Several months ago, Friends of Wilshire Park (FOWP) was formed to enhance the open space at the heart of the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood, and now the group’s first two projects are underway. The first will be the NatureSpace, a native plant habitat in an underused area of the park. FOWP was awarded a grant of $9,125 from the Community Watershed Stewardship Program (CWSP) (https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bes/43077), a program that issues grants to projects that improve the health of the community and our water systems. The NatureSpace project will install native plants to secure topsoil, improve biodiversity, provide food and habitat for birds, and enhance the beauty of the park. Boulders and logs will be placed to provide seating, and a path will curve through the NatureSpace, creating a lush detour for park visitors.
A more long-term project for FOWP is the children’s play area. Wilshire Park offers one of the only play areas in Northeast Portland for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, but the equipment is over 25 years old, and much of it is broken and splintered. Little children still enjoy playing there, but FOWP feels strongly that this heavily used space needs to be modernized. At the group’s May meeting, Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz heard concerns and offered insight and advice. Commissioner Fritz explained that the city’s current parks budget focuses on developing parks in areas of the city without any green space, leaving no funds or staff time for Wilshire Park. Both Commissioner Fritz and Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) Community Relations Manager Jennifer Yokum gave advice on how a community fundraising effort might work and suggested that FOWP coordinate its efforts with the Central Northeast Neighbors Coalition (comprised of nine local neighborhoods, including Beaumont-Wilshire) in seeking PP&R priority for replacement/repair of this dangerously worn-out equipment.
The June meeting agenda included speaking with city representatives about an upcoming bond measure (potentially funding modest improvements in the play area), finalizing plans for the NatureSpace, and identifying simple projects, such as repainting the sign posts in the off-leash dog area, and park cleanup days. FOWP is also seeking volunteers to clear out and plant the NatureSpace, with additional donations sought beyond the CWSP grant to purchase more plants for the project. To learn more, visit www.friendsofwilshirepark.org.