Connect > West Slope neighbors get improved park access
West Slope neighbors get improved park access
West Slope neighbors get improved park access
June 30, 2015 - Posted in:
Maintenance, Parks
Thanks to the recent efforts of THPRD’s Maintenance Operations department, residents of Portland’s West Slope area can now enjoy better access to their neighborhood park.
For years, West Slope Park neighbors have communicated a desire for better access to the .69 acre property; its secondary entrance (off of SW Maple Ln. and SW Crestdale St.) has long consisted of a steep, non-sanctioned trail extending into the park from a Washington County easement.
“It’s a gravel path, and it shot down at about a 30 percent grade,” said Keith Watson, THPRD’s park maintenance supervisor. “Moms with strollers and older guests were having a tough time accessing the park.”
Roger Whitaker oversees regular maintenance at the site for THPRD. Last year, Whitaker made improvements to the park’s drainage system and improved a few of the site’s amenities at the request of concerned neighbors.
When he heard that the Parks Advisory Committee was seeking a suitable project for a recent grant, Whitaker quickly put together a presentation that demonstrated the need for a more suitable entry point at West Slope Park.
Whitaker got the go-ahead from the committee in February to construct a new entry. He designed a pathway and landscaping, submitted the plans to Washington County, and received the necessary permits to proceed. Jerry Burgess, THPRD's capital project coordinator, managed plans to have the new path paved.
Working with limited funding, Whitaker mobilized full- and part-time staff to demolish an old chain link fence, haul in boulders and build a retaining wall.
On Monday, June 22, Eastside Paving Company laid the asphalt.
The surrounding area was enhanced with new trees and shrubs, and a split rail fence. A new, safer entry is now open for park visitors.
“The neighbors wanted to see improvement, they asked us to help them out, and we worked together,” Watson said.