to return to this spot for the past 5 years.

The South Waterfront Dog Club, a local organization which advocates for the South Waterfront osprey and was able to legally obtain permitting for 2011, would like to thank those instrumental in the relocation, including:  Roger Goldingay from the Meriwether and South Waterfront Dog Club,  Peter Fenner and Paul Johnson from Mirabella,  Jim Luke from South Waterfront Nature and Greenspaces Committee, Geoff Granum, Steve Arndt, and Pete Collins and Heather Bayles of South Waterfront Community Relations.  Thanks to the generosity of Hoffman Construction and Williams & Dame Development, the cost for the relocation was under $500, mainly for fence work.  It will be paid from donations made on behalf of the osprey fund to the South Waterfront Dog Club.

Watch a brief video from the move here.

For more information or to donate to the osprey fund, contact Carol L. Otis at cotis@earthlink.net.

Tired of all the acronyms?  In an effort to dispel some of the general confusion surrounding what the various organizations of the South Waterfront do and how they are related to one another, we have created a new South Waterfront Organization Chart.

Please contact South Waterfront Community Relations at communityrelations@southwaterfront.com with questions.

Metro and Kaiser Permanente have teamed up to bring you the Walk There! app.  The app features ten walks from the Walk There! guidebook that take you throughout the region, from Fort Vancouver to Wilsonville’s Graham Oaks Nature Park and from the Pacific University campus in Forest Grove to the Gresham stretch of the Springwater Trail.  Explore local communities, learn about the area’s rich history and get exercise while doing it.

Metro and Kaiser Permanente encourage active living.  Walking is one of the most effective ways to stay healthy, lose weight, and increase your energy level.  It’s also a great way to experience and enjoy the community as well as the natural beauty of the region.

Visit Metro’s website to get the app and get going!

The Portland Development Commission, in partnership with Portland Parks and Recreation, is applying for a 2012 EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant for the South Waterfront Central District Greenway.  The grant provides funds to carry out cleanup activities along the Greenway.   The grant application will include a draft Analysis of the Cleanup Alternatives and draft Cleanup Plan that describes the remediation activities for the future park. The public is invited to view the documents and submit feedback and comments via the PDC website or at the public meeting listed below.  The amount of the grant is $200,000.

For more information, contact Irene Bowers, PDC, at 503-823-2419 or bowersi@pdc.us.

Tuesday, November 15, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Portland Development Commission Conference Room
222 NW Fifth Avenue, Portland, OR Map It

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Get updated on your local natural world. Agenda items for October include:

• City of Portland update on the Greenway Permitting & Construction Schedule
• Osprey Nest Update
• Zidell Remediation Update
• Review of proposed EcoDistrict

Tuesday, October 18, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Mirabella, Willamette Hall
3550 SW Bond Avenue, Portland, OR Map It

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Get out of your condo on the third Tuesday of September and go for a hike with South Waterfront Community Relations.  We will meet at the Community Relations Office (address below) and then tackle the well-known 4T Loop.  4T stands for Trail, Tram, Trolley, Train (we’ll be using each one of these resources during the walk).

Please wear sturdy walking shoes, dress in layers, bring drinking water, and be prepared to pay for streetcar/MAX fare.  The trail includes uneven and steep terrain and the walking portion is approximately 4 miles.

If you would like updates about walks, please join the South Waterfront Walks There Google Group at: http://groups.google.com/group/swfwalksthere.  Join the group by following the above link and clicking on “Apply for Group Membership”.  You will then be updated on walks, have the ability to post ideas for walks, and make plans for special walks with your neighbors.

Tuesday, September 20, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Meet at Community Relations Townhome
Atwater Place, Suite 115
0841 SW Gaines Street, Portland, OR Map It

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Get involved in a fantastic cleanup activity in your community.  The day will focus on cleaning up riverside areas within the South Waterfront district.  Coffee and pastries will be provided.

Sign up for this worthwhile and fun event with Jim Luke, 503-719-4517 or jim@lukeonline.com or online at http://solv.org/programs/fall_beach_cleanup.asp.

Saturday, September 17, 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Meet at the Meriwether East Amenities Room
0836 SW Curry Street, Portland, OR Map It

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Summer of Music in South Waterfront

August features two Concerts in the Park, in cooperation with Portland Parks & Recreation, at our own Elizabeth Caruthers Park.  Kids, dogs, picnic dinners, relaxation, and bottles of wine to sip with friends are all welcome.  View the full summer schedule here.  Mark your calendar for these upcoming free musical events:

Friday Concerts in the Park at Elizabeth Caruthers Park:

• Friday, August 19, 6:00 pm:  Water Tower Bucket Boys  Loosely based in the traditions of  bluegrass, punk rock, blues, cajun, folk, and country.

• Friday, August 26, 6:00 pm:  Blue Cranes
Combines a downtown-jazz aesthetic with overtones of arty indie rock.

Elizabeth Caruthers Park
3508 SW Moody Avenue, Portland, OR Map It

ALL CONCERTS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Nature and Greenspaces Meeting

Learn about current issues affecting the natural spaces in the South Waterfront neighborhood at this open forum monthly meeting.

Tuesday, August 16, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Mirabella, Willamette Hall
3550 SW Bond Avenue, Portland, OR Map It

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC