Like to garden, but no place to grow? Reserve Your Spot Nadaka Nature Park community gardens will be open in time for the 2015 gardening season!

Hurry before they're gone!
The City of Gresham's community garden program is pleased to announce that the new Nadaka Nature Park & Garden will be open in time for the 2015 gardening season! Located at NE 175th & Glisan (Next to St Aidans Church), there will be a Grand Opening Celebration on April 4th. People who live or work within Gresham city limits (even if the mailing address says Portland) may register for a 200 sq ft plot for only $25/ season (limit 1 per household). Six ADA-Accessible raised beds are also available to gardeners with disabilities.

Details are available at: http://greshamoregon.gov/gardens. To register, go online to: https://apm.activecommunities.com/greshamoregon/Home or go in person to Gresham City Hall, 1333 NW Eastman Pky (Get Map!), first floor utilities desk.

By Monica McAllister, Nadaka Nature Park Coordinator

What We Have Been Up To!
The year 2015 is off to a great start at Nadaka Nature Park and Garden. The final stages of the park’s natural play area and community garden are progressing beautifully. As of February, Verde has finished seeding the eco-lawn and planting of hundreds of native plants. In addition, ADA ramps into the play area, wooden benches, and berry trellises around the community garden have been completed. The parking lot of St. Aidan’s has recently received some much need TLC and has been partially paved with gravel to make it more accessible to the nature play area.

A big thanks to Alpha High School students who planted over 400 hundred plants in the rain gardens along NE Pacific Street February 23rd. The projected was funded by Federal CDBG funds and will be a great tool for teaching the community about how rain gardens work to improve the health of our watershed. Alpha High School will also be visiting Nadaka every other Tuesday to do stewardship and educational activities starting March 3rd. If you are in the area come and let them know they are doing a great job.

More below this break including a photo gallery!

Reynolds School District seeks $125M bond for improved security, school replacements, upgrades

By Valerie Tewksbury
Citizens for Safe Reynolds Schools

Measure 26-143 asks Reynolds School District voters to approve a capital bond authorizing $125 million in construction on the May 19, 2015 ballot. This bond is projected to cost $1.56 per $1000, the same tax rate as our patrons’ 2014 Property Tax Bill.

The completion of these projects would improve the learning environment for thousands of our students. Modern spaces cost less to operate and the savings can be used to make additional improvements throughout the district.

SUN- Schools Uniting Neighborhoods. Year-round after-school mentorship in math, reading, science and more.

By Lee Orr, SUN Coordinator
HB Lee Middle School

The H.B. Lee MFS (Metropolitan Family Service) SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) Community School is one of 27 Community schools that MFS facilitates in North Clackamas and Multnomah County that provide year round extended day academic support and enrichment classes for almost 10,000 students every year. H.B. Lee serves over 350 students each week, of which 225 kids receive free meals and transportation. SUN academic classes include: Math and Reading Academy, Newcomer Academy (for ESL students,) Homework Club, and Study Center. The Newcomer Academy is supported by our partners at IRCO, who provide onsite, afterschool mentorship. We also feature Destination Imagination, a science challenge club offering students opportunities to hone their creative science skills as they tackle new team challenges each week.

Habitat for Humanity, Glisan Gardens, 165th & NE Glisan, Gresham OR. Click to enlarge

Habitat works with qualified, low-income families to help them realize the dream of owning their own home.

Building Homes, Building Lives.
This month, Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East breaks ground on Glisan Gardens, located at 165th and northeast Glisan Street, in the Rockwood neighborhood.

The City of Gresham helped Habitat purchase the large 1.64-acre lot, along with Housing and Urban Development HOME and SHOP program funds. The site will become 25 energy efficient homes to local, hardworking families who build and then buy their homes with a 0%-interest mortgage.

Artist's concept: Louise Building New Addition, Gresham OR. Click to enlarge.

Phase II; Louise Building Update & Addition, March 2015
A message to our neighbors from Pam Krecklow, Real Estate & Construction Manager, Albertina Kerr:

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

Read it Online

Wilkes East Neighborhood 2015 Spring Newsletter IN THIS ISSUE Nadaka Nature Park, Grand Opening Habitat, Glisan Gardens Construction Reynolds Approves $125M Bond HB Lee SUN School, Improving Lives Earth Day Recycling Event, Apr 18th Gresham DMV Now At 181st & Halsey Neighborhood Clean-Up, Jun 27th

Download your copy here. Now with clickable 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.

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