Nadaka Nature Park and Garden Brochure

Nadaka
Nature Park
&
Garden
Project
When you enter Nadaka Nature Park from the
north, you are swept out of the city and into a
tranquil and sweet-smelling forest. Follow the
quarter mile loop trail which leads you to an
open meadow at the south end of the forest.
Look beyond the chain link fence at the two acres
next to the meadow. Step through the gate and
imagine the possibilities.
The Nadaka Nature Park and Garden Project is an outgrowth of a
series of past community and voter initiated efforts that secured
public ownership of 10-acres of natural area and the 2-acre
neighborhood park site known as the Nelson Property located
on the border of Wilkes East and Rockwood Neighborhoods in
Gresham, Oregon.
Nurturing Nature, Food, and Families
in West Gresham.
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So how did we get here
with Nadaka Park?
This 10 acre natural forest area was acquired by the City of Gresham in 1995 at
a cost of $500,000 from the Camp Fire
organization using proceeds from a bond
measure. The Camp Fire organization used
it as a day camp beginning in the summer of 1956 until it was sold to the City
of Gresham in 1995. It remained closed to
the public until 2001 when the gate on the
north side was opened.
In 2009 the Wilkes East Neighborhood
Association, Friends of Nadaka successfully obtained a $200,000 capital Metro
Nature in Neighborhoods grant toward
the purchase of the 2 acre adjoining Nelson property. The East Multnomah Soil &
Water Conservation District contributed
$210,000. The seller, the Nelson Estate,
donated the rest of the appraised value –
the land was appraised at $615,000 - as a
gift valued at approximately $185,000. The
Trust for Public Land negotiated the deal.
Project YESS students
from Mt. Hood
Community College
take a well-deserved
break after putting the
hurt on destructive
invasive plants.
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As a result of the 2 acre acquisition, the
City of Gresham developed a Master Plan
which was approved by City Council in
June of 2010. Approximately 28,000 square
feet, or one-third of the site, is dedicated to
community agriculture which will contain
over 60 community garden plots. The remaining two-thirds of the park are devoted
to passive recreation and will include two
meadows, accessible walking paths, an ecolawn, rain gardens, nature-based play areas¸
a restroom, park benches and picnic tables.
The development of this two acre parcel
holds the potential to transform Nadaka
from a secluded, little-known, and lightly
used natural area into a place where community members can readily access and
connect with nature on multiple levels,
such as growing gardens, enjoying a picnic,
or experiencing Nadaka’s native habitats.
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High school students
gather for a portrait
at the Pacific Street
entrance sign after
removing invasive
species in the park.
The project brings together diverse community organizations to expand access to
nature and promote urban agriculture in
West Gresham by developing and maintaining a community garden, orchard, rain
garden, natural meadow, restrooms, and
nature-based play area on the Nelson Property while sustaining ongoing stewardship
of Nadaka Nature Park.
The properties are owned by the City of
Gresham. However, a variety of non-profits
and community organizations have come
together to raise the funds for the capital
improvements in the City-approved Master Plan and to develop and implement a
5-year operations and maintenance plan.
A NEIGHBORHOOD IN
NEED OF NATURE
The Nadaka Nature Park and Garden Project will directly benefit populations living
or working in the surrounding residential
and commercial areas within the Wilkes
East, Rockwood, and North Gresham
neighborhoods. These neighborhoods need
access to nature and include historically
underserved populations.
The proposed neighborhood park improvements will serve a young, growing, and
increasingly diverse population providing
access to both food production and enhanced nature-based recreation in an area
Screech owls released
of planned growth. The project is located
by the Audubon Society,
within 1/2 mile walking distance from the
September 2010
MAX stops at 172nd and 181st along Burnside
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“Adding the southeast access point has made a substantial difference in
the number of people served within typical walking distances. For example,
only an estimated 631 people live within a ¼ mile walking distance of
the park with only the north access point; after adding the south access
point, a total of 1,281 people lived within ¼ mile, a gain of 103 percent. The
improvement is even more dramatic when it comes to children and people
of color, with a 146 percent increase in the number of children within a ¼
mile walking distance, and a 214 percent increase in the number of people of
color living within a ¼ mile walking distance.
With the opening of the new southern access point, an estimated 4,600
people now live within ½ mile walking distance of Nadaka Nature Park,
roughly 26 percent are under 17 years of age and approximately 46 percent
are people of color. Overall, addition of the south access point has brought
an estimated 5,464 additional people within the 1 mile network distance
service area of Nadaka Nature Park.”
GIS and demographic access study using 2010 Census data produced by
Kenneth Radin for Audubon Society of Portland July 15, 2011.
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and in the Rockwood 2040 Town Center,
one of the poorest, youngest, and densest
town centers in the region according to
Metro’s State of the Centers Report. Human
Solutions’ Rockwood Building (completed
in 2011) provides 47 new units of affordable
rental housing at 181st and East Burnside.
Human Solutions also provides residential
services at Housing Authority of Portland’s
Madrona Place (47 units) located at 179th
and East Burnside. Both these facilities provide permanent affordability for families or
individuals earning 60% or below the area
median income within 1/2 mile walking
distance from Nadaka. By linking improved
access to nature with permanent investments in affordable housing, this project
will secure new access for low-income
populations in perpetuity.
Moreover, the Rockwood 2040 Town
Center has a median income of approximately $40,000, which is the third lowest
of the region’s 30 town centers and near the
lowest median income for a regional center.
The median age (29 years) is lower than
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any town center in the region and roughly
equal to the Gresham and Clackamas Regional Centers.
In short, Nadaka Nature Park lies within
1/2 mile of one of the youngest, most diverse,
and least-served urban centers in the region.
During the school year 2009-2010 H.B. Lee
Middle School had a total population of
807 students. 27.3% of these students were
in English as a second language program.
Nadaka is within walking distance for the
students and they have been very active;
after school through the SUN program, and
during the summer, working and learning
in Nadaka. Since the gate on the south side
was opened in February of 2011, H.B. Lee
students are using Nadaka as a shortcut to
school.
Network
Distance
Service
Area
Service
Area
Acres
Total
Population
Served
Age 0-17
People of
Color
¼ mile
115
1,281
327 (26%)
525 (41%)
½ mile
366
4,645
1,229 (26%)
2,159 (46%)
¾ mile
807
9,997
2,807 (28%)
4,977 (50%)
1 mile
1,416
17,502
5,058 (29%)
8,800 (50%)
Children
Table I. Population served by Nadaka Nature Park & Garden Project, Gresham
Oregon: Select 2010 Census Demographics by Network Walking Distance-based
Service Areas.
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THE VISION
Hand painted
camp sign.
Looking west thru the
meadow fence.
The vision is to create “a place that nurtures nature, food, and families” and makes
the Neighborhood Park Master Plan a
reality. This desired future condition is one
where people, especially children, can access healthy and nutritional food, can exercise to reduce obesity, can improve
overall health outcomes, and can
learn about food origins and the
benefits of low-energy, low-input,
local agriculture. This desired
future condition improves access
to nature, enriches the livability
and affordability of the Rockwood
Town Center, increases property
values, and grows cultural understanding through shared opportunities for active and passive
nature-based creation. This desired future
condition protects and enhances healthy
habitat for birds, insects, mammals, and
other biodiversity while making Nadaka
Nature Park a living lab for watershed education and environmental
learning in the Columbia Slough
Watershed.
The process for achieving this
desired future condition will create opportunities for green jobs
associated with the installation
and maintenance of new improvements, for work force development
in landscaping, agriculture, and
ecological restoration and enhancement, and for expanded community participation and cultivation
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of new conservation
leadership. The
process will also be
a model for community initiated
and supported park
development and
natural area stewardship in Gresham
and in East County,
a genuinely collaborative process that
leverages community resources and leadership in making desired improvements and
conducting needed operations and maintenance, including the Nadaka Vegetation
Management Plan.
Turtle Rock, a reminder
of the Camp Fire Girls
presence on this site.
Nadaka Park Master Plan Implementation
Conceptual Budget
The estimated projected costs for this project are as follows:
Preliminary Sitework. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,500
Utilities - Restroom, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96,300
Earthwork. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,500
Street & Path Improvements
– includes NE Pacific and NE Glisan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195,120
Fencing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,836
Woodwork - Footbridges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,000
Irrigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23,498
Plantings – Trees, shrubs, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,699
Rain Gardens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41,250
Furnishings – Benches, etc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,300
Garden Area – Shed, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,000
Play Areas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50,000
Design fees, Construction documents, Project Mgmt.. . . . 456,799
5-Year Operations & Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60,000
Approximate Total Cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,048,802
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What can you do to make the Nadaka
Nature Park & Garden Project a reality?
Donate by mail:
Thanks to the supportive sponsorship of
the Columbia Slough Watershed Council,
you can make a tax-deductible donation to
the Nadaka Nature Park project.
Here’s how:
Fall colors.
Make your check payable to CSWC.
On the memo line write
“to benefit Nadaka Nature Park”
Mail your check to:
CSWC, 7040 NE 47th Ave.,
Portland, OR 97218-1212.
Include all of your contact information so
that your gift can be properly acknowledged and so that you receive a confirmation letter for tax purposes.
Funds received this way can help support
the Nadaka Nature Park project in the following ways:
� Community organizing.
� Marketing expenses including signs, printing flyers, etc.
� Architectural support, construction documents, and permitting fees.
� Fencing, irrigation, benches, bike rack, drinking fountain, nature based play area. Mulch, fruit trees for orchard,
berry bushes, seeds for eco lawn and meadow.
� Rain gardens.
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Call Friends of Nadaka:
Call us at 503-998-1044, and we will be
happy to speak with you about making a
gift. You can also be a friend on Facebook!
Give the gift of time:
Friends of Nadaka enjoys a close association with the City of Gresham. Each
year volunteers log hundreds of hours at
cleanups removing invasives and planting native species. Volunteers have also
coordinated activities with HB Lee Middle
School and Hollydale Elementary. The
first Nadaka Community Festival was in
2011, (the second is August 11, 2012) and
upcoming festivals and activities are being
planned. Once the community gardens are
completed there will be other volunteer
opportunities.
No experience is necessary,
and all are welcome.
For more information please call
City of Gresham Volunteer Services
at 503-618-2482.
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A place to rest along the
trail and listen.
Aerial View Appendix B
NE 174TH AVE
NE 177TH PL
NE PACIFIC ST
NADAKA
NADAKANATURE
NATUREPARK
PARK
OPENSPACE
SPACE
OPEN
NE IRVING ST
NELSON PROPERTY
NEIGHBORHOOD
(FUTURE NEIGHBORHOOD
PARK SITE
PARK)
NE GLISAN ST
File: \\alpha1_lan\cog\Inter-Departmental\MapsAndData\Projects\2009\1100_1199\1108\ MapDocs\Nedakaplus-Aerial.mxd
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Nadaka Nature Park
Neighborhood Park Master Plan
Nadaka Nature Park
5
8
5
8
11 Nelson Property
1
3
10
16
11
1
16
10
9
9
15
11
15
11
7
8
6
8
6
13
13
11
7
11
10
13
13
10
10
4
4
10
14
14
12
3
3
12
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Legend
Apartments
2
Church
3
Nelson Property
Apartments
2
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Legend
1 - Community Garden
9 - Eco-Lawn
1 - /Community
2 - Potting Shed
Storage Bin Garden 10 - Rain Garden
9 - Eco-Lawn
NE Glisan Street
11 -Bin
Berry Patches
2 - Potting Shed / Storage
10 - Rain Garden
NE Glisan Street3 - Tot Play Area
4 - Picnic Table3 - Tot Play Area
12 - Entry Gate 11
and- Bollard
Berry Patches
5 - Orchard
13 - Pervious Surface Path
4 - Picnic Table
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Entry Gate and Bollard
6 - Restroom
14 - Low Fence
5 - Orchard
- Pervious
Surface Path
15 - Community13
Gathering
Space
7 - Nature-Based Playground
14 - Low Fence
16 - Bench
8 - Meadow 6 - Restroom Light
7 - Nature-Based Playground
Light
8 - Meadow
15 - Community Gathering Space
16 - Bench
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Nelson Property Master Plan
Preferred Alternative
March 10, 2010
0'
20'
40'
NORTH
Nadaka Nature Park and Garden Project
Sponsors:
Bob Sallinger, Board Member,
East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District
Shane Bemis, Mayor, Gresham City Council
Project Collaborators:
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Audubon Society of Portland
Catholic Charities El Programa Hispano
City of Gresham
Coalition for a Livable Future
Columbia Slough Watershed Council
East Multnomah Soil and Water
Conservation District
Eastrose Fellowship UU
Friends of Nadaka
Grow Portland
HB Lee Middle School
Human Solutions
Police Activity League (PAL)
Rockwood Neighborhood Association
Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN)
SnowCap Community Charities
St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church
Wilkes East Neighborhood Association
Verde
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Eastrose UU
Church
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Produced by
April, 2012 v.ii
www.friendsofnadaka.org
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