 Hollydale Elementary students, teachers, and parents remove invasives from Nadaka Nature Park |
Preserving urban habitat
Great things are happening at Nadaka Nature Park |
Nadaka Nature Park is a lovely 10 acre natural area of second generation Douglas Fir forest with an under-story of native plants in the Wilkes East Neighborhood. Nadaka offers a quiet, woodsy escape with it's .46 mile walking trail loop and an open meadow on the south. The Wilkes East Neighborhood Association (WENA) is actively working to restore this natural area by removing invasive blackberry, ivy, and holly with volunteer work parties. Entrance to the park is near NE 175th & NE Pacific St.
Recent events at NadakaSo far in 2009, the Friends of Nadaka group has organized over 10 invasive removal cleanups at the park including 75-90 Hollydale Elementary students, teachers & parents; and a SOLV Earth Day event April 18th with more than 30 volunteers. |
 SOLV Earth Day 2009 volunteers help restore Nadaka Nature Park's urban habitat |
May 28th the Audubon Society of Portland organized a morning stroll to explore the natural and human history of this unique neighborhood nature park and to begin documenting the bird species inhabiting Nadaka.
Grant monies for Nadaka
WENA and Friends of Nadaka recently received a Metro 'Nature in Neighborhood' matching grant totaling $24,000 for improvements at Nadaka. The monies will be used to purchase tools & gloves, barbed wire removal on the park's south side, dog waste stations, trash can, bench, new native plants and more. More than 40 groups applied for grants, 13 were selected. The matching portion for this grant requires 400 volunteer hours. Lee Dayfield with Friends of Nadaka says "we need everyone in the neighborhood to volunteer their time to make this grant work". Also included in this grant is a project to identify birds in Nadaka and to build bird and bat houses. The process of bird identification has begun and anyone interested in helping is urged to contact WENA at info@wilkeseastna.org.
Possible Nadaka expansion
In addition, WENA and Friends of Nadaka are working on a capital grant from Metro to purchase the 2 acre parcel of land adjacent to Nadaka's south edge. Dayfield says "It is our hope a community garden, fruit tree orchard and perhaps a nature based play area could be built on this property". WENA has developed partnerships in these grant efforts with the Audubon Society of Portland, Trust for Public Lands, City of Gresham, St Aidan's Church, Rockwood Neighborhood Association, HB Lee Middle School, Friends of Trees, Columbia Slough Watershed Council, and People for Parks.
How you can help
Volunteer cleanups at Nadaka are regularly scheduled. Upcoming cleanups are set for: Sat, June 27th 9am-1pm; Sat, July 25th 9am-1pm; and Sun, Aug 2nd 9am-2pm. Cleanup information is always posted on the fence at Nadaka. All you need to bring are your own work gloves, a water bottle, and a willingness to meet your neighbors and work in the park. Tools and refreshments are provided.
For more information or to volunteer with Friends of Nadaka contact Lee Dayfield by email at leedayfield@wilkeseastna.org.
