February’s general membership meeting was well attended and covered an assortment of issues of interest to neighbors. Norberto Adre from the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) discussed design plans for realignment of the intersection of NE Wistaria and 41st. The proposal calls for shortening the pedestrian crossing at the intersection and connecting the existing island to the block south of it, thus converting the island to a peninsula. Neighbors noted the importance of retaining the existing city-provided irrigation supply to the island in order to maintain the beautiful landscaping they’ve put in place and nurtured there for several years. Many other suggestions on the design were offered, and PBOT staff volunteered to bring revised designs back to a future BWNA meeting for further review and comment.
Given neighbors’ interest in making improvements to Wilshire Park, ranging from playground equipment, landscaping, and maintenance of the walking/jogging trail, Portland Parks & Recreation Maintenance Supervisor Mike Grosso discussed potential opportunities for the neighborhood to advance these interests. However, Mayor Wheeler has directed the parks department to reduce its budget by five percent in the 2018-2019 fiscal year, and a budget advisory committee has been formed to develop recommendations for Commissioner Fritz to consider how best to achieve this goal. With these funding constraints coupled with the city’s current pause in even considering new proposals for park improvements, the desired improvements will require advocacy and organization on the part of the neighborhoods that rely on the park. Mr. Grosso noted that the toddler play structures at the park were installed in the 1990s as a result of fundraising by the Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Association, and these wooden structures have reached the end of their design life. Replacement of the largest toddler play structure is in the works, but there are no plans for other improvements at this time.
Neighbors attending the meeting felt that fundraising for park improvements is possible and current efforts by neighbors seeking funding for landscape improvements will need to be augmented by other grant opportunities and fundraising efforts. Mr. Grosso noted the success of partnership programs, such as the one at Peninsula Park for keeping the park in good order, and pointed out there currently is no such neighborhood partnership or advocacy organization for Wilshire Park. Thus, development of a “Friends of Wilshire Park” group may be a good model for assisting Parks & Recreation in maintaining the park while also advocating and fundraising for needed upgrades (as detailed in this issue’s President’s Message). Residents interested in this effort are invited to sign up for the “Friends of Wilshire Park” group via BWNA e-mail (president@bwna.us).
Other issues covered at the meeting included update on the status of the Residential Infill Project proposal, which is now before the Planning and Sustainability Commission, with a hearing tentatively scheduled for May 8, 2018; a request from Central Northeast Neighbors (CNN) for volunteers to serve on a CNN committee to develop ideas to address homelessness (detailed in a separate article on page 1); a proposal by Rose City Park Neighborhood Association representatives to team up with BWNA to advocate for legislative changes to make it easier to obtain convictions related to auto thefts plaguing Portland neighborhoods; and discussion of a number of issues relating to traffic and pedestrian/bicycle safety, including speeding on Fremont between NE 33rd and 40th, the difficult NE Prescott and 37th Avenue intersection for both traffic and bicyclists; and concerns voiced by resident Dennis Hanley on behalf of neighbors on NE Wiberg about increasing traffic loads on this narrow street that connects NE Alameda and 47th, with the request that BWNA exhort PBOT to consider converting Wiberg to one-way traffic to reduce traffic and improve safety.
BWNA will continue to track these issues and do what it can to assist neighbors in finding solutions to their concerns. Neighbors are encouraged to participate regularly at general meetings, which are held on the second Monday of every even-numbered month, except in August, when National Night Out Picnic takes place. The next general meeting on April 9 is a very special one, indeed: Taste of Beaumont is held in the Beaumont Middle School cafeteria beginning at 6:30 p.m., and featuring tasty cuisine, zesty musical entertainment, and a free door prize raffle, with the business part of the evening devoted primarily to annual elections for open BWNA positions.