Announcement

Rockwood Town Center final design. Click to enlarge

Office, apartments and marketplace in the works by Mohawk MAX stop.

From The Gresham Outlook

Gresham City Hall's ambitious plans to reshape the heart of Rockwood are nearly finalized.

All told, public leaders and private developers will plunk down at least $40 million to create the three-building development located between Burnside Road and the "Mohawk" MAX light-rail station at Stark Street and Southeast 188th Avenue.

As The Outlook previously reported, site designs call for commercial office space, residential apartments and an indoor/outdoor marketplace orbiting a central plaza.

Rockwood Town Center plaza. Click to enlarge

Rockwood Town Center 188th & E Burnside. Click to enlarge

The project, branded as "Rockwood Rising," sits on 5.15 acres that formerly housed west Gresham's Fred Meyer. The city's Redevelopment Commission purchased the land for $8.1 million in 2006.

The plans for the Rockwood Rising Redevelopment Project are nearing completion and are open to the public. Zane Sparling, of the Gresham Outlook, offers a breakdown of the design here.

by Monica McAllister
Nadaka Nature Park Coordinator

Summer is here, delicious berries are ripe, baby birds are taking flight, and we hope you have been able to get out and enjoy it all at Nadaka Nature Park! The past couple of months have been bustling with families enjoying the new swing set, community members gathering for parties at the picnic shelter, gardeners tending their veggies and flowers, and nature lovers of all ages exploring the forest. The past few months ‘Friends of Nadaka’ (FON) has been hard at work providing environmental education activities, community events, and stewardship opportunities for our neighbors, schools, and partnering organizations.

We are most excited about the upcoming Seventh Annual Nadaka Nature Park Festival that will take place August 12th from 12-3pm. This family friendly event will include a visit from the Audubon Society of Portland’s Education Birds, free hot dogs and drinks, crafts, games, face painting, dance and music performances. Various partnering organizations will have information booths and fun hands on activities for the whole family. We would love to have volunteers from the Wilkes East neighborhood to help with the event. If you are interested please contact Monica, the Nadaka Coordinator.

Zimmerman House Muesum and Gardens, Gresham OR. Click to enlarge

Oregon Storytellers with a Local Lens

Right in Wilkes East Neighborhood’s backyard, near Sandy Boulevard and 171st, sits a white, Victorian house surrounded by lush grass and beautiful flower gardens. Have you ever noticed this beauty while driving by?

If you’ve always been curious or it’s been a long time since you’ve visited, let us introduce you to the Zimmerman House Museum and Gardens. This slice of Oregon heritage is run by ECHO – East County Historical Organization (your local historical society) and they have big plans to reinvigorate this Gresham Park.

ECHO’s new board has goals to make this former dairy farm into a thriving place of learning and an event space for the community. They are currently developing plans to add a paved driveway with designated parking spaces, ADA access to the gardens, and create an area for outdoor gatherings. Even though updates will be occurring, plans will hold true to the home’s designation as a historic property on the National Register.

The group is also redefining their educational mission for the museum, so be on the lookout for new exhibits, community events, and stop by for guided tours with expanded content. To start off, they are hosting their first archeological survey in the park on Saturday, September 30. They hope to rediscover some of the home’s former outbuildings like a bunkhouse, outhouses, and more. The public is welcome to join in.

2017 Summer Newsletter "Diversity, Harmony, Community - Together 'WE' can make a difference!”

Read it now!

Inside This Issue:   Rockwood Town Center Awaits Approval Come Visit Zimmerman House Backyard Habitat, Providing Community Nadaka Update, Happenings & More Neighborhood Meeting, Aug 14th 7PM

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.

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When: Tuesday, May 02, 2017 6PM-8PM Where: Gresham City Hall Council Chambers 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

Regular Council meetings allow necessary City business to be dealt with, such as citizen recognition, citizen advisory committee reports, bid awards, resolutions, ordinances, public hearings, etc. Regular Council meetings are streamed live on the City's website at GreshamOregon.gov/Videos.

For more information contact the City Recorder at 503-618-2697.

Read more about Council meetings.

Get involved, Make a difference When: Wed, May 03, 2017 6:30PM-8PM Where: Gresham City Hall Oregon Trail Rm 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

The Design Commission is the primary advising subcommittee to the City Council on design excellence for the built environment of the city. The Commission assists in the development and application of design standards and guidelines, and will conduct hearings as necessary to ensure that proposed public and private projects achieve these standards.

For more information about this event contact Jamie Thomes at 503-618-2842 or Jamie.Thomes@GreshamOregon.gov.

When: Wednesday, May 03, 2017 4PM-5PM Where: Gresham City Hall Conference Rm 3A 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

The Youth Advisory Committee is composed of students from all Gresham-area high schools. Their primary focus is to ensure Gresham youth are engaged locally and that their voices are heard at the City.

For more information about this event contact Jessica Harper at 503-618-2584 or Jessica.Harper@GreshamOregon.gov.

When: Wed, May 03, 2017 6:30PM-8:30PM Where: Gresham City Hall Conference Rm 3A 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

The Citizen Involvement Committee advises the Council on the development, implementation and maintenance of programs designed to facilitate citizen involvement, engagement and to foster a deliberative process between residents and the City.

For more information contact Joe Walsh, Senior Manager, Neighborhood Prosperity & Youth Engagement, at 503-618-2372 or Joe.Walsh@GreshamOregon.gov.

Let's Go Walking! When: Thu, May 04, 2017 9AM-5PM Where: Meet at Gresham City Hall 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

Gothic Churches and Public Art in Downtown Portland

• Round-trip travel: MAX light rail
• Difficulty: Easy
• Elevation gain: Minimal
• Suggested donation per hiker: All-day MAX ticket is $5 or $2.50 for seniors

This three-mile walk showcases Gothic churches and public art in downtown Portland. We will begin by walking through the sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church, one of the finest examples of Victorian Gothic architecture in the United States. The sanctuary features stained-glass windows designed by David Povey and a magnificent carved pipe organ as its centerpiece. From here we will head to the Park Blocks to view 10 more churches and public art that includes Dale Chihuly's "Red Tree" glass sculpture, "Brush Strokes" by Roy Lichtenstein, "Eye of Orion" by Manuel Izquerdo, and the sculptures of Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, and the Winter Column. Bring water and snacks and pack a sack lunch to eat at the Antoinette Hatfield Hall.

Please arrive early to sign in so that we can all be ready to board MAX at City Hall at 9:18 am.

For more information about this hike please contact Colleen Willmert at 503-475-2214 or colleen.willmert@comcast.net or Ruth Cummings at 503-926-4840 or cummings0465@frontier.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

Become A Mentor Change a Child's Life When: Thu, May 04, 2017 6PM-7:30PM Where: Gresham City Hall 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

Are you looking for a fun and meaningful way to give back to the community? Consider becoming a mentor and change a child's life for the better. Simply spending time with a young person once a week after school or on weekends helps kids build social and emotional skills, keep better relationships with family and peers and lowers the risk for drug or gang involvement. Plus, it's fun! You can help a kid by spending just a few hours a week doing activities you already enjoy.

Family of Friends is a family-style mentoring program. We primarily enroll kids in elementary school and match them with a mentor family, couple or individual for year-long mentoring relationships (with the option to continue longer).

We are currently looking for mentors who want to mentor a child in the Gresham area.

Please contact Allison Yoder at 503-351-5805 or ayoder@family-of-friends.org to sign up for an orientation and to learn more about Family of Friends mentoring.

Visit the Family of Friends website for more information.