Things continue to happen at Wilshire Park, helped along by the monthly meetings and volunteer efforts of its active Friends. In mid-March joggers and walkers may have noticed the appearance of multiple mulch mountains along the park’s south path. Soon, some hardy B-W residents equipped with pitchforks, rakes, and wheelbarrows responded to a call for assistance by BWNA-affiliated Friends of Wilshire Park (FOP) and redistributed the mulch along the path and in the nearby NatureSpace. With the arrival of spring-like days, new native plants in the NatureSpace began to show off—red currant flowers (Ribes sanguineum) offering up breakfast to newly emerged native bees, Oregon fawn lilies (Erythronium oregonum) about to do the same, and leaf buds of the cascara trees (Rhamnus purshiana) testing the weather. People were also breaking their hibernation, with NatureSpace logs and boulders getting good use by kids and pets alike.
Not uncommon during the volunteer work, passing walkers and joggers offered an appreciative “thank you” or an encouraging “great job.” The rare passersby who asked why Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) personnel weren’t doing the work instead of residents were reminded of the $6.3 million budget shortfall PP&R is facing and the even more painful prospect of having to lay off 50 employees (Portland Tribune, March 23, 2019), pending council approval.
Despite the headwinds, FOP continues to work toward improving this valuable community asset. A fund-raising drive to replace aging playground equipment is planned, and a water source for the dog park is being explored. Updates can be found on the FOP website (https://www.friendsofwilshirepark.org/), and anyone motivated to improve the park is invited to attend meetings on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the basement activity room of Bethany Lutheran Church (NE Skidmore and 37th Avenue).
Red currant (top), fawn lily (bottom). Photos provided by Peter Mogielnicki