NPB Playground Renovation to Begin

North Park Blocks Playground Renovation

Portland Parks & Recreation is excited to announce that construction on the Parks Replacement Bond-funded renovation of the North Park Blocks playground will start in early August!

Faison Construction is now on board as the contractor for this project.

Construction fencing installation starting on Thursday, August 2

Starting Thursday, park visitors will see fencing go up around the playground to secure the site for construction. The Park Replacement Bond-funded improvements will include a new playground with fully accessible rubber play surfacing, new play equipment, and ADA accessibility pathway improvements. Expected completion is late fall 2018. The playground is located on the park block between NW Davis and Couch Streets. During the closure of this playground, other nearby playgrounds are The Fields Park at 1099 NW Overton Street and Wallace Park at 1516 NW 26th Avenue.

Other construction impacts

The sidewalks along the playground will generally remain open. Later in the project, some work will occur to make the sidewalks more accessible, so there may be signed closures at that time. For your safety, please respect all detour routes.

Two trees that have safety issues will be removed at the beginning of this project, as discussed during the design and public involvement process. One of the trees, a black locust, is considered hazardous by PP&R arborists, due to its leaning condition. The second tree, a sweet gum (well known for the spiky balls it drops in the fall) is located within the construction area and has been deemed to be incompatible with providing a safe playground and accessible play experience. Two new American Elms will be planted at the end of construction as replacements in more appropriate locations.
 

The improvements will include a new playground with accessible rubber play surfacing, new play equipment, and ADA accessibility pathway improvements. Parks users will see construction mobilization begin in early August, with expected completion in late fall 2018. The playground is located on the park block between NW Davis and Couch Streets. During the closure of this playground, other nearby playgrounds are The Fields Park at 1099 NW Overton Street and Wallace Park at 1516 NW 26th Avenue.

More information about the North Park Blocks Bond Project: portlandoregon.gov/parks/69742

North Park Blocks hosts Green Loop / Sunday Parkways

Sunday parkway map close up

North Park Blocks will be one of the best stops along  (7 mile) Green Loop / Sunday Parkways on July 22, 2018
(11:00 am to 4:00 pm)

Here’s the activities we are hosting:

  • All Day Zumba Classes from Portland Parks and Recreation
  • Kids soccer nets
  • BIKETOWN – Portland’s bike share system: sign up and take your first ride today!
  • Pacific NW College of Arts: Check out the interactive art station and take a tour of PNCA
  • The Circus Project: Aerial acrobatic performances
  • Prosper Portland: See and hear about the exciting development options for the Post Office relocation
  • New Seasons Market: Your friendly neighborhood grocery store. Stop by and say hi!
  • Potluck in the Park -Feeding Portland Homeless since 1991
  • Kaiser Permanente sticker stop

More info:

An invitation from the Portland Bocce League

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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.”

Ankeny Square Activation Opportunity

Ankeny Square ActivationWe’re excited to hear that Portland Parks & Recreation is soliciting proposal for Ankeny Square. Can’t beat the rent: $1/ year.

Ankeny Square is located between West Burnside and SW Ankeny, and between SW 8th Ave and SW Park Ave on the edge of the Pearl District in downtown Portland. This half-block actually sits at the southern end of Portland’s historic North Park Blocks.

Info meeting at Ankeny Square on Friday, April 8th at 1PM for Ankeny Square Activation: A Business Opportunity! PP&R staff will be available to answer your questions about this process at the optional preproposal meet on April 8th. If you are unable to attend, but have some questions, please email Trang Lam at Trang.Lam@PortlandOregon.Gov

All submittals are due on Wednesday, April 20 at 4PM.

About this Project – Request For Interest (RFI)

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) invites interest from individuals, for-profit and non-profit organizations and businesses to propose business ideas and/or programing activities that will support activation at and provide a unique identity to Ankeny Square, part of the North Park Blocks. Ankeny Square is between SW Ankeny and W Burnside Streets, as attached in Exhibit A. PP&R recognizes that an effective public-private agreement has the potential to not only generate revenue but also positively enhance the experience of park users, businesses and residents surrounding Ankeny Square as well as visitor experience to The North Park Block as a whole.

This Request For Interest (RFI) is encouraging and creating the competitive environment for new agreement(s) to be created. This RFI is designed to give all who may be interested an opportunity to suggest public-private partnerships, including those for permits or lease agreements depending on the nature of the response.

More info here