PDNA – North Park Blocks ~ PDX

April 10, 2016

An invitation from the Portland Bocce League

Anyone want to get into bocce this summer? – “The Portland Bocce League is interested in maintaining a relationship with the PDNA, since our principle base of activity is at the north end of the North Park Blocks. We activate the NPB in what we believe is a positive way. We also face the difficulties presented by some park users/campers each week night. 2015 was stressful for our group, too, and left many talking about finding other venues to play bocce.

We would like to get to know other members of the Pearl District community better, and would like to participate in ongoing discussions with the City regarding conditions in the North Park Blocks.”

February 24, 2016

A Vision for the North Park Blocks

Meeting Held with City Officials: Reported by Stanley Penkin

Following the disruptive summer of 2015 in the North Park Blocks (NPB), there has been a good deal of discussion and citizen activism to assure that there is not a repeat occurrence this coming summer, or ever again.

Residents and businesses adjacent to NPB gathered their forces late last summer to engage the city in efforts to promote greater activation of the park and stronger police enforcement of criminal behavior. The Pearl District Neighborhood Association Livability and Safety Committee (LSC) joined the effort and developed an activation work plan to bring more events and activity to the park.

Members of the NPB Consortium and LSC recently met with the Parks and Recreation Bureau’s top leadership and representatives from the Mayor’s and Commissioner Fritz’ offices to discuss ways to better program the North Park Blocks. There are challenges to holding some events due to fragile grass and tree roots being damaged, but many ideas were discussed including a greater long term vision for the park.

While the major focus of this meeting was on short term solutions, the NPB/LSC group asked the Parks Bureau to take a longer term, holistic view of the park that would coordinate with the upcoming upgrade of the playground, the City’s Green Loop Plan, the anticipated Flanders street bike bridge and the post office site.

The NPB/LSC vision for the North Park Blocks in 2016 and beyond should embody stimulation, movement, beauty and contemplation. The central location, a major connector between China Town, the Pearl and Downtown creating a cultural infusion where residents, students, tourists and all Portlanders come to enjoy communal interaction, commerce and reflection, bustling and brewing with creativity and joy.

Both city staff and NPB/LSC agreed to holding ongoing meetings to continue the conversation with the next meeting anticipated in early April.

Image credit: Wikipedia – North Park Blocks, Portland, Oregon (2012) by Another Believer

October 8, 2015October 9, 2015

Join Us: “Polish The Pearl” Saturday 10/17/15

Photo of the northwest view from the US Bancorp Tower.

Join neighbors and friends for a fall neighborhood clean-up of the Pearl District! Volunteers meet at Peet’s Coffee to check in, receive a free cup of coffee, get a street assignment, pick up supplies, and head out into the neighborhood to pick up litter.

After the event, volunteers turn in supplies and stay for a FREE raffle of an Electra Townie bike! The first 50 volunteers to register online receive a free snack from The Fields Bar & Grill. All supplies are provided, such as safety vests, gloves, trash pickers, brooms, trash bags, etc. Just register for the event online, show up, and be prepared to have a fun time!

Check-in starts at 8:30 AM. Teams leave at 9 AM and meet at The Fields Park at 11:30 AM. The event will happen rain or shine – be sure to dress for the weather. Minors under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Polish the Pearl is a bi-annual event organized by the Pearl District Neighborhood Association (PDNA) Livability and Safety Committee

Image credit: “Pearl District” by Ajbenj at the English language Wikipedia. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons

September 8, 2015

Pearl Block Party: Sept 11

Pearl Block Party that is happening on Sept. 11th from 5 pm – 9 pm on 13th Avenue. Beyond being a fun event both for residents and workers of the Pearl, we will have a table set up for new volunteers for the neighborhood foot patrol.

September 5, 2015

NW Examiner: Civility Collapses on North Park Blocks

**Civility collapses on North Park Blocks- Sept 2015 – click to enlarge**

The September 2015 issue of the NW Examiner details this summer’s dramatic decline of the North Park Blocks.
Click here for PDF of article

Our lovely park has become home to vagrants who openly do drugs, have sex, fights and regularly urinate and defecate in public. … This is affecting my business and more importantly, Portland’s prosperity in the long run.” ~ Michelle Cardinal, CEO of the R2C ad agency located on the North Park Blocks.

“Everyone I speak to is talking about the city being out of control… It’s very scary what happening to the city right now … younger ‘road warriors’ with aggressive, unleashed dogs began taking over public spaces. I have so much compassion of the truly homeless people, but they are not the problem.” ~ Stan Penkin, co-founder of Friendly Steers and a member of the Pearl District Neighborhood Association (PDNA) Livability Committee.