Parks & Recreation

By Janet Unruh WENA Board Member Good news— Slider, the otter has returned to Nadaka Nature Park. Slider is a beautiful, life-size bronze sculpture of a standing otter, the twin of the original,that was stolen. As luck would have it, sculptor Rip Caswell (https://caswellsculpture.com/) had created two otter sculptures, almost identical in size.

Judy Han, director of Gresham Outdoor Public Art, was instrumental in convincing the City of Gresham to replace the otter sculpture in Nadaka Park. There was a suggestion to place the otter in another park, but Judy prevailed. Thanks to Judy Han and the City of Gresham for restoring Slider to Nadaka Park.

For a complete list and downloadable map of all outdoor public art in the City of Gresham please visit https://www.greshamoutdoorpublicart.com/

Gresham City Councilor, David Widmark, GOPA Board member Joan Albertson, and artist Rip Caswell unveil Slider in 2017. Click to enlarge

By Charlotte Becker Gresham Outdoor Public Art About eight years ago, Joan Albertson, a member of Gresham Outdoor Public Art’s (GOPA) board, brought the idea of art in Nadaka Nature Park to the board. GOPA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with an all volunteer board. The group’s goal is to commission and install permanent art in Gresham’s public spaces. Most of the permanent art, up until 2016, was in and around Historic Downtown, so Joan’s idea got wings…as well as fur and a tail.

But first, a group from GOPA, along with Wilkes neighborhood champion Lee Dayfield, met at Nadaka to see what might be a good fit for the park. A path of rocks resembling a meandering stream bed seemed like home for some kind of water-loving creature. And a nearby towering timber could be the perfect perch for a squawking bird. Board member, David Baumann, said he had something at home that the group might like.

A few days later, the group got together again at Nadaka to see David wheeling in a bronze otter on a hand truck! It was created by Troutdale artist Rip Caswell, and it was perfect. Then the project really got off the ground, when we met with Rip and his son, Chad, who agreed to create a life-sized Raven to perch atop the timber.

The otter and the raven were installed in the park in 2017 with help from the City of Gresham. Neighborhood families came to see the unveiling, and children entered a contest to name the creatures. That’s how the otter became “Slider” and the raven became “Seeker”. Nadaka was to be their permanent home.

Until 2024, when Slider disappeared. It seemed someone needed him more than the neighborhood did. The word went out with the hope that Slider would be returned, but not even Seeker could find him. Not giving up, GOPA President, Judy Han, met with a representative from the City to discuss how to replace Slider. Rip Caswell told GOPA he had created an additional otter, the last of his kind, and would offer it to GOPA at cost. Once again, the pieces came together to bring Slider back to Nadaka.

GOPA and the City of Gresham plan to return Slider to his meandering stream in June, 2025. We’ll provide more information on the date as it is known. Visit Gresham Outdoor Public Art’s website, www.greshamoutdoorpublicart.com, to learn more about GOPA, the project at Nadaka and other projects in Gresham.

Spring Meeting Notice When: Mon Mar 11, 2024 7PM-9PM Where: Moose Lodge 16411 NE Halsey St Get Map!

Everyone's Invited

Join Your Neighbors. Get involved. Make a difference!

Save the date
Be sure to save Monday Mar 11th at 7PM for the Wilkes East Neighborhood 2024 Spring Meeting being held at the Moose Lodge, 16411 NE Halsey St

Agenda

• Chief Scott Lewis, Gresham Fire Department
• Janet Unruh, Rockwood Greensoace Now
• Neighborhood news and more!

Download the Fall 2023 meeting minutes here!

Who should attend?
Participation is open to all residents who live, own property or a business, organization, church or government agency within our boundaries

Be Part Of Your Community. Plan To Attend.

Watch for these red & white Meeting Signs the week before our meeting. The signs were purchased with assistance of the City of Gresham Neighborhood Grant Program, and with volunteer hours to set them out and retrieve them. Signs Now NW also made a generous contribution to this project.

Mark your calendar. See you there!

Questions or comments?
Contact Wilkes East Neighborhood by email at info@wilkeseastna.org, or by postal mail to: Wilkes East Neighborhood, 17104 NE Oregon St, Portland Oregon 97230

Spring 2024 Newsletter "Diversity, Harmony, Community - Together 'WE' can make a difference!”

Read it now!

Spring 2024 Newsletter Inside This Issue: Outdoor School for 6th Grade Students Wilkes East Land Use Update Rockwood Greenspace Now Try The MyGresham App Street Sweeping, 4th Wed, Mar-Nov

Download your copy here. (includes active web links)

¡Descargue nuestro boletín en español aquí!. (incluye enlaces web activos)

Newsletters are a regular publication of the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association. They are hand-delivered to over 1,500 residences and businesses in our area 3 times per year, timed to correspond with our general meetings.

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Spring Meeting Notice When: Mon Mar 13, 2023 7PM-9PM Where: Moose Lodge 16411 NE Halsey St Get Map!

Everyone's Invited

Join Your Neighbors. Get involved. Make a difference!

Save the date
Be sure to save Monday Mar 13th at 7PM for the Wilkes East Neighborhood 2023 Spring Meeting being held at the Moose Lodge, 16411 NE Halsey St

Agenda

• Election of 2023 WENA Board
• Jessica Harper, Community Services Manager, City of Gresham
  Homeless Services
• Michael Gonzales, Neighborhood &
  Community Engagement Manager, City of Gresham
• Lucy Harden
  WeShine Village Update
• Janet Unruh
  , Urban Forestery in Gresham
• Neighborhood news and more!

Download the Fall 2023 meeting minutes here!

Who should attend?
Participation is open to all residents who live, own property or a business, organization, church or government agency within our boundaries

Be Part Of Your Community. Plan To Attend.

Watch for these red & white Meeting Signs the week before our meeting. The signs were purchased with assistance of the City of Gresham Neighborhood Grant Program, and with volunteer hours to set them out and retrieve them. Signs Now NW also made a generous contribution to this project.

Mark your calendar. See you there!

Questions or comments?
Contact Wilkes East Neighborhood by email at info@wilkeseastna.org, or by postal mail to: Wilkes East Neighborhood, 17104 NE Oregon St, Portland Oregon 97230

Summer Meeting Notice Bring Your Blanket or Chair! When: Mon Aug 8, 2022 7PM-8:30PM Where: Columbia View Park (next to HB Lee Middle School parking lot) 1000 NE 169th Ave Get Map!

Neighborhood Everyone's Invited

Join Your Neighbors. Get involved. Make a difference!

Save the date
Be sure to save Monday Aug 8th at 7PM for the Wilkes East Neighborhood 2022 Summer Meeting, outdoor at Columbia View Park, 1000 NE 169th Ave (next to HB Lee Middle School parking lot). Bring your blanket or chair!

Agenda

• Travis Gullberg, Gresham Police Chief
• Steve Fancher, Gresham parks update
  View the 2022 Arbor Day Tree Planting map at Columbia View park here.
• Jay Higgins, Gresham's newest bike route
• Neighborhood news and more!

Download the March 2022 meeting minutes here!

Who should attend?
Participation is open to all residents who live, own property or a business, organization, church or government agency within our boundaries

Be Part Of Your Community. Plan To Attend.

Watch for these red & white Meeting Signs the week before our meeting. The signs were purchased with assistance of the City of Gresham Neighborhood Grant Program, and with volunteer hours to set them out and retrieve them. Signs Now NW also made a generous contribution to this project.

Mark your calendar. See you there!

Questions or comments?
Contact Wilkes East Neighborhood by email at info@wilkeseastna.org, or by postal mail to: Wilkes East Neighborhood, 17104 NE Oregon St, Portland Oregon 97230

Get involved, Make a difference When: Thu, Apr 07, 2022 6PM-8PM Where: Online meeting via Zoom

To protect public health, safety, and welfare during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Parks and Recreation Community Advisory Committee will meet remotely at 6:00 pm, via Zoom on the first Thursday of the month. Zoom instructions are listed in the Gresham Parks and Recreation Community Advisory Committee agenda.

Instructions to participate

To provide oral or written public comment, please submit your request to Rebecca Brooks at Rebecca.Brooks@GreshamOregon.gov or 503-618-2792 by 5:00 pm on Wednesday, April, 6.

About the committee

The purpose of the Gresham Parks & Recreation Community Advisory Group is to bring together a diverse group of community members and City representatives for a limited duration to evaluate Gresham.s Parks & Recreation services and recommend strategies to improve community outcomes.

Online meeting instructions

Join online

• Join Zoom meeting
  • Meeting ID: 819 4455 6615
  • Passcode: i9VMW6

Join by phone

• Dial-in option:
  • Find your local number
  • Meeting ID: 819 4455 6615
  • Passcode: 344510