Mid-county Memo Blog

A PSA from Portland Parks & Recreation follows:

“Portland Parks & Recreation encourages public without air conditioning to go to cooling rooms and lobbies at five designated community centers throughout the city
Wading pool late hours are also extended through at Thursday, July 30

“In response to the extreme heat wave this week, Portland Parks & Recreation is encouraging the public who are without air conditioning to go to one of five community centers that are open for people to come and cool off in designated rooms or lobbies. Locations, hours, and bus line information is below.

Portland Parks & Recreation’s Community Gardens program is offering its annual free guided tour of six gardens throughout the city on Saturday, July 18. From 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, participants can join PP&R Community Gardens staff and learn about various gardening techniques, examine water catchment systems, and view edible greenspaces.

The guided tour will take participants by van and carpool to see community gardens at Gabriel Park (Southwest 41st and Canby), Col. Summers Park (Sotheast 20th and Taylor), Sewallcrest Park (Sotheast 31st and Market), Brentwood Park (Southeast 57th and Cooper), Woodlawn Park (7200 N.E. 11th), and Hazelwood Hydro Park (Northeast 117th and Holladay), in east Portland. The tour leaves from PP&R’s Mt. Tabor Central Maintenance Yard at 6437 SE Division Street at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 18.

Mark Warrington,   Portland Parks & Recreation security coordinator sent us a note about the  Park Rangers program. It follows:

“PP&R Park Rangers have begun their twelfth year of seasonal operations. Each year the positive reputation of Park Rangers grows among government and community-based partners as well as the public.

“Park Ranger Supervisor Kurt Nelson leads the PP&R Ranger program. He has been busy revising Ranger procedures, conducting training and getting equipment ready for the busy season. Last week, the Park Ranger Training Academy graduated nine new Rangers who will be paired in teams with ten returning veteran Rangers.

Portland Parks & Recreation opens outdoor pools for the summer this Monday, June 22. Free swim lessons and free open swims are also offered as part of PP&R’s “Summer Free for All”
The outdoor pools — open through August — are located at these parks or schools: Creston, Grant, Montavilla (on Northeast 82nd Avenue at Glisan Street in east Portland), Peninsula, Pier, Sellwood, and Wilson.

In addition, PP&R operates six indoor, year-round pools: Buckman, Columbia, East Portland Community Center, Matt Dishman Community Center, Mt. Scott Community Center, and Southwest Community Center.

A special celebration marks the official opening of Portland’s  first skate plaza at Ed Benedict Park Saturday, May 30. Following the celebration the inaugural ALL-City Skate Series Invitational begins.

Enjoy skateboarding tricks, a Disc Jockey, music, food, drinks, prizes and giveaways — all in honor of Portland Parks & Recreation skateboarding youth!

This competition is open to all youth enrolled in any PP&R skateboarding program or class. The competition has two separate age brackets: 12-and-under (K-8) and 18-and-under (grades 9-12). The opening celebration, featuring City Commissioners Nick Fish and Dan Saltzman, starts at 1 p.m.; the Adidas/Tribute Demo starts at 1:30 p.m. The PP&R Skate Jam kicks off at 2:30 p.m., participants need to check-in by 2 p.m.

The Portland Parks & Recreation board will meet Wednesday, November 19, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Multnomah Arts Center, 7688 S.W. Capitol Hwy.

The public is invited and encouraged to join the Portland Parks Board and Portland Parks & Recreation staff in the discussion of several important agenda items, including the management of Ross Island, Lents Park and the baseball stadium proposal, the Rose Festival’s request for a festival extension, and the upcoming 2009/2010 budget process.
The Portland Parks Board has designated two to three meetings each year to be held in the evenings and at different locations around Portland to encourage more participation by the public.
For more information contact Karen Loper, Assistant to the Director, at 503-823-5123 or Beth Sorensen, Public Information Officer at 503-823-5300.