This spring, the community around the former St. Johns Landfill will get a similar boost
Metro grants will allow organizations in Northwest and North Portland to treat invasive weeds in Forest Park, improve Linnton Community Center for children, spruce up buildings, and host a classical music concert, farm field trips and summer camp – and much more.
In its 20th year, the Metro Central enhancement grant program awarded a total of $72,000 to 10 projects in the community surrounding its namesake: a regional waste transfer station in Northwest Portland. The grants are funded by a surcharge collected on waste.
Six neighborhood association representatives serve on the grant committee, which is chaired by Metro Councilor Sam Chase. At a Metro Council meeting Thursday, Chase announced that the committee funded the following projects:
Forest Park Conservancy, $20,000
Forest Park watershed restoration will treat invasive weed species on 31 acres within the park and 10 acres on private property.
Golden Harvesters Inc., $6,200
A mini-split heat and air conditioning unit will be installed in the company’s new location.
Linnton Community Center, $10,000
Regrades a steeply sloped, unsafe playground and adds a shade tree and a children’s butterfly garden with native plants.
Northwest Industrial Neighborhood Association, $7,000
Creates a linear park at the corner of Northwest Nicolai Street and Northwest Yeon Avenue.
Portland Festival Symphony, $6,000
Supports a free classical music concert performed by the Oregon Symphony at Cathedral Park on July 27, 2014.
Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group, $3,500
The Willamette Speaks: An oral history project will collect and share stories of community elders and others who fished, swam, played and worked on the river.
Rebuilding Together Portland, $3,500
Community enhancement projects repair and rehabilitate nonprofit buildings or owner-occupied homes in the central district target area.
Sauvie Island Center, $4,540
Farm field trips for 160 third grade students from James John and Chapman elementary schools.
Store to Door, $5,000
Nourishment and social connections for seniors and adults with disabilities through their grocery and prescription drug delivery service.
Tsuga, $6,250
Parks Learning and Community Enhancement summer camp in Cathedral Park, serving ages 9 to 16.
Capacity building grants will be awarded this spring to non profit groups working in the area surrounding the former St. Johns Landfill in North Portland. The North Portland enhancement grants committee decided to spend the remaining money for that purpose during the new few years.
The committee pledged $850,000 to help complete part of the North Portland Greenway Trail – connecting residents of the St. Johns neighborhood to the former landfill, which is being converted into a natural area called the St. Johns Prairie. This funding helped secure a grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation to build a Columbia Boulevard crossing, improving safety and livability for area residents.
These one-time only grants are designed to help organizations build their capacity to serve North Portland residents for the long term. After reviewing 60 letters of interest, the committee is inviting 16 organizations to submit full proposals.