Fifteen parks and nature projects that community members imagined, developed and voted for were awarded grants totaling $2.3 million by the Metro Council on Thursday, February 22. The awards were the culmination of the pilot round of Metro’s Nature in Neighborhoods community choice grants program, a new approach to grant-making that put community members in the lead of each step of the process.
The grants, ranging from $88,400 to $166,667, were possible thanks to voters investing in nature by passing the 2019 parks and nature bond measure. The pilot round of funding focused on Metro Council District 4, which incudes the Washington County cities and neighborhoods along Highway 8. Three projects are in Forest Grove, two in Cornelius, five in Hillsboro, four within the Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District, and one to PCC-Rock Creek.
“When our communities are given the opportunity to shape priorities in their backyards, good things happen,” said Metro Councilor Juan Carlos Gonzalez, who represents District 4. “This program created projects that are truly reflective of our communities' needs and it showed what we can accomplish when community members have more opportunities to take an active role in expanding and improving public amenities around them.”
The Nature in Neighborhoods community choice grants began in the spring of 2023 with a call from Metro for community members to share park and conservation project ideas. More than 118 ideas were submitted online and at community events across Washington County. One of the goals of the community choice grants program was to make it as easy as possible for community members to participate. Throughout the process, Metro staff attended community events to gather input on the projects and, eventually, help folks vote.
A particular effort was made to attend events by and for communities of color. Historically, Black and Brown communities have been underserved or even harmed by government investments. The 2019 parks and nature bond has racial equity criteria for all of its programs, in part to undo past injustices like these.
Most of the initial ideas for projects were only a few sentences long or a simple drawing, so community members then worked with park planners and landscape architects to take these ideas and develop them into project concepts. The workshops were held at community centers and libraries in District 4.
The design workshops produced 44 parks and nature projects, which then went to a first vote. Anyone 11 years old or older in District 4 was eligible for the first vote. After that vote and another round of development, 27 projects went to a final round of voting, which was open to anyone 11 or older in greater Portland.
Community members cast over 1,600 eligible votes. This turnout, according to Gabrielle Brown, a program manager at Metro, compares favorably with other participatory projects across North America. It was particularly encouraging for a pilot of a unique type of program in the region.
Councilor Duncan Hwang praised the work, saying, “Thank you for advancing our democracy.”
Along with the community voting, a couple other factors influenced what projects were awarded grants. The biggest was the state rules governing bond funded projects. The 2019 parks and nature bond can only fund projects that result in a physical thing, like a playground, boardwalk or salmon-passable culvert, that is owned by a local government. The projects also need someone to build them, so Metro worked closely with local parks departments and districts to determine which projects could be built and maintained.
The parks and nature projects now move to their respective home agencies. Some of the projects fit neatly into existing plans while others need more groundwork before moving forward. Progress should be made over the next few years to deliver these community-imagined and -designed parks.
Nature in Neighborhoods community choice grants recipients
Enhancing Shute Park
Hillsboro
This project proposes new amenities for the wooded area south of the library at Hillsboro’s beloved Shute Park. The proposal includes new nature play elements such as log play, steppingstones and other tactile elements. Two bench swings, seating and a table for playing games are included in the concept. Accessible circulation will be integrated. Native planting areas will create a buffer along the edges of the site along SE 10th Avenue.
Nature play in Evergreen Park
Hillsboro
In the wooded area to the south of Evergreen Park, the proposed play area will have clusters of climbing logs, steppingstones, boulders, and open areas for free play and fort building. The project proposes using natural materials for play surfacing in order to blend with the natural wooded area around. Seating will be integrated into the project. A new path with adjacent native plantings will connect the new play area to the existing park and existing paths. New site signage will provide information about plant species and safe play guidelines.
Native plant gardens at Rood Bridge Park
Hillsboro
This project is located on the south side of Rood Bridge Park and proposes native planting and ecological enhancement areas around the pond and wetlands. This project will restore habitat for native flora and fauna and will add interpretive signage to help community members learn about these native ecosystems. This area is seasonally flooded, so plantings and restoration design will work with these ecological processes to enhance habitat for native flora and fauna at the park and connect visitors to the place.
Covered outdoor play at Evergreen Park
Hillsboro
A covered play space is proposed to update the play area in the center of Evergreen Park. A covered structure will drain to the rain garden on the southeast corner. Swings, spinners, and a play structure will all be sheltered from the elements! Large shade trees and a path connecting to the southern trails will link the updated play area to the rest of the park.
Serenity Park
Hillsboro
Nestled into the beautiful Orenco Woods Nature Park, two new moments for serenity are proposed. A public art installation with seating will be off the eastern trails into a clearing surrounded by existing trees with an accessible pathway linking it to the existing trail. A proposed berm south of the existing play area will provide space for yoga and meditation with a platform and seating. This quite space will be surrounded by native plantings to seamlessly integrate with the surrounding meadows.
Asian Produce Garden
Rock Creek
An Asian Produce gleaning garden is proposed for the eastern edge of the open field bookended by NW Ernst Street, NW 162nd Ave and NW Brugger Road. This garden will be an open resource to the surrounding community and include two sections, one for culturally significant and edible plants, as well as a second section for native pollinator plants. A new water meter will also be installed to irrigate this culturally specific garden.
Connecting people and habitat in Aloha
Aloha
In the scenic and newly refurbished Recuerdo Park, this project proposes enhancing community connection to nature by expanding gleaning garden amenities. The proposed project is an expansion of the gleaning garden area which would include new garden plots at the north side of the park along SW Marty Lane. Adelante Mujeres is a potential community partner for this work. Visitors would have the opportunity to connect with nature through existing viewpoints, trails, bridges and shelters.
To make it all good again at PCC Rock Creek
Rock Creek
Led by a coalition of Indigenous community members and Portland Community College faculty, the “To Make it All Good Again at PCC Rock Creek” proposal will support accessibility improvements, community learning and visitor experiences at several locations across the Rock Creek campus. This project proposes planting culturally significant plants and First Foods at the learning garden located at the southern end of campus. On the north side of campus, this project proposes the creation of an overlook which will offer views over an existing meadow and wetland habitat surrounding Rock Creek. At the overlook, there will be a gathering area with seating and art facilitated by Indigenous artists. Existing trails that lead from the overlook down to an established grove of Oregon white oaks near the creek will be improved for accessibility and have updated trailhead signage and trailhead improvements.
Pollinator pathway on Rock Creek Powerline Trail
Rock Creek
Walking the Rock Creek Powerline Trail from NW Rock Creek Road, there are invasive blackberries all along the existing trail. This project proposes to remove these bushes and replant native pollinators along the extent of trail opposite to the soccer fields. Along the trail near the newly planted pollinator area will be three rest benches on accessible surfacing, with plant signage to promote learning opportunities.
To make it all good again at Tualatin Hills Nature Park
Beaverton
Existing trails wind through the beloved streams and wooded area of Tualatin Hills Nature Park. New interpretive signage is proposed throughout the trails to inform people of all ages about the nature they are interacting with and cultural practices associated with various plants. This project ideas centers around the potential for future collaboration between Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District and the Native community, who could work together to develop the interpretive content. Native plant restoration areas will be identified and restored. Trail accessibility, maintenance and restoration improvements will be made.
Wetland restoration at Kyle Park
Forest Grove
A new play and gathering area is being developed by Forest Grove in the nook of nature south of B Street Self Storage, west of B Street and cradled by Gales Creek. The play and gathering area will be defined through a design process with the city. The Nature in Neighborhoods community choice grant proposes two new shade trees and meadow planting/wetland restoration. The restoration will occur along the south end between the flood plain and new gathering and play areas. The grant also proposes new bird boxes nestled into the natural area along Gale Creek to provide homes for resident birds.
Keeping it rustic in Cornelius
Cornelius
A new nature space is proposed at Steamboat City Park with access from the parking lot off the South 15th Ave cul-de-sac. A First Foods and medicine garden will be tucked into the clearing with a shade structure at the east end. Accessible surfacing will be provided around the garden perimeter with picnic tables on the south side. Bird boxes will be nestled along the trees to the south end of the new garden area. A new accessible trail will provide access to a new fishing pier and canoe launch on the nearby Tualatin River.
Pocket forest in Cornelius
Cornelius
A new forest and walking path are proposed for the southern corner of Tarrybrooke Park. A new accessible gravel loop will connect to the street along S 4th Ave. The loop will wind through Miyawaki forest planting and provide shade for a neighborhood with little tree cover. A dog waste station will be provided.
Pollinator pathway on the Forest Grove Loop
Forest Grove
Pollinator planting and benches are proposed along the southern part of Forest Grove Loop Trail to the east of SW Ritchey Road. Gale Creek winds along the south of the trail and residential neighborhoods are to the north. New patches of seeding with pollinator plants will host planting areas of shrubs and perennials. In the patch concentrated closest to the residential area, benches will be provided along the trail, encouraging residents to come be in nature.
Re-Indigenizing the Forest Grove Loop Trail
Forest Grove
Native plant restoration and artwork are proposed for Gale Creek along the southern part of Forest Grove Loop Trail to the east of SW Ritchey Road. Visible from Ritchey Road, a new public art installation will mark the entry to the Forest Grove Loop Trail. Another public art installation will be further along the trail near the residential area. All artwork will center Indigenous Atfalati culture and stories. Gale Creek will receive oak restoration along its banks and a restored wetland habitat with native plants will rest in the crook of the creek. A circular gathering space will sit just off the trail and north of the restored wetland.