Nadaka Nature Park

Neighbors celebrate the Nelson addition to Nadaka Nature Park. Click to enlarge

Rain didn't dampen the spirits of community festival guests Celebrating the Nelson addition On June 18th, 2011, the Wilkes East Neighborhood held a community festival at Nadaka Nature Park to celebrate the Nelson property addition which was purchased with local grants.

The new addition which added 2 acres to this wonderful nature park has allowed the opening of the south gate -- improving accessibility to all of our neighbors and visitors as well as making room for the master plan that will include community gardens and more.

Rain is our sunshine
June 18th was a very wet cloudy day, typical of Oregon spring weather. Despite the rain, 58 volunteers with SOLV arrived at 9AM at Nadaka Nature Park for a park clean-up event. Participants removed invasive plant species as well as trash and debris. Volunteers came from HB LEE Middle school, SUN Community Schools as well as GGAPP Peer group and Catholic Charities.

The festival started at 12 noon and lasted until 3PM. Constant rain didn't dampen the spirits of the several hundred guests that attended the festival.

"A tranquil place in the heart of the suburbs"

Nadaka Nature Park, Gresham OR Click to enlarge

This lovely little park feels so Oregon We received this letter from a Gresham resident expressing the uplifting effect Nadaka Nature Park has on their life and the lives of others, and we though we'd share it with you...

Jordan Beehler, Eagle Scout Click to enlarge

What began as a bird house project quickly turned into a passion Making A Difference Wilkes East resident Jordan Beehler is a young man with a warm smile who's interested in making the world around him a better place -- not only for himself, but for others in his community too. Jordan, an Eagle Scout with Boy Scouts of America Troop 606 is a senior at Central Catholic High School in Portland and plans to attend Oregon State University this fall.

In August 2010 Jordan began work on his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project. This project is the opportunity for an Eagle Scout to demonstrate leadership of others while performing a project for the benefit of the community. This is the culmination of the Eagle Scout candidate's leadership training and requires significant effort on their part.

For his project Jordan choose to improve Nadaka Nature Park

De La Salle students at the 2010 SOLV event, Nadaka Park Click to enlarge

A beautiful Autumn day for the 2010 SOLV "Beach and Riverside Cleanup" at Nadaka Nature Park

2010 SOLV "Beach and Riverside Cleanup" Event

De La Salle students lend a hand

On Saturday, September 25th the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association held a cleanup with SOLV at Nadaka Nature Park. There were 24 people who participated in the cleanup including a group from De La Salle North Catholic High School (pictured by the sign). We had a total of 66 3/4 volunteer hours to use as a match for our Metro Nature in Neighborhood grant.

The primary focus of the cleanup was to remove the invasive blackberry and ivy from the park. Jazzy Bagel donated delicious bagels and Starbucks (181st & Glisan) donated coffee for the volunteers. SOLV also provided great cloth tote bags for everyone who volunteered.

Volunteers register for 2010 SOLV event at Nadaka Nature Park Click to enlarge

Next cleanup:
Sunday, October 10th 9AM-2PM. Hope to see you there!

See website calendar for more Nadaka Nature Park events and activities!

Nadaka Nature Park Click to enlarge

Nadaka Nature Park Vegetation Management Plan nears completion, disease threatens firs

Protecting a Natual Resource

In 2009 Wilkes East Neighborhood Association (WENA) applied for and received a Metro Parks & Greenspaces Nature in Neighborhoods Capital Grant and a grant from the East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District (EMSWCD) to be used towards the purchase of the adjacent 2-acre Nelson Property for use as a public park. Both Metro and EMSWCD had requirements for the master planning of the Nelson property one of which was to do a vegetation management plan.

At the WENA annual meeting in August 2010, Ric Catron, City of Gresham Parks Planner provided information about this Plan for Nadaka Nature Park. Its purpose is a balance of protection of natural areas and future park development, restoration of the site and creating diversity for native wildlife and providing passive recreation.

Western Screech Owl Click to enlarge

News from Nadaka Nature Park Western Screech Owls reintroduced, Dogipot® added, SOLV volunteers pitch-in, and much more!

Back to the Wild

On September 8, 2010 the Audubon Society of Portland released two juvenile Western Screech Owls at the meadow in Nadaka Nature Park. About a dozen people from the neighborhood watched as the two owls took flight. Both owls came into the Portland Audubon’s Wildlife Care Center as fledglings. Unfortunately they had signs of head injury, probably from being hit by cars while learning to fly. After recovering from the initial injuries, the owls were in a flight cage building up strength and learning to hunt. The Audubon Society decided they were ready to be wild once more and agreed to do the release in Nadaka.

Recycle Your Plastic Bags Here

A Dogipot® has been installed near the north entrance to Nadaka Nature Park which contains litter bags to be used for dog waste. This was provided with grant funds from the Metro Nature in Neighborhoods grant. If you are looking for a place to recycle your plastic garbage bags you could take a few and put them in the Dogipot® for others on your next walk thru the park. This will save considerable money purchasing the litter bags.

Western Screech Owl Click to enlarge

Please come and join us, all are welcome! Nadaka becomes home for two rehabilitated Western Screech Owls

When: Wednesday, Sep 8, 2010 7PM
Where: Nadaka Nature Park
175th & NE Pacific St
Gresham, OR
Get Map!

Releases are weather dependent!

Back to the wild

Both of these Western Screech Owls came into Portland Audubon's Wildlife Care Center as fledglings. Unfortunately they had signs of head injury, probably from being hit by cars while learning to fly. After recovering from the initial injuries, the owls have been in a flight cage building up strength and learning to hunt. They are ready to be wild once more!

Nelson Neighborhood Park Master Plan Click to enlarge

Public forums, citizen input and design changes complete City Council approves Nelson Neighborhood Park Master Plan

The Gresham City Council approved and adopted the Nelson Property Neighborhood Park Master Plan at the June 1, 2010 City Council meeting.

About Nelson

The Nelson Property is a 2.0-acre parcel located adjacent to and south of the City-owned Nadaka Nature Park, fronting NE Glisan Street at NE 176th. Click here for a vicinity map of the area.

The second Nelson Property Neighborhood Park Master Plan Community Forum was held March 31st. At this forum the Preferred Design Alternative was presented which took into account comments from the Parks & Recreation Advisory Subcommittee, Urban Forestry Subcommittee, January 20 Community Forum, Metro Parks & Greenspaces, East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District and City staff.

The Master Plan includes approximately 1/3 of the property to be community gardens and orchard. There will also be picnic tables, a nature-based play area, and public restrooms. A walking loop will connect the Nelson Neighborhood Park with Nadaka Nature Park. (It will be necessary for citizens to obtain addtitional grant monies to develop the Nelson property.) The Nelson Property Summary Report and Community Forum Summary Reports are available on the City's website here.

Background

In 2009 the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association and Friends of Nadaka successfully obtained a Metro Nature in Neighborhoods Capital Grant, a grant from the East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District and a donation from the Nelson Family Trust to purchase the 2 arce site for use as a neighborhood park. The Trust For Public Lands negotiated the purchase.

Nelson Neighborhood Park Master Plan Click to enlarge

Public forums, citizen input and design changes complete City Council set to adopt Nelson Neighborhood Park Master Plan

When: Tuesday Jun 1, 2010 6PM
Where: Gresham City Hall
Council Chamber
1333 NW Eastman Pky
Gresham, OR
Get Map!

Council to consider plan

The Gresham City Council will consider for adoption the Nelson Property Neighborhood Park Master Plan at the June 1st, 6PM meeting in the City Council Chamber. There will be a public comment period at the start of the meeting. Comments are limited to 3 minutes. Everyone is encouraged to attend this important meeting and show their support for this project.

About Nelson

The Nelson Property is a 2.0-acre parcel located adjacent to the City-owned Nadaka Nature Park, fronting NE Glisan Street at NE 176th. Click here for a vicinity map of the area.

The second Nelson Property Neighborhood Park Master Plan Community Forum was held March 31st. At this forum the Preferred Design Alternative was presented which took into account comments from the Parks & Recreation Advisory Subcommittee, Urban Forestry Subcommittee, January 20 Community Forum, Metro Parks & Greenspaces, East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District and City staff.

The Master Plan includes approximately 1/3 of the property to be community gardens and orchard. There will also be picnic tables, a nature-based play area, and public restrooms. A walking loop will connect the Nelson Neighborhood Park with Nadaka Nature Park. (It will be necessary for citizens to obtain addtitional grant monies to develop the Nelson property.) The Nelson Property Summary Report and Community Forum Summary Reports are available on the City's website here.

Background

In 2009 the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association and Friends of Nadaka successfully obtained a Metro Nature in Neighborhoods Capital Grant, a grant from the East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District and a donation from the Nelson Family Trust to purchase the 2 arce site for use as a neighborhood park. The Trust For Public Lands negotiated the purchase.

Join us to remove invasives and find a 'little' treasure! Nadaka clean-up starts at 9AM, CITO Geocache begins at noon

When: Sunday May 16, 2010 9:00AM - 2:00PM
Where: Nadaka Nature Park
17500 NE Pacific St
Gresham, Oregon
Get Map!

Clean-up Event

The Wilkes East Neighborhood Association continues to restore Nadaka's 10 acre natural area. This event will include removing invasive underbrush such as ivy, holly & blackberries. A CITO geocaching event by Nogs & Devil Hunter will be held around Noon. (To participate in the geocaching come prepared to work first.)

Geocache Event

Nogs and Devil Hunter would like invite you to participate in a CITO and nature park restoration at Nadaka Nature Park in Gresham, Sunday May 16th. Clean-up starts at 9:00AM. Geocache begins at 12:00PM with a geocoin raffle! Bring our CITO kit, gloves, water, snacks and or lunch.

CITO -- "Cache In, Trash Out" is an ongoing environmental initiative supported by the worldwide geocaching community. Since 2002, geocachers have been dedicated to cleaning up parks and other cache-friendly places around the world. Through these volunteer efforts, we help preserve the natural beauty of our outdoor resources!