PAGE B6, KEIZERTIMES, MARCH 19, 2021
Palma Ciea Park fi nds champions
After discussion of park's
value, residents rally
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
After a discussion regarding how
a pair of inaccessible parks could be
repurposed, one of the spots in question
had defenders step forward at a meet-
ing of the Keizer Parks Advisory Board
Tuesday, March 9.
“There was a point in time when I
would have felt the same way,” said res-
ident Carol Doerfl er. “But that park is
close to the river, there are tons of birds
and a huge osprey nest.”
Palma Ciea Park, located in west
Keizer, has a number of issues that have
kept the city from investing in it. Aside
from having diffi cult access without
impeding neighbors’ use of the street
leading to the park and poor delineation
of public property and private property,
the park sits on a 90-degree bend in
the Willamette River where large piles
of debris are deposited whenever the
waters rise.
Gary Blake, a resident of Cummings
Lane where the park is located said
neighbors have grown frustrated with
the park.
“The residents are turning toward
tearing the [park] signs down because
no one is doing anything with it,” Blake
said. “Neighbors feel that most of what
happens down there is more negative
than positive. They’ve told me they want
it closed or developed.”
Others would like to see improve-
ments that could add elements a recent
survey found were desired in local parks.
“Trails, natural spaces and river access
are exactly the types of things that could
be done in Palma Ciea,” said Rhonda
Rich. “This is a park that needs a purpose
and the survey gives us direction.”
The park is the only space where
visitors can view a dike that prevents
catastrophic fl ooding Keizer had experi-
enced in the past. The dike is part of what
attracts wildlife to the space.
The Salem Audubon Society also
advocated for development.
ASK MR. TRASH
A. Be very careful
Q. I heard about China’s ban on recycling.
What IS recyclable now?
Please keep the following good recyclables empty, clean & dry:
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• Cardboard and uncoated greyboard
boxes (Shipping & cereal type).
No frozen food boxes!
• Print-quality paper - newspaper, junk & office paper, and magazines
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• Plastic Bottles and Jugs Only - NO bags, tubs, clamshells, bubble Pak, or other plastics.
to only recycle
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approved list.
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Feel -Good
STORY
Saluting the people that make
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presented by
“A bench in this park would provide
park visitors with an ideal place to sit
and enjoy the park’s natural beauty,” Tim
Johnson, president of the local Audubon
chapter, said.
Dylan Juran who was one of the parks
board members who fl oated the idea of
repurposing the park as something other
than a public space, clarifi ed his position.
“I don’t want to cut it off , but I want
to maximize the resources we have and
know if we need to direct the resources
elsewhere,” Juran said.
Board member Matt Lawyer said he
would like more of the nearby residents
to off er input before the board gives
direction.
“I think now is the time to make sure
that we are proud of all of our parks.
There’s some excuses on the table and a
lot of work ahead, but we want to uphold
a high standard,” said Tanya Hamilton,
another board member.
Orange is the
new black at KAA
Keizer Art Association is holding their
annual color show virtually in April. The
color this year is orange. Children ages 4
to 14 are encouraged to enter this show.
Intake runs through March 31. The
announcement of all awards will be
placed on the KAA website on Saturday,
April 3. The Annual Color Show will run
from April 3 through April 28.
Awards include $20 to the fi rst-place
winner in each media category (with at
least three entries) and $100 to the art-
ist of the best of show. Entry fee for the
virtual show is $5 for each of one to four
entries ($5 to $20).
Entry forms are available on the KAA
website and must include the entry fee.
For more information on the show and
guidelines for entry, visit www.keizerarts.
com.