News

City of Gresham News, Community Activities, Workshops & More

Neighborhood Connections is a publication from the City of Gresham Communications & Community Outreach offering City of Gresham news, Public Safety information, Community Activities & Events, Training & Workshops, Volunteer Opportunities, and more.

Inside this Issue

• Music Mondays Summer Concert Series
• Experience is the Best Teacher, And You Have a Lifetime’s Worth
• We Are Bringing the Party on the Plaza!
• Urban Forestry Management Plan Community Forum – August 2
• National Night Out – August 3
• Retail Design & Development Standards Community Forum - August 4
• Slow Traffic Ahead - Summer Paving Underway
• Open House July 27 - Springwater Interchange Area Management Plan
• Watershed Management Neighborhood Block Parties Planned
• Section of Gresham Butte Saddle Trail Closed
• Parks Picnic on The Plaza: August 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Rockwood in Motion – Construction News, Restaurant Guide
• Take a Gresham SmartTrip This Summer
• Wanted: Stream Stewards and Watershed Warriors
• Sustainability Survey

Keep up with what’s Happening in your City!

Facebook - Read more
Twitter - Read more
Subscribe to City media releases - Read more

Gresham Neighborhoods listing

For more information, visit the Neighborhood Associations page at GreshamOregon.gov or contact Cathy Harrington at 503-618-2482, or email Cathy.Harrington@GreshamOregon.gov.

Crosswalk and westbound MAX platform *CLOSED* for construction Please support local Rockwood restaurants and businesses

Closure Notice:

Beginning Monday, July 19, the north-south crosswalk on the west side of 188th Avenue and Burnside Street will be closed for construction of the new MAX platform. The westbound MAX platform for the Rockwood/E 188th MAX Station will also be closed as of that day, and riders will be directed to a new temporary westbound platform located directly across from the existing eastbound platform (just east of the intersection of 188th and Burnside). There are no changes for eastbound riders at this time. The MAX will continue to operate on schedule with no service interruptions anticipated.

Vehicular traffic both eastbound and westbound on Burnside Street will continue to be limited to one lane in this area until the new light rail platforms open in early 2011.

See Traffic Impact Map for a visual illustration of the pedestrian and vehicular traffic impacts.

Hungry? Eat in Rockwood!

There is a world of great dining options in Rockwood. Please support local Rockwood restaurants and other businesses during the construction. They are open and look forward to serving you!

Click here Rockwood in Motion Restaurant Guide (pdf).

IMPORTANT

Please observe all detours and other signs and signals near the site for safety. Please avoid closed crosswalks and sidewalks, and do not enter the posted construction area.

Traffic reduced to one through and one turn lane, east and west bound Burnside, during Rockwood MAX station construction

Rockwood Traffic Changes

Beginning Tuesday, July 6, 2010, work on the Rockwood/E 188th MAX Station improvements will impact both east and westbound traffic on E Burnside St between SE 185th Av and SE Stark St.

Both eastbound and westbound Burnside Street will be limited to one through lane and one left turn lane each in the same area until the new light rail platforms open in early 2011. Temporary MAX station platform construction is underway at the Rockwood station while work proceeds on the new platforms for the rebuilt station. The temporary platform, which will serve both east and west bound riders, is expected to be operating on July 19.

Curbside garbage prowler spotted, NE 164th & NE Holiday

Is your trash can a treasure chest for identity thieves?

X marks the spot!

Well, in this case, the 'X' is more like a lid with a handle on the top. For identity thieves who are looking for buried treasure, your garbage bin can be a jackpot of personal information. As the old saying goes, ’One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.’

Have you seen this guy?

About 5:30am July 7, 2010 a "scruffy looking" 25-35 year old male on a bicycle w/toddler trailer was observed sifting through several curbside trash bins in the area of 164th Ave & NE Holiday St. After being spotted he got back on his bike and casually rode away with his booty. But, not before this picture was taken with a cell phone.

What was he looking for?

Pop cans? Food? Personal information (maybe credit card receipts, bank statements)? Who knows.

Whatever it was, he decided to look elsewhere after he was seen doing some early morning 'dumpster diving' through other folks trash.

Try this: Guess your child's height and weight. Write it down Then measure him or her and see how close you come

How'd you do?

No one wants to imagine going through the nightmare of having their child go missing. The very thought strikes fear in every parent.

Fortunately you can prepare for the unthinkable by ordering a free Child ID kits from the Oregon State Police.

Since June 4, 2010 close to 3,000 "Complete Identification and DNA Kits" (which are free and are available in English and Spanish) have been sent to people in Oregon as well as nationally (and Canada too!).

The kits help families record important information like dental information, physical information and a photograph. In addition, they provide the necessary tools for taking a DNA cheek swab sample and fingerprints.

Interested?

Child Complete Identification and DNA Kits are available to order by calling 1-800-282-7155, or by email at childidkits@state.or.us. The kits are free of charge!

Burnside construction, Rockwood (Click to enlarge)

Rockwood in Motion: 188th MAX Station work begins Expect congestion and delays along Burnside until next Spring

When: Now thru March 2011
Where: E Burnside (Between 185th - SE Stark)
Gresham, OR
Get Map!

Westbound

Beginning Monday, June 21, work on the Rockwood/E 188th MAX Station improvements will begin to impact westbound traffic on E Burnside Street between SE 185th Avenue and SE Stark Street. Traffic will be reduced to one through lane in this area until the new station opens in early 2011.

Eastbound

Eastbound Burnside Street will be limited to one through lane in the same area until the new light rail platforms open in March 2011. Temporary MAX station platform construction will begin JUne 21st for riders at the Rockwood station while work proceeds on the new platforms for the rebuilt station.

MAX Remains on Schedule

The MAX will continue to operate on schedule with no service interruptions anticipated. Several changes to pedestrian crossings are in effect during construction. Please observe all detours and other signs and signals near the site for safety. This includes not crossing Burnside Street where crosswalks have been closed or entering the posted construction area.

City of Gresham News, Community Activities, Workshops & More

Neighborhood Connections is a publication from the City of Gresham Communications & Community Outreach offering City of Gresham news, Public Safety information, Community Activities & Events, Training & Workshops, Volunteer Opportunities, and more.

Inside this Issue

• Get Outside and Get Healthy
• Skatepark Opening Celebration
• Historic Certified Local Government Project
• Love Your Lawn: Leave It Alone
• Music Mondays at the Center for the Arts Plaza
• It’s Not Too Late to Plant Your Garden
• Seven Mediators Join East Metro Mediation
• Party on the Plaza: Street Dance
• We’d Like Your Green Opinion
• National Night Out – August 3
• Summer Paving Projects Start
• Gresham SmartTrips – Learn How This Summer
• Wanted: Stream Stewards and Watershed Warriors
• Rockwood in Motion – Get Project News by E-Mail Opt-In

Keep up with what’s Happening in your City!

Facebook - Read more
Twitter - Read more
Subscribe to City media releases - Read more

Gresham Neighborhoods listing

For more information, visit the Neighborhood Associations page at GreshamOregon.gov or contact Cathy Harrington at 503-618-2482, or email Cathy.Harrington@GreshamOregon.gov.

Nelson Neighborhood Park Master Plan Click to enlarge

Public forums, citizen input and design changes complete City Council approves Nelson Neighborhood Park Master Plan

The Gresham City Council approved and adopted the Nelson Property Neighborhood Park Master Plan at the June 1, 2010 City Council meeting.

About Nelson

The Nelson Property is a 2.0-acre parcel located adjacent to and south of the City-owned Nadaka Nature Park, fronting NE Glisan Street at NE 176th. Click here for a vicinity map of the area.

The second Nelson Property Neighborhood Park Master Plan Community Forum was held March 31st. At this forum the Preferred Design Alternative was presented which took into account comments from the Parks & Recreation Advisory Subcommittee, Urban Forestry Subcommittee, January 20 Community Forum, Metro Parks & Greenspaces, East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District and City staff.

The Master Plan includes approximately 1/3 of the property to be community gardens and orchard. There will also be picnic tables, a nature-based play area, and public restrooms. A walking loop will connect the Nelson Neighborhood Park with Nadaka Nature Park. (It will be necessary for citizens to obtain addtitional grant monies to develop the Nelson property.) The Nelson Property Summary Report and Community Forum Summary Reports are available on the City's website here.

Background

In 2009 the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association and Friends of Nadaka successfully obtained a Metro Nature in Neighborhoods Capital Grant, a grant from the East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District and a donation from the Nelson Family Trust to purchase the 2 arce site for use as a neighborhood park. The Trust For Public Lands negotiated the purchase.

Nelson Neighborhood Park Master Plan Click to enlarge

Public forums, citizen input and design changes complete City Council set to adopt Nelson Neighborhood Park Master Plan

When: Tuesday Jun 1, 2010 6PM
Where: Gresham City Hall
Council Chamber
1333 NW Eastman Pky
Gresham, OR
Get Map!

Council to consider plan

The Gresham City Council will consider for adoption the Nelson Property Neighborhood Park Master Plan at the June 1st, 6PM meeting in the City Council Chamber. There will be a public comment period at the start of the meeting. Comments are limited to 3 minutes. Everyone is encouraged to attend this important meeting and show their support for this project.

About Nelson

The Nelson Property is a 2.0-acre parcel located adjacent to the City-owned Nadaka Nature Park, fronting NE Glisan Street at NE 176th. Click here for a vicinity map of the area.

The second Nelson Property Neighborhood Park Master Plan Community Forum was held March 31st. At this forum the Preferred Design Alternative was presented which took into account comments from the Parks & Recreation Advisory Subcommittee, Urban Forestry Subcommittee, January 20 Community Forum, Metro Parks & Greenspaces, East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District and City staff.

The Master Plan includes approximately 1/3 of the property to be community gardens and orchard. There will also be picnic tables, a nature-based play area, and public restrooms. A walking loop will connect the Nelson Neighborhood Park with Nadaka Nature Park. (It will be necessary for citizens to obtain addtitional grant monies to develop the Nelson property.) The Nelson Property Summary Report and Community Forum Summary Reports are available on the City's website here.

Background

In 2009 the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association and Friends of Nadaka successfully obtained a Metro Nature in Neighborhoods Capital Grant, a grant from the East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District and a donation from the Nelson Family Trust to purchase the 2 arce site for use as a neighborhood park. The Trust For Public Lands negotiated the purchase.

New MAX Station, 188th & Burnside Click to enlarge

Defining Rockwood's Town Center Change is on the horizon!

Let the projects begin!

Look for big changes starting this summer, as the Gresham Redevelopment Commission begins transforming the face of Central Rockwood with a distinctive urban design.

"Rockwood in Motion" projects will benefit residents and businesses alike by providing a fresh new look for the area, improving safety and access to MAX, and jump-starting investment in the Rockwood Triangle. All while reinforcing the message that Rockwood is a special part of Gresham.

Expect Traffic Delays

Infrastructure improvement projects have already started in some Central Rockwood areas with all projects expected to be underway by June 1.

Click here for Construction Updates.

Burnside widening New Rockwood MAX stations 188th/187th Avenue Realignment SE Stark Boulevard Phase II Former Fred Meyer Site (See project details below)

Construction Map. Click to enlarge