Now is the time many of us reminisce about the year that has just fallen into the past, and wonder about what the new year will bring. Here, at the friendly SW Neighborhood office, I’ve pulled out all twelve 2007 issues of the SW Neighborhood News to jog my memory of the past year’s community events here in SW Portland and the issues that affected us. The gist of it is that a lot of good and productive stuff happened. Some of it--and here is where the tooting of one’s own horn occurs--was facilitated by SWNI (Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc.). But much of it was initiated and done by individuals and various friends’ groups. Congratulations to all of you.
Here are some of the 2007 highlights:
In January, SWNI hosted a forum on recommendations from the Charter Review Commission to amend our city charter., In April we held a second forum on those recommendations, enshrined then as Measure 26-91. Voters rejected the measure on May 15.
Community Connect, a project to increase community involvement in civic affairs, an idea Mayor Potter championed in his election campaign, was in full swing. In September, a workgroup issued eight recommendations to implement three goals: increasing the number and diversity of people involved in their communities; strengthening community capacity; and increasing community impact on public decisions. The final step will probably be city council approval of goals and recommendations.
SWNI awarded 18 small grants to projects in the coalition area. The money came from the small grants program at the Office of Neighborhood Involvement. Worthy projects receiving grants included an emergency preparedness fair at Fulton Park Community Center, the Maplewood summer picnic and playground equipment improvements at Maplewood School, development of the new Gateway Park on Multnomah Blvd, and engagement of the Somali community in the neighborhood association system. SWNI is just about to announce awards in a second round of grants.
The Multnomah Outdoor Cinema, so successful showing movies in the summer of 2006, moved indoors in the winter of 2007, then returned to the outdoors in the summer.
So many wonderful volunteers over many years have been doing environmental restoration work in SW Portland. In 2007, the work included: the on-going effort to remove invasives in the Tryon Creek State Natural Area; plantings in Gabriel Park; invasives removal and planting by Friends of Vermont Creek; No Ivy Day projects on May 5 at Open Space Park, Marshall Park, Keller Woodlands, SW Briar Ct, and Stephens Creek; invasives removals and plantings in Sylvania Park; restoration work in April Hill Park; and many other projects.
The Stephenson Children’s Care Association raised $60,000 to replace aging and unsafe play equipment at Stephenson Elementary School. The Arnold Creek Neighborhood donated to the cause.
SW HOPE a campaign of local churches, synagogues, neighborhoods and organizations worked together to collect 105,031 lbs of food for the Neighborhood House Food Box.
The SW Hills Residential League (SWHRL) joined SWNI in February. SWHRL’s top-notch committees and active members have been great to work with and their presence in the coalition has greatly enriched SWNI.
The US Army is giving up the Sgt. Jerome Sears United States Army Reserve Center in 2011. The Portland Development Commission is taking the lead in the process to determine the future of the site. Federal law favors low-income housing, and several organizations have filed notices of interest, including the Housing Authority of Portland. A design workshop was held by Multnomah Neighborhood in March.
Also in March, the Multnomah Arts Center Association conducted a successful benefit auction to help support the center and its quality programs.
Repairs need to be done to the pressurized sanitary sewer line running along Multnomah Blvd east to SW 31st. An open house was held in March.
SWNI conducted its annual cleanups in May and November. Working in conjunction with those events, the SWNI/SOLV litter patrol went to work picking up debris on roadsides. And there was a plastics roundup in May at PCC Sylvania.
The Ready, Safe, Go conference in April covered topics of crime prevention and emergency preparedness.
Lots of people deserve thanks for their hard work for this community. In June, SWNI threw a party for its volunteers, without whom we could not function. And in October, with a community policing reception in the Multnomah Center, the community thanked the police officers who protect us.
The Bureau of Environmental Services held open houses in June and December for the Fanno/Tryon pre-design project. Environmental Services also funds the Watershed Resource Center at the SW Community Center and gives the Community Watershed Stewardship Program grants that have paid for some of the restoration projects mentioned previously.
The South Portland Neighborhood Association, largely thanks to the tireless and ever-cheerful efforts of Ken Love, and in partnership with Parks & Recreation, held two summer concerts at Willamette Park, with Linda Hornbuckle in July and the Flat Mountain Girls in August. Summer concerts have been happening in other parts of the city for years. These were the first in SW Portland. Each concert drew about 500 people who had lots of fun listening to terrific music.
Two long-time, annual events happened again in August, National Night Out, neighbors organized 29 street parties during the first week in August, and Multnomah Days, which features one of the best parades in Portland and draws about 5,000 spectators, on the 18th. Both are great examples of activities that are lots of fun and help build a sense of community.
West Portland Park Neighborhood Association has been forever without a recreational park. The opportunity arose several years ago to acquire the Holly Farm property. Hard work by neighborhood activists and support from the city led to the grand opening on September 15 of the Holly Farm Park. The popularity of the park since its opening day has proved its need.
Also in September, Hillsdale held the ribbon-cutting ceremony in Stephens Creek Park, which signified the fulfillment of a dream that started decades ago. Werner Raz, a giant in the history of SW Portland, back then foresaw the need for a pedestrian connection through the creek wetlands to Bertha Blvd. He was ahead of his time; society wasn’t ready for a trail then. But a contemporary visionary, Trails Group Chair Don Baack, renewed the effort and it all resulted in a stairway, path and boardwalk through the park.
Farmers markets are really fun, and SW Portland is blessed with two, in Hillsdale and at OHSU. The Hillsdale Winter Market is going on now through April.
Still two more events happened in 2007.
On December 7 and 8, the Multnomah Village Business Association and other sponsors held the Holiday Gala with carriage rides, a tree lighting, carolers, and hot cocoa.
On December 9th Hillsdale held their Holiday Market and tours of the Watershed Senior Housing building along with a chili feed and book sale.
All in all, 2007 was full of swell events that enriched this community. SWNI wishes everyone a wonderful 2008.