8 • The Southwest Portland Post NEWS February 2013 Grant brings Maplewood closer to finishing park project MAPLEWOOD NOTEBOOK By Jillian Daley The Southwest Portland Post A local grant brought the April Hill Park boardwalk and bridge project one step closer to fruition. Maplewood Neighborhood Associa- tion chairwoman Jill Gaddis announced at the January meeting that Southwest Neighborhoods Inc., a nonprofit coali- tion of neighborhood associations, had awarded MNA a $775 grant through its Small Grants Program. The grant will support fundraisers at April Hill Park, which will bring in dollars to build a boardwalk over a forested wetlands area at the park with delicate wildlife such as salamanders and newts. The fundraisers also will help create a bridge over Woods Creek. “It will get people to experience the forest without disturbing the forest,” Gaddis said. The project-supporting fundraisers are “Arf in the Park” in September, which will feature dog obstacle courses, and an ice cream social in August dur- ing National Night Out. Construction on the project could begin in 2014, and it has an estimated cost, including in-kind donations of labor, of $100,000. Maplewood Neighborhood Association is looking to add a boardwalk over wetlands and a bridge across Woods Creek at April Hill Park. (Post photo by Jillian Daley) Parker Realty, Inc. Multnomah Village $287,500 - MLS 13478506 One level 3 bedrooms, 2 baths - fantastic quiet location on a 8100 sqft lot. Just blocks to the Village. On a dead end street. First time on the market. The inventory of houses for sale in the Portland Metro area remains at historic lows. If you are thinking of selling contact us today for a free market analysis. 503-977-1888•7830SW35thAve.,Portland,OR www.parkerrealtyportland.com Jeff Parker Your Neighborhood Realtor Since 1980 Gaddis is seeking volunteers to re- move invasive species such as black- berries, garlic mustard and ivy from the wetlands area at April Hill Park. To volunteer for a Maplewood parks event, email aprilhillpark@gmail.com or maplewood@swni.org. School district faces shortfall In other business, the neighborhood association’s schools chairwoman Keena Hormel mentioned Portland Public Schools’ funding woes. According to an article on the school district’s website, Portland Public (Continued on Page 2) South Portland land use chair Jim Davis dead at 72 OBITUARY Jim Davis, longtime land use chair of the South Portland Neighborhood Association, died last month of health problems related to lung cancer. He was 72 years old. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on February 15, 2013 at the Presbyterian Church of Laurelhurst, 935 NE 33rd Ave in Portland. Burial arrangements were by Riverview Cemetery. Davis, proprietor of the Running Outfitter athletic apparel shop at 2337 SW Sixth Ave., was aggressive and often acerbic in defending what he saw as threats by development to the livability of his neighborhood. Among many campaigns, he led the fight against the installation of a federal Immigration and Customs En- forcement facility in South Portland. “He had a gruff exterior, but if you got past that he had a soft heart,” fel- low South Portland board member Lee Buhler told The Post. “He went to bat for anyone in the neighborhood having a land use issue. He took his job seriously.” Another board member, Jim Gard- ner, was often at odds with Davis on issues. However, Gardner told The Post, “We got along well. He had a great sense of humor and a dry wit.” According to Gardner, Davis “was relentless in fighting for the neigh- borhood, and he kept his eye on the big picture. It’s hard to come up with people who give that much time and energy to their neighborhood.” In addition to his neighborhood vol- unteer activities and business, Davis published an annual calendar, “Port- land Remembered,” with each month illustrated by a vintage photograph of a familiar Portland street scene. He donated proceeds from the cal- endar to Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc., and other worthy causes. “No one had more knowledge of land use law than Jim did,” South Portland chair Ken Love said. “He was a great colleague and friend, and he will be missed.” – Lee Perlman