PARKS 2020 VISION OUTHEAST Distinctive Features Studio in the Laurelhurst Park annex is a satellite of the Montavilla Community Center. I Aquatic facilities include Sellwood, Mt. Scott, Description: The Southeast sub-area (see map at the Buckman, Montavilla and Creston. end of this section) contains many of the city's older, I established neighborhoods. This area is a patchwork of The Community Music Center is in this sub-area. older, mainly single-family neighborhoods divided by I The Southeast sub-area has three Community linear commercial corridors. The Central Eastside Schools and 45 school sites. Industrial District, which borders the east bank of the I There are lighted baseball stadiums at Willamette, separates some residential neighborhoods Westmoreland and Lents Parks. from the river. Resources and Facilities: Southeast has 898 acres Population – Current and Future: The Southeast of parkland, ranking third in total amount of park sub-area ranks first in population with 154,000 and acreage. Most parks are developed, well distributed, is projected to grow to 157,830 by 2020, an increase in good condition, and can accommodate a range of of 2%. recreational uses. I Southeast has the City’s largest combined acreage DISTRIBUTION OF SUBAREA ACRES BY PARK TYPE of neighborhood and community parks. I Southeast has a variety of habitat parks, including Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, Tideman Johnson Park, and Johnson Creek Park that are popular sites for hiking, birding, walking, and general recreation use. I This sub-area includes part of the I-205 Bike Trail and about 4.6 miles of the Springwater Corridor, a 195-acre 16.5 mile-long regional trailway that includes many natural resources. The Springwater will connect downtown Portland to Gresham by 2002, then to Boring, and possibly to Estacada and the Mt. Hood National Forest in the future. I The Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, Ladd’s Circle and Squares and Rose Gardens are located in this area. There are 11 community garden sites with 507 plots. I The area has four community centers – Sellwood, Woodstock, Mt. Scott and Montavilla, ranging from acceptable to barely adequate. The Laurelhurst 66 PORTLAND PARKS & RECREATION Southeast Issues and Needs I The Woodstock Community Center is a former fire station with very limited program offerings, PARK SHORTAGES and little or no potential to offer more. Its long- term usefulness needs to be addressed. I Southeast has two areas with parkland deficiencies: I The Sellwood Community Center, built as a • The area north of Mt. Tabor - roughly bounded by rooming house in 1909, does not meet current I-84, 39th and 82nd Avenues PP&R community center standards. This center • The area bounded by Division, Powell, and 62nd has limited ability to fulfill community needs and and 82nd Avenues its long-term role in the PP&R system needs to I Mt. Tabor and Laurelhurst include fragile resources be addressed. – horticultural and natural – that can be damaged I Although Mt. Scott has new aquatic facilities, through excessive and inappropriate use. additional renovation is needed to correct facility problems and limitations to make it into a full-service center. RISKS TO NATURAL RESOURCES I The 20-yard pool in the basement of Buckman I Increased visitation to Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge School is not ADA accessible and has limited and Johnson Creek Park for hiking, birding, walking capacity to serve Southeast residents. (The other and general recreation use will impact the natural aquatic facilities in Southeast are generally resources and cause the health and integrity of the in good condition.) resources to decline. Excessive and inappropriate I The Community Music Center is at capacity. use is currently having negative impacts on Oaks Bottom, which is accessible and close to residential areas. NEED FOR ACCESS, TRAILS AND CONNECTIVITY I Although the Willamette River is a major RISKS TO THE URBAN FOREST recreational resource within walking or bicycling I distance for many Southeast residents, river There are a significant number of mature and over- access is difficult. Freeways, highways and mature trees and many areas where trees have not industrial areas separate neighborhoods from the been replaced in the urban forest. river. Existing access routes are not well marked. I The urban forest canopy on private property and in I Neighborhoods south of the Springwater Corridor parks is sparse and aging. lack connection to that regional trail. I There is a lack of diversity in the tree species in the I There is a 1.2 mile gap in the Springwater Corridor right-of-way, and limited opportunities to plant in the Sellwood-Moreland area from SE McLoughlin trees on unimproved streets. to the Sellwood bridge area. Closing the gap will require a number of bridges to cross a major street, FACILITY DEFICIENCIES a railroad and Johnson Creek. I Residents of the Inner Southeast/Central Eastside Industrial District have long needed a full service community center. 67 PARKS 2020 VISION Southeast Recommendations EXPAND AND DEVELOP RECREATION FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS ACQUIRE LAND AND DEVELOP PARKS I Develop a full service community center to serve the Inner Southeast. Possible sites include the I Work cooperatively with schools to use school Central Eastside district or the Westmoreland area. grounds to address the park deficiencies and to I Work with the community to establish a provide open space in some neighborhoods. community center in the Lents Town Center Urban I Develop a new mini-neighborhood park at the Renewal Area. Work cooperatively to program its Richmond Park site. use to serve teens, seniors and other residents. I Continue to acquire parkland in Errol Heights for I Work cooperatively to develop a new sports a neighborhood park with significant wetland complex in the Lents Town Center Urban resources. Renewal Area. I Protect and enhance existing parks, such as Mt. I Renovate and rebuild the Mt. Scott Community Tabor and Laurelhurst, to accommodate greater Center to provide full-service for this area. numbers of users without adverse affect on the Increase parking for this facility. land and resources. I Expand the capacity of the Community Music I Continue to acquire land to protect resources in the Center and complete seismic upgrades. Johnson Creek area, including the Crystal Springs I Enhance classroom and multi-purpose spaces sub-basin. at Montavilla Community Center and provide additional parking. PROTECT AND IMPROVE NATURAL RESOURCE AREAS I Consider the future roles of Woodstock and I Implement management recommendations for Elk Sellwood Community Centers as part of PP&R’s Rock Island, especially in the areas of information, long-term strategy for community centers. education, and enforcement. I Add a “water playground” to expand recreation I Prepare Management plans for the newly acquired opportunities at Creston Pool. natural areas in the Johnson Creek watershed. I Explore acquiring unused strip mall buildings I Work with City planners, environmental groups, in the SE 82nd and Foster/Division area for Ross Island Sand and Gravel, and residents to indoor/outdoor sports facilities. develop restoration, preservation and recreation I Add seniors-only and/or intergenerational plans for Ross Island when this valued asset is programs to the Mt. Scott, Montavilla and added to the City’s inventory of park and open Sellwood Community Centers. spaces. Coordinated plans for its restoration and I Assist the Rhododendron Society in implementing use are critical. the Master Plan for the Crystal Springs I Develop and improve river-related recreational Rhododendron Garden. opportunities along the Willamette River, especially between the Burnside Bridge and Elk Rock Island, DEVELOP PARK ACCESS, TRAILS AND CONNECTIONS where residents can access the water and enjoy unimpeded views across the river. Possible I Create stronger linkages between the area’s improvements include a light watercraft center neighborhoods and the Willamette River. and a Willamette River Education Center. I Develop and sign pedestrian corridors to the I Work to restore and enhance Crystal Springs Creek. Eastbank Esplanade. I Continue to improve the Springwater Corridor and PROTECT AND IMPROVE URBAN FOREST work cooperatively to connect it to the Willamette River Greenway Trail. I Encourage the planting of new trees to replace the I declining canopy on private property. Create connections from the neighborhoods to the Springwater Corridor in the southern half of the I Develop an inventory to provide clear information sub-area. The Brooklyn Neighborhood is working on current conditions that will guide future on an option to access the Springwater near the decisions. existing Ross Island Sand and Gravel facility. I Ensure that adequate planting strips are provided to accommodate street trees when development occurs. 68 PORTLAND PARKS & RECREATION 69 PARKS 2020 VISION SOUTHEAST SUB-AREA – Park Sites to be Developed and Renovated Site Name Develop Redevelop Extensive Basic Repairs Notes New Park Exstg. Park Renovation Renovation Berkeley Park G Berrydale Park G Bloomington Park G Brentwood Park G Brooklyn Park G Brooklyn School Park G Cherry Blossom Park G Cherry Park G Clinton Park G Colonel Summers Park G Creston Park G Crystal Springs Rhododen Garden G Eastmoreland Golf Course G Errol Heights Property G a Essex Park G Flavel Park G Flavel Dr. Property G Glenwood Park G Harney Park G Kenilworth Park G Kern Park G Ladd's Circle, Squares & Rose Gdn. G Laurelhurst Park G Lents Park G Mt. Scott Park G Mt. Tabor Park G Powell Park G Richmond Property G Sellwood Park G Sellwood Riverfront Park G Sewallcrest Park G Springwater Corridor G b Westmoreland Park G Woodstock Park G Develop New Parks Unimproved sites to be developed as neighborhood, community or regional parks. Master plans are needed before development. At some sites, additional land may be needed before development can occur. Redevelop Exstg. Park Sites that have a minimal level of improvements.