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LEE PERLMAN
THE MID-COUNTY MEMO
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| Norma Crockford and her dog, Corbett, check out the new trail at the dedication of the Wilkes Creek Natural Area last month. It took five years and $31,800 in grants and in-kind donations from Metro as well as donated time and services to complete the project. |
| MEMO PHOTOS: TIM CURRAN |
Last month the Wilkes Community Group and political leaders honored one of the success stories — the Wilkes Natural Area, located on Northeast 154th Avenue across the street from Wilkes Park. It is 2.2 acres of woodland with a trail and creek running through it. Contrary to information in “Perlman’s Potpourri” last month, it is an environmental zone that is part of the adjacent Riverview housing development. At the urging of Wilkes and Mindy Brooks of the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services, the Riverview Homeowners Association granted a public easement for the natural area.
Five years ago the area included a few large trees overrun by blackberry vines. Since then volunteers have been clearing the area of junk and invasive species such as blackberries, morning glories and nightshade, and planting such native plants as cottonwood, big leaf maples, red cedars, Oregon grape and pacific ninebark. Volunteers created a bark dust trail, and professionals built a bridge over the creek that runs through the property.
Wilkes obtained two Nature in Neighborhoods grants from Metro, one for $2,500 and the second for $8,300. Part of the second grant was used to pay for the bridge, since it was considered better to have this done professionally than to depend on volunteers. However, as Metro Councilor Rod Park said at the dedication, “We can supply money, but without volunteers, not much will happen.” Metro Grants Manager Janelle Geddes noted that Wilkes leveraged $21,000 worth of donated materials and volunteer time. Steve Kennett of SOLV oversaw much of the work, and brought in some 400 volunteers from many organizations, including Eagle Scout Troop #613, which removed blackberries and laid bark dust on the day of the dedication. Wilkes resident Kerry Brown “took care of this as if it were her own yard,” one observer said.
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| Terence Packham puts the finishing touches on the trail in the Wilkes Creek Natural Area at its dedication last month while former Wilkes Community Group chair and long-time environmental activist Alice Blatt strolls on. The 2.2 acres of woodland is across the street from Wilkes Park at Northeast 154th Avenue, south of Sandy Boulevard. |
| MEMO PHOTOS: TIM CURRAN |
“We think of him as a miniature schnauzer,” Hazelwood Neighborhood Association Chair Arlene Kimura offered.
Former Wilkes Chair Alice Blatt recalled that when the Wilkes neighborhood was annexed to Portland in the early ‘80s, “We had zero parks except for Glendoveer Golf Course, which was not suitable for many things. Our original objective was to obtain one playground park and to have the stream listed as a resource. I’m delighted that the community group and everyone have kept working to get us more.”
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