Leisure

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Senior Healthy Hikers, Gresham’s Significant Trees Walk: Wed, Jul 15, 2020 10AM-12PM

07/15/2020 - 10:00am
07/15/2020 - 12:00pm
Etc/GMT-8
Senior Healthy Hikers, Gresham’s Significant Trees Walk: Wed, Jul 15, 2020 10AM-12PM. Let's Go Walking! Info here!

Let's Go Walking!

When: Wed, Jul 15, 2020 10AM-12PM
Where: Meet at Main City Park
219 South Main Ave.
Get Map!

Hiking during COVID-19 pandemic

  • All participants must wear facial masks and practice social distancing during Senior Healthy Hikers group events.
  • We will no longer carpool to the trailhead. Participants are responsible for their own transportation.
  • Driving directions (with the beginning point at Gresham City Hall) will be distributed at least three days prior to the event.

Hike details

  • Distance: About 3.5 miles
  • Difficulty: Easy/moderate
  • Elevation gain: 100 feet
  • Trail conditions: Paved sidewalks

This is a walk around Gresham.s southeast neighborhoods. Gresham has more than 46 registered significant trees. We will visit 15 of them on our 3.5-mile walk. Retired Pinewood Nursery owner, Judy Berg, will be available to answer your questions.

Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring rain gear if necessary. Masks are required and social distancing practiced. Bring water and a snack to eat on the walk. We will return to Gresham.s Main City Park to socialize and eat our sack lunches; this part of the walk is optional.

For more information about this hike please contact Howard or Judy Berg at 503-665-8008 or howardbergate@gmail.com.

Senior Healthy Hikers asks that participants be 50 or older. A couple wishing to hike is welcome if one member of the couple is 50 or better.

Pets are not permitted on our hikes or walks.

Senior Healthy Hikers member guidelines

Gresham Farmers Market 2020: Sat, Jul 18, 2020 8:30AM-2PM

07/18/2020 - 8:30am
07/18/2020 - 2:00pm
Etc/GMT-8
Gresham Farmers Market 2020: Sat, Jul 18, 2020 8:30AM-2PM. Saturday's thru October. Info here!

Saturday's thru October

When: Sat, Jul 18, 2020 8:30AM-2PM
Where: Arts Plaza
NE 3rd Street and NE Hood Avenue
Get Map!

Oregon's Stay Home, Save Lives order allows farmers markets to operate. The Gresham Farmers' Market will open for the season with a limited number of vendors and strict COVID-19 physical distancing and safety measures in place.

At the market safety measures

  • Do not visit the market if you you are feeling unwell.
  • Only one person per household should visit the market.
  • Wear a mask.
  • Bring a shopping list.
  • Stay at least 6 feet away from anyone not in your household.
  • No socializing in the market for now.
  • Do not touch items before buying.
  • Shop quickly.
  • No dogs; service animals only.

Visit the Gresham Farmers' Market website for more information.

City of Gresham Music Mondays 2020: Mon, Jul 20, 2020 7PM-8PM

07/20/2020 - 7:00pm
07/20/2020 - 8:00pm
Etc/GMT-8
City of Gresham Music Mondays 2020: Every Monday July-August 7PM-8PM. Join Us. Info here!

When: Every Monday, July-August 7PM-8PM
Where: Online event
(See details below)

Gresham Center for the Arts Foundation presents the annual Music Mondays concert series on Monday evenings in July and August.

In collaboration with MetroEast Community Media, this year's concerts will come to you via live streaming.

How to watch and listen

Concerts will be streamed online:

Performance schedule

To celebrate the 11th anniversary during this challenging time, we bring you an amazing list of local musicians.

  • July 6 - Timothy James: 2019 Music Monday favorite of R&B and blues
  • July 13 - Sons of Trees: Latin rhythms
  • July 20 - Kolukoo: Hawaiian Reggae
  • July 27 - Rich Layton: Texas-style blues
  • August 10 - Bayou Boys: Zydeco sounds
  • August 17 - Remedy: Classic rock through the 70s, 80s and 90s
  • August 24 - Mosaic: Featuring torch and jazz vocalist Thea Enos
  • August 31 - Patrick Lamb: Portland touring star in pop, blues and contemporary jazz

Thank you to sponsors: Weston Kia, Clackamas County Bank, Michael McKeel DMD, KMO Real Estate and City of Gresham for helping to bring the resources together for the virtual programming.

For more information, contact the Center for the Arts Foundation at centerartsfoundation@gmail.com or Sue O.Halloran at 503-489-1157.

Download the Wilkes East Neighborhood Summer 2020 Newsletter here!

Download the Wilkes East Neighborhood Summer 2020 Newsletter here! Wilkes East Neighborhood, Gresham Oregon USA. Diversity, Harmony, Community- Together 'WE' can make a difference.

2020 Summer Newsletter

"Diversity, Harmony, Community -
Together 'WE' can make a difference!”


alt=
Read it now!

Summer 2020 Newsletter

Inside This Issue:

  • An Inclusive Neighborhood
  • Columbia View Park Concept
  • Nature-Deficit Disorder
  • Coping During the Pandemic
  • Importance of Our Parks
  • Albertina Kerr Housing Update

Download your copy here. (includes active web links)

Newsletters are a regular publication of the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association. They are hand-delivered to over 1,500 residences and businesses in our area 3 times per year, timed to correspond with our regular meetings.

View archive   |   Policy & Ad Rates

Got a story or tip to share?
Wilkes East residents are encouraged to submit articles and tips for the newsletter. Articles should be limited to 300-500 words and may be subject to editing Include a related photo. Send by email to chair@wilkeseastna.org, or by postal mail to: 17104 NE Oregon St • Portland OR 97230.

Volunteers Needed
Newsletters are hand-delivered to Wilkes East residents and businesses by neighborhood volunteers. There are always routes that need delivery people. Routes are small and many. We can always use your help.
To volunteer contact chair@wilkeseastna.org.

Gresham Farmers Market 2020: Sat, Jul 25, 2020 8:30AM-2PM

07/25/2020 - 8:30am
07/25/2020 - 2:00pm
Etc/GMT-8
Gresham Farmers Market 2020: Sat, Jul 25, 2020 8:30AM-2PM. Saturday's thru October. Info here!

Saturday's thru October

When: Sat, Jul 25, 2020 8:30AM-2PM
Where: Arts Plaza
NE 3rd Street and NE Hood Avenue
Get Map!

Oregon's Stay Home, Save Lives order allows farmers markets to operate. The Gresham Farmers' Market will open for the season with a limited number of vendors and strict COVID-19 physical distancing and safety measures in place.

At the market safety measures

  • Do not visit the market if you you are feeling unwell.
  • Only one person per household should visit the market.
  • Wear a mask.
  • Bring a shopping list.
  • Stay at least 6 feet away from anyone not in your household.
  • No socializing in the market for now.
  • Do not touch items before buying.
  • Shop quickly.
  • No dogs; service animals only.

Visit the Gresham Farmers' Market website for more information.

City of Gresham Music Mondays 2020: Mon, Jul 27, 2020 7PM-8PM

07/27/2020 - 7:00pm
07/27/2020 - 8:00pm
Etc/GMT-8
City of Gresham Music Mondays 2020: Every Monday July-August 7PM-8PM. Join Us. Info here!

When: Every Monday, July-August 7PM-8PM
Where: Online event
(See details below)

Gresham Center for the Arts Foundation presents the annual Music Mondays concert series on Monday evenings in July and August.

In collaboration with MetroEast Community Media, this year's concerts will come to you via live streaming.

How to watch and listen

Concerts will be streamed online:

Performance schedule

To celebrate the 11th anniversary during this challenging time, we bring you an amazing list of local musicians.

  • July 6 - Timothy James: 2019 Music Monday favorite of R&B and blues
  • July 13 - Sons of Trees: Latin rhythms
  • July 20 - Kolukoo: Hawaiian Reggae
  • July 27 - Rich Layton: Texas-style blues
  • August 10 - Bayou Boys: Zydeco sounds
  • August 17 - Remedy: Classic rock through the 70s, 80s and 90s
  • August 24 - Mosaic: Featuring torch and jazz vocalist Thea Enos
  • August 31 - Patrick Lamb: Portland touring star in pop, blues and contemporary jazz

Thank you to sponsors: Weston Kia, Clackamas County Bank, Michael McKeel DMD, KMO Real Estate and City of Gresham for helping to bring the resources together for the virtual programming.

For more information, contact the Center for the Arts Foundation at centerartsfoundation@gmail.com or Sue O.Halloran at 503-489-1157.

Cultivating solutions for Gresham's parks

Youth volunteers tend Nadaka Nature Park as city parks funding woes take root

Cultivating solutions for Gresham's parks. Youth volunteers tend Nadaka Nature Park as city parks funding woes take root. Info here!
PMG PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER KEIZUR - Germaine Flentroy Jr. lugs a bucket of water across Nadaka Nature Park while helping maintain the greenspace.

Source: Gresham Outlook, Jun 22, 2020
By Christopher Keizur

A group of youth made a troubling discovery one afternoon while volunteering at Nadaka Nature Park.

Vandals had ripped out a young tree planted to provide shade in the Nadaka meadow for a popular bench among those seeking a quiet way to spend the afternoon. The tree, which had been planted earlier this spring, had been carelessly tossed to the side.

So the youth got to work. They re-dug a hole and got the tree back upright. Then they lugged water across the park to give the tree the best chance for survival. The work in Nadaka is just one way youth counselors with nonprofit Play Grow Learn are giving back to their community.

"I'm so grateful you all are helping maintain this park, because the city isn't able to," said Lee Dayfield, the creative force behind Nadaka.

Their support comes at a crucial time for one of the most unique parks in Gresham. Funding officially dried up at Nadaka, 17615 N.E. Glisan St., on June 1 — marking a major shift in what was once touted as the model for future parks in the city.

What made it special was the ongoing bevy of activities happening within the space.

There were cleanups, partnerships with schools, bird walks and workshops on native plants and pollinators. Nadaka hosted an annual free community festival that celebrated Rockwood's diversity, and employed a group of "Park Ambassadors," who served as the face of Nadaka — educating visitors and ensuring the park stayed safe and clean.

Cultivating solutions for Gresham's parks. Youth volunteers tend Nadaka Nature Park as city parks funding woes take root. Info here!

PMG PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER KEIZUR - Nick Johnson, 20, lives only a few blocks away from Nadaka Nature Park.

All of it was made possible by chasing grants.

"We knew raising funds this way was not sustainable," Dayfield said. "We hoped the city of Gresham would fill in the gaps, but that didn't happen."

City staff, who are overstretched among the 56 parks with more than 300 acres of space, can only mow the grass and empty the trash cans at Nadaka. Funding is also a major issue in Gresham, leading many voices to call for innovative new ways to raise money for parks.

A new coalition has been meeting virtually and is outlining a formal plan. So far, more than a dozen organizations have joined, including Play Grow Learn. It's a diverse mix of people that are all united in seeking a better way to reinvest in the parks system.

Several short and long-term funding ideas have been earmarked, though nothing is at the stage to make a formal pitch to the city. So in the meantime, it will be groups like the Play Grow Learn youth who do the majority of the work.

"We are doing the stuff that otherwise isn't going to get done," said Anthony Bradley, executive director of Play Grow Learn. "We are showing what can be done at our parks on a small budget."

Problems at Nadaka

Cultivating solutions for Gresham's parks. Youth volunteers tend Nadaka Nature Park as city parks funding woes take root. Info here!
PMG PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER KEIZUR - Play Grow Learn youth volunteers replant a tree in Nadaka Nature Park that had been ripped out by vandals.

Nineteen-year-old Rico Garland had never been to Nadaka before he found himself removing invasive ivy from the wooded-trail system as part of Play Grow Learn's Days at Nadaka.

But soon the East Portland teen fell in love with the park.

"It's great to help out the community," Garland said. "This place is so beautiful."

Nadaka is a 10-acre property acquired from the Camp Fire Columbia organization in 1995. It was purchased thanks to Gresham voters passing an open-spaces bond measure in 1990.

In spring 2015, Nadaka celebrated an opening to the public, featuring wooden play structures, a community garden, restroom, picnic shelter, walking loop and public art.

"All of this is because of the hard work of community members," Dayfield said. "We all volunteered because we love this place."

Dayfield poured a lot of herself into supporting Nadaka. She spearheaded the charge to transform her dream park into a reality, overcoming red tape and bureaucracy to found Friends of Nadaka to secure grants and other funding.

For many years the Columbia Slough Watershed Council, a Portland-based organization, had supported the Gresham park. But with changes to the board and executive director, the watershed council decided to focus on other projects.

That caused the funding to run out at the beginning of this month, leaving a beautiful green space with nothing to do. There is some hope for the park — nonprofit Outgrowing Hunger has stepped in as the new fiscal agent for Friends of Nadaka, and was able to capture a $25,000 grant from the East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District. That grant was secured thanks to a funding match from the city.

But still Dayfield, and other members of the parks coalition, are seeking more permanent answers for the entire community.

The problems began two decades ago with a pair of ballot measures passed in Gresham that hamstrung the city's ability to fund parks. The votes set a permanent property tax that was the second lowest in the state.

The fallout was immediate

In 1990, Gresham's property taxes paid for 100% of police and fire services. Now, those taxes are only able to foot 40% of those expenses. As a result the city had to get creative in filling in the gaps. With the priority being safety, police and fire get the lion's share, leaving parks to wither.

Cultivating solutions for Gresham's parks. Youth volunteers tend Nadaka Nature Park as city parks funding woes take root. Info here!
PMG PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER KEIZUR - Germain Flentroy Jr. and Jim Labbe fill a device with water that will give a replanted tree the best chance at survival.

Ideas have been bandied about by the parks coalition.

One long-term answer would be to look into forming a parks district, which has the power to construct, reconstruct, alter, enlarge, operate and maintain lakes, parks, recreation grounds and buildings; acquire necessary lands; and to call necessary elections after being formed. It isn't easy to implement a parks district, necessitating city leadership lessening its control over greenspaces, a feasibility study and public vote.

Other solutions have been a new parks utility fee; increasing the existing Police-Fire-Parks fee that was enacted in 2012; or vying for an Operations Levy/Bond Measure, that would also collect from property taxes.

Perhaps the most immediate proposal is participatory budgeting, which involves the community in choosing how to spend funds.

The city could start small, setting aside $100,000 in the first year. Different groups would pitch proposals on how to spend that pot, eventually leading to a community vote on what to fund. The city could set up guidelines that would shape what sort of proposals could be considered, but otherwise it places the onus in the hands of the community to grow and develop parks.

If participatory budgeting proved to be successful, it could be expanded.

"We could scale up and better fund all of our parks," said Jim Labbe, a former urban conservationist with the Audubon Society of Portland.

Lending a hand

Cultivating solutions for Gresham's parks. Youth volunteers tend Nadaka Nature Park as city parks funding woes take root. Info here!
PMG PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER KEIZUR - A group of volunteers spent an afternoon replanting a tree that had been ripped out of the ground.

Germaine Flentroy loves to visit Nadaka Nature Park with his youngest children, ages 4, 6 and 9.

They fondly refer to it as "the water park" because one of their favorite activities is playing with a water spigot by the climbing structure. When the weather is nice the Flentroys will enjoy a picnic in the grass, scratching that camping itch put on hold due to restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic.

So for Flentroy, program coordinator with Play Grow Learn, setting up a program to maintain the greenspace was a no-brainer.

"We want to be involved in our parks beyond having conversations," he said. "We have to do our part to represent and teach kids of color."

Normally this time of the year, the youth involved with Play Grow Learn would be helming camps for homeless and foster children as counselors. With the pandemic, the nonprofit organization based in Rockwood pivoted to food boxes for underserved families and the park cleanups. It is the youth who would have been camp counselors that have dived into their new roles.

Every week, 8-10 volunteers spend a couple of hours weeding, picking up trash, and undoing damage done by vandals. They also water plants in need of attention. The youth are paid by Play Grow Learn for their time in the park, and it is being used as an opportunity to teach them and hopefully foster a love for horticulture.

Eventually, when COVID-19 restrictions loosen, Play Grow Learn will have a field trip day where it brings the younger campers to Nadaka for an afternoon of fun.

And soon another group of teens will begin helping at Nadaka. Rosemary Anderson High School's Summer Works Group will be doing forest restoration at the park.

"These types of programs send a message to the city that people care about our parks," Labbe said.

Until Gresham is able to figure out funding, it will be up to volunteers to continue caring for their parks.

"Nature is for all," Flentroy said. "It's a safe place where you can get healed."

This story first appeared in The Outlook. Support community newspapers. Subscribe at http://savinglocalnews.com

Gresham Farmers' Market 2020: Sat, Jun 06, 2020 8:30AM-2PM

06/06/2020 - 8:30am
Etc/GMT-8
Gresham Farmers Market' 2020: Sat, Jun 06, 2020 8:30AM-2PM. Saturday's thru October. Info here!

Saturday's thru October

When: Sat, Jun 06, 2020 8:30AM-2PM
Where: Arts Plaza
NE 3rd Street and NE Hood Avenue
Get Map!

Oregon's Stay Home, Save Lives order allows farmers markets to operate. The Gresham Farmers' Market will open for the season with a limited number of vendors and strict COVID-19 physical distancing and safety measures in place.

At the market safety measures

  • Do not visit the market if you you are feeling unwell.
  • Only one person per household should visit the market.
  • Wear a mask.
  • Bring a shopping list.
  • Stay at least 6 feet away from anyone not in your household.
  • No socializing in the market for now.
  • Do not touch items before buying.
  • Shop quickly.
  • No dogs; service animals only.

Visit the Gresham Farmers' Market website for more information.

2020 Portland Eastside Farmer's Markets. Garden Fresh Produce Available Year-round

2020 Portland Eastside Farmer's Markets. Garden Fresh Produce Available Year-round. Find a farmer's markets here!

S-t-r-e-t-c-h  your grocery dollar!

Enjoy the freshest produce, flowers, and plant starts direct from the garden.

Healthy and fresh
Farmer’s markets are a fantastic source for fresh, seasonal, locally produced foods and artisan products. Plus, you'll find great activities and fun for the whole family. Come experience the markets. Meet the vendors. Meet local cooks. Enjoy the freshest produce and products. Make your own statement in support of local food.

Want to grow your own vegetables?
Check out Portland Nursery's 12-month "Veggie Calendar" planting guide here.

2020 Portland's Eastside Farmer's Markets

(Complete details on these area markets below)

You'll find plenty of root vegetables, braising greens and lettuces, and of course plant starts for your own vegetable garden.

Bring your reusable shopping bags and plenty of small bills, though some of the markets will trade you a credit/debit card for wooden tokens that all vendors accept, which can be easier to handle than cash. We've indicated those markets that accept EBT or other food assistant coupons.

Sunday Futsal 2020: Sun, Mar 01, 2020 5PM-7PM

03/01/2020 - 5:00pm
03/01/2020 - 7:00pm
Etc/GMT-8
Sunday Futsal 2020: Sun, Mar 01, 2020 5PM-7PM. Let's Play Futsal! Info here!

Let's Play Futsal!

When: Sun, Mar 01, 2020 5PM-7PM
Where: Friends of the Children Gym
424 NE 172nd Ave.
Get Map!

Indoor Sunday Futsal youth recreation is open to all students in grades 6-12 on Sunday from 5:00-7:00 pm at the Friends of the Children gym.

  • Free
  • Open to boys and girls in grades 6-12
  • Learn new skills, make new friends, play futsal
  • Participants must bring a signed waiver to play
  • Adult supervision and mentorship provided by Active Children Portland volunteers

For more information, email Ricki Ruiz at Ricardo.Ruiz@GreshamOregon.gov or call 503-583-0771.

Futsal flier and waiver

Read more about Sunday Futsal.

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