Friends of Wilshire Park (FOWP) has been very active over the summer, and it’s fitting that the first results began showing up around harvest time. The NatureSpace is nearly complete after construction of a split-rail fence in early October and installation of a thick layer of mulch to kill the old layer of struggling grass and make the soil soft and ready for the native plants that will make it a lush habitat for animals and park visitors. If you haven’t had a chance to participate in this project, it’s not too late: November 10 is planting day at the NatureSpace, when we finally install trees, shrubs, and ferns. Sign up online to participate (friendsofwilshirepark.org/volunteer), arrive at 8:00 a.m. just west of the pavilion. Bring gloves, shovels, trowels, water, and a sack lunch for the group picnic at noon, and stay as long as you can into the afternoon to get the planting done.
Another park improvement initiative is making the dog run more dog- and people-friendly. The first phase was accomplished in mid-October with the repainting of signpost lettering. This small but significant step will make the boundaries of the off-leash area more clear. A top complaint has been dogs that wander off across the park (flying in the face of basic courtesy, not to mention Multnomah County leash law). Concerned parents point out, with good reason, that a perfectly friendly golden retriever can be both massive and intimidating to a toddler. The hope is that the repainting will alert dog owners to area boundaries, but installation of a fence remains an option. The fence issue is a contentious one, with some advocating for a fully enclosed area, others for a partially fenced area, and still others for the current unfenced area. This issue, as well as the push for installation of a dog water fountain, will be front and center at the next FOWP meeting on Wednesday, November 14, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the basement activity room Bethany Lutheran Church (NE Skidmore and 37th; Skidmore entrance).
Finally, the biggest FOWP project is fundraising to replace the remainder of the toddler play area. Wilshire Park has one of the few play areas in Northeast Portland that is designed for very young children, and it serves families from many nearby neighborhoods.
People with experience in fundraising are encouraged to help, as thousands of dollars are needed to improve the decrepit play area. Please visit friendsofwilshirepark.org for information about volunteer opportunities, upcoming projects, and fundraising needs.
(Editor’s Note: In the previous issue, I quoted a document distributed by Portland Parks & Recreation staff at a FOWP meeting stating that “PP&R identified the capacity to replace 19 play pieces around the system,” which, given the context of the meeting, I inferred to mean the play area within Wilshire Park. But as Gary Hancock’s Letter to the Board (on page 5) points out, Wilshire Park ended up with only one piece replaced. My apologies for the error.)