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| Vol. 21, No. 9 • Mailed monthly to over 13,500 homes in the Gateway & Parkrose Communities Free • JANUARY 2006 | ||||||||
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FEATURE ARTICLES | |
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| Maywood Park citizens get involved “This could be more expensive the longer we wait,” she said. But Clark said she likes the family oriented community where neighbors watch over each other. “I feel very safe here,” she said. Hardie said dedicated volunteers help maintain Maywood Park’s public safety through a program called Park Watch. “We’re just trying to keep trouble out and keep ourselves living happily ever after,” said Vic Baldasar, a Park Watch volunteer for the past several years. He and wife Joanne purchased their Maywood Park retirement home in 1999, moving from a New York City neighborhood that had deteriorated with increasing crime, noise and traffic. “This is like Eden compared to where we lived,” said Baldasar, who patrols Maywood Park daily, looking for trouble. “I keep my eyes open for anything out of whack,” he said. “Because I love this city. I love the way people here take care of their neighbors.” “The people within Maywood Park’s boundaries are very proud of their little town and they’re deeply involved,” said Gene Young, a resident since 1948. In addition to its holiday celebrations, the city helps residents dispose of yard debris with an annual citywide cleanup day. “I’d guess we fill between six to eight dumpsters total,” Young said. At age 90, Young and his wife, Luella, 87, take daily walks along the parkway buffer between I-205 and the city’s western border, Maywood Place. The eastern border is Northeast 102nd Avenue. The city maintains the half-mile-long parkway, which is also a portion of the I-205 Bike Lane. “It’s beautifully landscaped,” said Young. The Youngs’ tidy, ranch-style home faces the park. “We lost a lot of neighbors when the freeway went through,” Young said. But he and Luella say they’ve never considered moving. “We’re staying here as long as we can.” The quiet community “almost feels like you’ve stepped back in time,” said Julie Risely, 47, a six-year resident and Maywood Park’s only paid employee. Risely works part-time as city treasurer and city recorder. An operating budget of $547,000 paid for street maintenance and services provided by outside contractors this year. “We were set up to operate on a balanced budget and we do so every year,” Hardie said. The city pays for law enforcement and fire services through Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office and Fire District 10. The city maintains its own streets with some outside help. Like any Oregon municipality, Maywood Park receives utility franchise fees and portions of the state’s gas, liquor and cigarette taxes. “We’re not Beverly Hills, but the city is doing very well financially,” Hardie said. More importantly, “citizens have a better chance to be heard,” he said, unlike those who face Portland’s larger bureaucratic system. But there’s a downside to independence. Maywood Park was bypassed by Portland sewer lines, and thus, relies on an outdated cesspool system. “If that system suddenly fails, we can’t replace it,” Hardie said. The city council commissioned a feasibility study to look at new options for sewage treatment, but Hardie said he hasn’t yet received results of the study or looked at cost estimates. “There have been no numbers developed yet,” he said. “But we definitely don’t have enough in our coffers to pay for it all.” Hardie said federal grants may be available to help cover the cost. The potential sewage problem is a big concern for Jenny Clark, 43, a resident since 1994. |
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