A History
by Jane Ullman and Victor von Salza
In 2002 after about a year of investigation Jane Ullman and her neighbors together with stream and open space preservation activists, Portland Parks, and the land owner turned the Jacobs' flag lot into an Open Space Park.
Zoning Map of the Jacobs property off SW58th; note that almost all of the lot (property with red dot in the center) is in either a conservation or preservation zone. From Portland Maps
Together with the undeveloped portions of neighboring properties the Open Space Park (the flag lot with red dot in the center) forms a large open space in the middle of many homes. Areal Photo of the area from Portland Maps
A view of the NE corner of the Open Space Park in March 2004. Photo by Victor von Salza
Friday, January 25th 2002
Remember last year when a group of neighbors near SW 58th and Hamilton was looking for an organization to purchase and preserve a 2 acre plot of forest that was about to be developed? Well, it happened. In December, Portland Parks and Recreation purchased the property as a natural area. This purchase prevents development that would otherwise have divided a 15-20 acre swath of climax forest with multiple streams and springs in the Fanno Creek watershed.
We are deeply grateful to Parks for all the work they did on this project and for making the purchase. We hope the property's preservation will be a long-term benefit to the community.
I also want to thank you*. In various ways each of you helped make this a reality. Some of you provided technical assessments of the property that allowed us to move forward knowing that the property really was worth preserving. Others of you guided us toward the right people and coached us on how to approach organizations and advocate for the cause. To a person, I was impressed with the knowledge, professionalism, and commitment of the people I encountered during this process. I have communicated to my neighbors (and to anyone else who will listen) how grateful we should be that we live in a city/state/community that has this caliber of people in the public and not-for-profit arenas. We are fortunate, indeed, to live in Portland.
By the way, there are two bull elk living on the property and in the surrounding forest right now. I suppose they're the ultimate testament to the value of preserving undeveloped areas. I realize that SW Portland is not the right place for a couple of elk long-term, but we're certainly enjoying them as temporary visitors.
Thanks again to each of you for your help and your time. You have made a difference.
Jane Ullman
*Thank You: D. Bragdon, Liz Callison, J. Desmond, E. Engstrom, Mike Houck, Steve Mullinax, Neighbors, Portland Parks, Gregory Robart, Greg Schifsky, Victor von Salza, Amin Wahib, Lori Warner, Jessica Wilcox
Friends of the Open Space Park
by Victor von Salza
In Early 2006 Victor von Salza (then BNA Parks Chair) visited the Open Space Park and discovered that although it was still filled with many wonderful native plants ivy and blackberries were beginning to take over the trees and ground. Victor contacted the Bridlemile Creek Stewards and suggested that they hold a No Ivy Day Event there as a way to get neighbors in the area interested in preserving and maintaining the Park.
One of many beds of Trillium one can see in Spring. Note the ivy (in upper lefto of photo) that is beginning to take over as ground cover. Photo by Victor von Salza, April 2006
On a number of days in March 2006 Victor with help from Greg Schifsky (of the Bridlemile Creek Stewards) went door to door to all the houses on the streets surrounding the Open Space Park collecting names of those interested in getting together at least once a year to help preserve and maintain the Open Space Park. 25 of the 43 homes visited expressed interest and thus the Friends of the Open Space Park was formed. To join the email list to hear about future Friends of the Open Space Park events click here.
On May 6, 2006 the 1st Annual Friends of the Open Space Park No Ivy Day Event was held. That was followed on May 5th, 2007 with The 2nd Annual Friends of the Open Space Park No Ivy Day Event.