Argay Park: let there be more light
A couple of weeks ago, at the east end of the off-leash area in Argay Park, three new light poleswere installed. Not knowing the Portland Parks & Recreation Bureau had scheduled this upgrade, we put a called them, only to discover the money for this improvement came from Mayor Tom Potter’s Interbureau Task Force.
Mark Warrington, public safety manager for Portland Parks & Recreation said the impetus for the additional lighting came from the IBTF.
The task force is comprised of representatives from each City Council office, a representatives from the Portland Police and Development Services Bureau code inspections division. The IBTF’s objective is to address livability, crime and fear of crime in neighborhood areas with long-term and complex public safety issues.
In January 2008, based on input from community and the Portland Police Bureau, and Bureau of Development Services, the IBTF voted to activate a portion of east Portland’s Argay neighborhood as a project area — from Northeast 125th to 141st Avenues, and from Sandy Blvd. to Prescott Drive, then south to Shaver including Argay Park — the Sandy/122nd Plan.
Since its inception, the plan claims to have reduced graffiti from the K-Mart store area on Northeast 122nd Avenue and Sandy Blvd., added additional lighting and addressed the stolen shopping cart problems at the store; caused the cessation of drug paraphernalia sales at the Friendly Village Market; supported the 24-hour management contact for off site apartment complex operators through ordinance; and begun an Argay Park foot Patrol.
The committee still wants to:
Address alleged over serving concerns inside and also alleged prostitution problems outside two taverns identified in the plan area.
Determine which of the seven large apartment buildings in the plan area need directed code enforcement, landlord training or other enforcement actions.
Implement in 2009 and 2010 the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Streetscape Project from Northeast 122nd to 141st Avenues.
With Sam Adams’ election as mayor, we’ll follow how these projects track in 2009.
