Update: Community Paints Rockwood Bright! Meet the new Plaza Del Sol!
By admin - Posted on September 21st, 2009
 Volunteers paint the plaza Click to enlarge |
Splashes of Color
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Rockwood, Sep 19, 2009
When Rockwood coverage happens its commonly due to negative events. So, we felt it was very important to share an amazing community building event that took place today in Rockwood.
Welcome Rockwood's Plaza Del Sol painting!
Plaza del Sol is one of several new interim uses being sited by the Gresham Redevelopment Commission on the Cultural Marketplace (former Fred Meyer store) property in Rockwood at SE 187th & SE Stark St. Get Map!
The plaza is the first piece of a recently approved interim use plan for the Rockwood Cultural Marketplace to transform the site with new sidewalks, paths, benches, a wildflower garden, play area, basketball courts, a food-cart area, and many other family friendly activities.
Using supplies donated by Parr Lumber and Miller Paint, volunteers worked throughout the day to paint the huge 13,000-square-foot “Plaza del Sol,” a colorful scale model of the solar system on the Southeast corner of the site.
Click to enlarge Photos by Dina DiNucci
 View from above |
 Watch the video |
Volunteers paint the plaza |
Hope Returns to Rockwood
"Today the community brought hope back to the site. Today marked a change in the attitude of the people in Rockwood" said Rockwood resident Dina DiNucci. The Plaza Del Sol is the first step in the City's effort to turn the abandoned site into a gathering place for the future.
The 6.5 acre site, vacated by Fred Meyer in 2001, was purchased in 2005 by the City of Gresham for redevelopment. Unfortunately as the economy tanked so did Rockwood's hopes for a large-scale development. Commissioners still plan to redevelop the property as a mixed-use development in the heart of the city’s urban renewal area when the economy improves.
UPDATE (Oct 23, 2009)
Work continues to improve site.
The area of the Rockwood Cultural Marketplace site where the old Fred Meyers store once stood has changed from unsightly gravel to a large (roughly 1.5 blocks) wildflower garden with a 6' walking path circling the perimeter. This change will make a BIG difference for the area. Catalyst Site Interim Use Drawing (City of Gresham website)
Learn more
- Catalyst Site Interim Uses (City of Gresham website)
Related Content
- ‘Sun’ mural to add color to new plaza (The Gresham Outlook, Sep 11, 2009)
- Rockwood plaza plan taking shape (The Gresham Outlook, Aug 28, 2009)
- Commission agrees to keep down price of interim development (The Gresham Outlook, Jul 10, 2009)
- Rockwood 5 years later: millions wasted, the former Fred Meyer property continues to languish (June 17, 2009)
- Cost, time commitment knock out farmers market idea (The Gresham Outlook, Jun 13, 2009)
