THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT PP&R
Posted: July 8th, 2011 1:52 PM
Things You May Not Know About PP&R
With nearly 11,000 acres of parks and natural areas, many of us are constantly surprised at the wide scope of activities, facilities that Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is involved in!
Here are some ideas for your viewers, readers and you!
PP&R has more than 7,000 acres of NATURAL AREA PARKS in addition to our 3,000 acres of traditional developed parks. Portland Parks & Recreation manages our natural areas for ecosystem health and also for people to come in and enjoy the quiet solitude and to get away from the hustle and bustle of city living.
# # # # # # #
Portland Parks & Recreation's Adapted and Inclusive Recreation (AIR) Program
http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=51926&a=318389
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) provides accommodations to individuals with disabilities/special needs, so that they may receive an equal opportunity to fully participate in programs offered citywide. AIR programs are wonderful opportunities that may appeal to everyone from veterans to children, seniors and adults!
Taxpayer funding (general fund) subsidizes a portion of PP&R recreation programs so that citizens can use our fitness centers and personal trainers, go on rafting trips, rent pools or rolling rinks for birthday parties, or enroll kids in swim lessons, etc. and only have to pay a portion of the costs in the fees. Thus, users get the same level of service as a private gym, private birthday party rental, swim center or roller rink for just a fraction of the cost!
# # # # # #
Portland Parks & Recreation has Outdoor Recreation programs that include multi-day trips for things like hiking on glaciers, going to national parks and whitewater rafting!
http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=51570&a=278688
# # # # ##
Brand New Splashpad at Farragut Park
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is proud to announce the opening of our newest water splash pad at Farragut Park, N. Kerby & Farragut in North Portland. The splash pad opened midday on Friday, July 01, 2011.
The project has been in the works for about a year and a half, and includes a renovation of the Farragut Park restrooms and an improved walking trail system.
Kids, or people of all ages who act like kids, can frolic in water streams and spray.
Splash pads are also currently open at -
Columbia Park, N. Lombard Street and Woolsey Ave.
Essex Park, SE 79th Avenue & Center Street
Earl Boyles Park, SE 112th Avenue & Boise Street
Grant Park, NE 33rd Avenue & US Grant Place.
Irving Park, NE 7th Avenue & Fremont
Kenton Park, 8417 N. Brandon Avenue
McCoy Park, N Trenton Street & Newman Avenue
Northgate Park, N Geneva Avenue & Fessenden Street
Peninsula Park, N. 700 Rosa Parks Way
Raymond Park, SE 118th Avenue & Raymond Street
Woodlawn Park, NE 13th Avenue & Dekum Street
# # # # #
Big chess at Director Park!
Free!
Play with 25" chess pieces on the 16x16', built-in chess board at the south end of the park! All ages & abilities welcome for a super-sized, drop-in experience!
Afternoons Tue/Thu/Sat/Sun: 2:00-4:00 PM
Daily: 7:00-8:30/9pm
*Please note, occasionally, Big Chess will not be available at these scheduled times due to other events in the park.
# # # # # #
Did you know that PP&R owns a LOCOMOTIVE?
Portland Parks & Recreation owns the engine on "the 4449", aka The Freedom Trail. PP&R loaned $1 million to the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation, a Friends group, to build a maintenance facility where the 4449, two other engines also owned by City and a host of rolling stock owned by various non-profits, will be stored and maintained.
On July 2nd it left Portland's Union Station for the first of two round trips to Wishram, WA.
More information can be found on the Friends web page www.4449.com or at www.orhf.org
# # # # # # # #
Volunteers/Friends Groups
PP&R has more than 100 "Friends" groups which range from large non-profits like the Japanese Garden to advocates of small neighborhood parks. Portland Parks & Recreation partners contributed more than 450,000 hours of service to PP&R during 2010 --- a value of $5 million annually.
The East Portland Community Center!
http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?action=ViewPark&PropertyID=104&subareas=4
Completed in 1998, the center's tower, bike racks, fences, and benches were designed by Garth Edwards as a percent-for-art project. The aquatic center was added in 2008 and received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The water slide at EPCC would make it feel like you're at an amusement park---if you had spent oodles more money, that is!
Many people do not know about the roller rink at Mt. Scott Community Center.
http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?action=ViewPark&PropertyID=1120&searchtext=roller
A water slide here as well in the state-of-the-art, supervised and modern pool.
Forest Park!
http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?action=ViewPark&PropertyID=127&searchtext=forest%20park
An abundance of wildlife (more than 112 bird and 62 mammal species) can be found in Forest Park. With its massive tree canopy and substantial undergrowth, the park serves as a natural air purifier, water collector, and erosion controller.
See trail info at the above link; including hiking and mountain biking areas! Forest Park has the largest urban forested park within city limits in the entire US. It has more wildlife diversity than any other urban park in the nation.
Urban Forestry Division: Did you know that PP&R manages the urban canopy throughout the City of Portland? Trees do amazing things for city residents and the environment. They produce oxygen, provide shade, storm water uptake, and increase property values. Portland's trees are truly a treasure!
# # # # # # # #
The main circulation pumps at both Pier and Grant Pools come from WWII Liberty ships! These were the old bilge pumps used on those ships. For repairs, the pumps are removed and taken to the ship yards in Vancouver. This is a great example of Parks commitment to sustainability, history, and quality of life. And perhaps yet another look at Portland's quirkiness.
# # # # #
Here's a little known fact: There are thousands students studying music in PP&R spread around about 20 Portland Parks & Recreation sites. Research shows that children who study music regularly are twice as likely to be physically active as those who do not. Summer classes and event registration is now OPEN!
More info on summer camps, lessons, volunteer opportunites:
www.communitymusiccenter.org
# # # # # # # # # # # #
The PP&R 2020 Plan: Crafting the future for your parks. Details here:
http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=40182
The goals of Parks 2020 Vision are to:
* Ensure Portland's park and recreation legacy for future generations.
* Provide a wide variety of high quality park and recreation services and opportunities for all residents.
* Preserve, protect, and restore Portland's natural resources to provide "nature in the city."
* Create an interconnected regional and local system of trails, paths and walks to make Portland "the walking city of the West."
* Develop parks, recreation facilities, and programs that promote community in the city.
# # # # #
Many people may not connect Portland Parks & Recreation with programs in schools; however, PP&R has coordinated community school programs since 1978, making it the longest continually running community education program in the state of Oregon. PP&R entered into a collaboration with Multnomah County and East Portlandn schools 10 years ago, combining experiences and success from both PP&R and the County in establishing SUN Community Schools.
SUN Community Schools are a collaboration between Multnomah County Department of School, Portland Parks & Recreation, and Centennial, Reynolds, Parkrose, David Douglas, Gresham-Barlow, and Portland Public School Districts. Currently, there are 58 SUN Community Schools, eleven of which are operated by PP&R. Critical components of the program include education, social services, multicultural and cultural arts, recreation and leisure services, health services, and citizen involvement.
GOALS
* Improve student achievement, attendance, behavior, and other skills for healthy development and academic success.
* Increase parent and family involvement.
* Increase community and business involvement.
* Improve collaboration among school districts, government, community-based agencies.
* Improve use of public facilities and services.
PP&R SUN Community School Supervisor
Mary Richardson, 503-916-6354
SUN Community Schools:
http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=39840&
* SUN Community School Contact List - http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=39840&a=246594
*
* History of Community Education in Portland
* Goals & Services of PP&R's SUN Program
# # # # # # # # # #
Portland Parks & Recreation classes, activities, outdoor programs, and more!
http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=49022 This is a link to
Environmental Education Nature in the city
Outdoor Recreation Day trips and overnights in the Pacific NW
Skatepark Program Skate activities citywide
Swim Program Lessons & classes citywide
Senior Recreation Classes and activities for adults age 55 & better
Adult Outdoor Recreation: http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=39831
# # # # # # #
Mill Ends Park - The Smallest Park in the world! Possibly populated by a LEPRECHAUN?
SW Naito Pkwy & Taylor St.
http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?action=ViewPark&PropertyID=265&searchtext=mill
Historical Information: Acquired in 1976
In 1946, Dick Fagan returned from World War II to resume his journalistic career with the Oregon Journal. His office, on the second floor above Front Street (now Naito Parkway), gave him a view of not only the busy street, but also an unused hole in the median where a light pole was to be placed. When no pole arrived to fill in this hole, weeds took over the space. Fagan decided to take matters into his own hands and to plant flowers.
Fagan wrote a popular column called Mill Ends (rough, irregular pieces of lumber left over at lumber mills). He used this column to describe the park and the various "events" that occurred there. Fagan billed the space as the "World's Smallest Park." The park was dedicated on St. Patrick's Day in 1948 since Fagan was a good Irishman. He continued to write about activities in the park until he died in 1969. Many of his columns described the lives of a group of leprechauns, who established the "only leprechaun colony west of Ireland" in the park. Fagan claimed to be the only person who could see the head leprechaun, Patrick O'Toole. After Mill Ends officially became a city park on St. Patrick's Day in 1976, the park continued to be the site of St. Patrick's Day festivities.
Over the years, contributions have been made to the park, such as the small swimming pool and diving board for butterflies, many statues, a miniature Ferris wheel (which was brought in by a normal-sized crane), and the occasional flying saucer. The events held here include concerts by Clan Macleay Pipe Band, picnics, and rose plantings by the Junior Rose Festival Court.
The park had to be moved temporarily in 2006 due to construction on Naito Parkway. It was replaced on March 16, 2007 in true St. Patrick's Day style with the Royal Rosarians, bagpipers, and the Fagan family, including Dick's wife Katherine, in attendance.
# # # # # # # # # #
Portland International Raceway is run by PP&R! http://www.portlandraceway.com/
PIR hosts more than 600 event days per year. There are dozens of events for cars, car shows, bicycle racing, motocross, and more!
The track is self-supporting and generates more than $45 million and nearly 700 jobs to the Multnomah County economy. PIR is one of the most environmentally-friendly tracks in the country: All the waterways and wetlands in the park are zoned for environmental protection and left in their natural state. This makes up about 1/3 of the total park area!
# # # # # # #
GOLF! Portland Parks & Recreation owns and operates 5 golf courses.
The City of Portland's Golf Program is one of the most renowned in the country, with 5 championship, 18-hole courses to our credit. All revenues generated within the golf system go back into the maintenance and improvement of the system. These courses boast designs by some of the finest golf architects in the world, both past and present. H. Chandler Egan, a well known player and architect is responsible for Eastmoreland Golf Course, the program's first facility, in 1917. The famed Robert Trent Jones II designed both the Great Blue and Greenback courses at Heron Lakes, which were done in 1971 and 1992 respectively. All 5 courses have hosted important local, state and regional competitions, with 3 (Heron Lakes Great Blue, Heron Lakes Greenback and Eastmoreland) having been chosen to host USGA National Championships.
Conveniently located and surprisingly affordable for their quality and challenge, these facilities can be enjoyed for less than $45 dollars during peak season and for as little as $20 during other times of the year. Clubhouse facilities include driving ranges, fully qualified lesson programs, merchandise and dining services, among others.
Heron Lakes Golf Club was #38 on the 2009 Golf World "Readers' Choice Awards", a list of the 50 best private, public and resort golf facilities in the country.
"Fore!" more information including rates and reservation services, visit our website at Portlandpublicgolf.com.
GREEN Golf:
Environmental considerations are foremost in our golf program's administration. Known as the Greenway Program, the city's courses perform in a minimalist and environmentally responsible manner. Iron is the cornerstone of this program; large amounts of iron are applied to the turf which strengthens cell walls in plants. The result is a reduction in evapo-transpiration when the climate is hot and dry, longer lasting retention of nutrients that are provided to the plant in order for it to grow and perform photosynthesis, and finally, greater resistance to pathogens that are responsible for turf diseases. The result is a reduction in the use of irrigation, reduction in the need for nitrogen inputs, reduction in the growth rate of the plant reducing the number of mowings necessary and finally, reduction in the need for fungicides and herbicides necessary to combat disease and weed infestations.
# # # # #
Here is a link to some volunteer and employment programs for kids & teens.
http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=38279 is
Adult Outdoor Recreation: http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=39831
Urban Forest -Contributing to Portland's health and beauty
Environmental Education - Learn about nature & ecology
Invasive Plant & Pest Management - Maintaining our parkland & natural areas
No Ivy League - Removing English ivy from natural areas
Community Gardens - Grow your own produce
Volunteer Opportunities - Help restore and maintain natural areas
Youth Conservation Crew - Engaging Portland's youth as leaders in stewardship.
Replies to this message do not go back to the sender.
Go to http://FlashAlert.net/login.html to change or delete these messages.
