There’s a new
veterinary surgeon in
the neighborhood
– Page 6
Multnomah
Days festival
features the
‘biggest little
parade’ – Page 5
Kathy
Pendergrass helped
write the book on
meadowscaping
– Page 4
The Southwest Portland Post
Volume No. 24 Issue No. 10
www.swportlandpost.com
Portland, Oregon
Complimentary
August 2016
Neighbors concerned about proposed amphitheater in Spring Garden Park
By Erik Vidstrand
The Southwest Portland Post
Groundbreaking is just months
away for improvements to Spring
Garden Park, five acres between
Southwest Dolph Court and Spring
Garden Street, yet controversy plagues
the project.
Neighbors living closest to the
park have learned that a paved
amphitheater, along with electricity
hookups, have been added to the plan.
Park officials beg to differ and have
claimed they have vetted the process
with the parks advisory committee,
neighbors, and community members
over the last year.
The site was originally a meadow
for dairy cows and then purchased
by Portland Public Schools for a
proposed school. The park bureau
then acquired the property in 1999
from the school district which was
disposing of surplus lands.
Friends of Spring Garden Park won
a $10,000 grant
f ro m U m p q u a
Bank in 2011 to
install a nature
play area at the
undeveloped
park site.
Additional
funds, up to $3.4
million, were
granted from
Portland Parks
and Recreation
to expand and
develop the
natural play
areas. Plan
components
include a sand
b o x , l o g s a n d Dr. John Minahan (left, shown with neighbors Ken Boltz and Cathy Frost) has canvassed the Multnomah
b o u l d e r s , neighborhood with a petition asking Portland Parks and Recreation to remove the proposed amphitheater from
a n d n a t u r a l plans for Spring Garden Park. (Post photo by Erik Vidstrand)
meadows.
The additional funds will add
will be retained and other landscaping
let alone hookups for amplified music.
picnic tables, benches, a covered
added.
Ken Boltz, who lives directly across
park structure, play structures, and
But according to neighbors, original
the street, can easily see the proposed
a Portland loo (toilet). Native plants
(Continued on Page 3)
plans did not include an amphitheater
Park bureau and school district continue to test lead levels in drinking water
By Jack Rubinger
The Southwest Portland Post
Mark Ross, a spokesman for
Portland Parks & Recreation, said lead
test results of drinking water at the
Multnomah Arts Center in Southwest
Portland are encouraging.
Over the past two months the
park bureau found 11 instances of
elevated lead levels at the center, and
have been working with a certified
industrial hygienist to determine how
to fix, repair or otherwise mitigate the
drinking water there.
Currently, said Ross, one water
fountain with bottle filler is open
for use, and drinking water service
is also provided. Visitors can fill up
their own water bottles to reduce the
use of plastic. Other fixtures at MAC,
including sinks in individual rooms,
are marked “Do Not Drink” or shut
down.
Multnomah County Health
Department authorities say they have
conducted more than 15,000 blood tests
over the last three years on children
and teens. According to the county,
elevated blood lead levels were found
in 188 people, but none of the cases
were traced to lead in drinking water
from any source.
R o s s p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e re
are no federal, state or local
regulations requiring water testing
for parks facilities. Ross explained
that as soon as the park bureau
became aware of the community
conversation around lead, officials
quickly sought to determine if any
testing had been done in park bureau
facilities.
“As soon as the director and
commissioner-in-charge realized
there had been testing done, the
park bureau closed off access to
Multnomah Arts Center drinking
fountains and provided bottled water,
issued communications to staff, the
public, and media, and began a
review,” said Ross.
The preliminary review initiated by
the park bureau revealed the need for
improved protocols on reporting and
mitigating such problems.
At the Multnomah Arts Center,
water fountains were closed off,
signs were posted, bottled water was
provided, and a plan was launched
for testing for lead using guidance
from the Portland Water Bureau,
Multnomah County, Oregon Health
Authority and a certified industrial
hygienist.
On June 20, the park bureau sent out
a water quality testing update on what
had been completed to that point. “We
are conducting lead testing to ensure
we are not contributors to lead in
drinking water,” said Ross.
“The most important takeaway
for people regarding lead testing at
Portland Parks & Recreation sites is
that if anyone has a concern about
potential exposure, they should get a
test through their physician or through
the county. We continue to do testing
at other PP&R facilities so that our
community and staff can be assured.”
(Continued on Page 3)
Don’t forget to renew your subscription. Form on Page 2.
The Southwest Portland Post
4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509
Portland, OR 97206
Bottled water is being provided at the Multnomah Arts Center while fountains and sink
faucets are shut down for lead inspections.
(Photo courtesy of Portland Parks and Recreation)