Oregon City residents are invited to join friends, family and neighbors to kick off visioning for Newell Creek Canyon Natural Area on Tuesday, April 29, from 5:30-7:30 pm at the Pioneer Community Center, 615 5th Street in Oregon City.
Participants will help set the foundation for the natural area and let park planners know what they love and want to be able to see and do there in the future. Over pie, coffee, and conversation, family-friendly activities will drive imagination and help people to define how the natural area could be experienced. Oregon City Mayor Doug Neeley and Metro Councilor Carlotta Collette are scheduled to welcome participants and attend.
Metro acquired the land in and around the canyon through two bond measures, in 1995 and 2006. With the levy funding passed last year, planning is now underway to create public access in the canyon. Sneak peek tours of the canyon and volunteer restoration events were held in late winter and early spring this year.
Great sentiments shared so far from tour participants about the natural area are that "Newell Canyon is an island of nature in my urban backyard" and "It’s a pristine wildlife area [that would be great for] local school field trips."
Participants at the event on April 29 will have opportunity to sign up for further tour and volunteer opportunities.
Information from the community about Newell Creek Canyon gathered from this event will be used to shape alternatives for what the plan might look like over the next two months. Those alternatives will be brought back to the community for their review in June.
The event on April 29 is the first in a series of four interactive community events to take place at various locations in Oregon City through the spring, summer and fall.