Coaching in the Community

It is impossible to refrain from cheering on the sidelines as coaches Brian Christiansen and Curt Miller guide their 3rd grade basketball team through a series of drills, play and even antics at practice.  Every Thursday and Saturday this winter you will find these two unsung heroes focusing the unbound energy of their 10-child team into positive recreation and teambuilding.

Brian and Curt are two of the nearly 475 volunteer coaches that lead about 3,750 children each year through Portland Parks & Recreation’s sports team programs.  The basketball and volleyball leagues are just a few of the recreational programs Portland Parks & Recreation runs throughout the year in its network of community centers.  As parent Greg Rice put it, “Coaches like Brian have the skill set, and love what they do.  The kids gain confidence and you can tell.”

Just like his father, Brian started coaching over 4 years ago when his son Colby began playing basketball.  While Brian went on to play with other teams all the way through college, he still remembers his youth league days, “To this day, my dad was my best coach.”
Out of all of the basketball teams in Portland, Brian picked coaching with the Portland Parks & Recreation leagues because, “Everyone here gets to play and develop skills.  We keep it light and fun so the kids see playing sports and exercise as something they can do the rest of their lives.”

While the teams change each season, Brian still sees some of his previous players around East Portland Community Center.  “I’ll never forget my first year coaching.  One of my team members was such a sweet kid with a huge passion for basketball, but he didn’t really get the team concept.  It was wonderful seeing him pass the ball and enjoy being part of the team by the end of the season.”

Brian enjoys working at Nike where employees are encouraged to support the communities where they live, work and play.  “We believe in supporting our communities, and to especially help our kids enjoy being active.  I love seeing kids have fun and also grow through these experiences. As a volunteer coach, I also get to show kids how much we care about their growth and wellbeing.”

Portland Parks & Recreation is continually seeking qualified coaches for its sports leagues. Interested volunteers can sign up through the Portland Parks Foundation in the WE Portal or contact Rick Cantu at 503-823-5126 or rick.cantu@portlandoregon.gov to get more information and sign up.

Top Winter Hiking Trails

Winter is one of the best times to get out and enjoy the many trails our 215+ parks offer.  The combination of cooler temperatures and fewer crowds make hiking a great winter season sport.  Show us your favorite winter hiking trails by posting your pics here and we’ll keep a list of the best spots on our website for future urban hiking enthusiasts!

1. Forest Park: Of course.  With more than 80 miles of hiking reverie, it is easy to experience nature up-close in this park.
2. Powell Butte: The varied terrain and views of surrounding mountains in this 612 acre park are well worth the climbs on this extinct volcano.
3. Marquam Park: The Marquam Trail climbs steadily through SW Portland connecting several parks on its path through the lush forest of fir, hemlock, cedar and maples.  Most hikers end for a welcome rest at the vista point at Council Crest Park.
4. Marshall Park: If you are looking for a less-traveled traverse of Tryon Creek, you should try Marshall Park.  The creek provides a small waterfall and tranquil music throughout this 25 acre hiking area.  If the trails here leave you wanting for more, the next park listed below is very close by.
5. Tryon Creek State Park: 8 miles of hiking trails and a wonderful visitor center are the jewels of this 658 acre state park.  It is one of the only state parks that doesn’t require a fee, but parking can be difficult so it might be best to access via bike if possible.
6. Woods Memorial Natural Area: The trail in this park boasts only 2% non-native plants thanks to the diligent work of volunteers from the neighborhoods surrounding the park.  Woods creek also provides a greater opportunity to see native wildlife as well.
7. Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge: Anyone who knows birds knows about Oaks Bottom.  At the time of its protection, it was one of the only remaining marshland in Portland.  Continual restoration has made it a park that changes dramatically with the seasons and promises each season’s varied winged wetland companions.
8. Washington Park: Home to Hoyt Arboretum and many of Portland’s most iconic memorials and gardens, Washington Park has a little of everything for the day trekker. History, art, beauty and paths for contemplation.

Find out information about these trails and more by clicking here.

Discover Portland's First Rose Garden

Contributed by Yvonne Boisvert

It’s surprising in this great city of park lovers that many residents have not yet discovered Peninsula Park Rose Garden. Once they do, however, they immediately fall in love with what is often described as a hidden gem. Nestled in the heart of historic Piedmont neighborhood, this formal French garden has delighted visitors for more than 100 years.

Level grassy paths and wide brick walkways were key to making Portland’s first public rose garden a strolling pleasure when the site opened in 1913. And ever since, Garden visitors have enjoyed a profusion of blooms from more than 5,000 roses during a season that typically runs from late May through October. A lovely central fountain, graceful lantern posts and an octagonal bandstand – a Portland Historic Landmark – complete the setting.

Friends of the Garden, formed in 2012, have spent the past three years building a dedicated volunteer crew, increasing awareness of this historic treasure and highlighting the need to preserve it for future generations. The Friends also devote significant effort to supporting the surrounding neighborhoods, sponsoring community events and collaborating with local organizations on a variety of causes.

Tending the roses during bloom season is one of our most important tasks. In 2015, for example, our volunteers contributed nearly 2,000 hours to keeping the Garden in peak condition. In addition, the Friends and our volunteers host a number of interesting community activities, including free rose classes, our newly launched winter speaker series, Art in the Rose Garden and Garden tours, as well as support for North Portland Sunday Parkways, Portland Festival Symphony and Parke Diem.

If you are looking for a way to brighten the grey days of winter, please join us on January 22, 2016 at 10 a.m., when noted author Donald Olson will discuss his latest book, The Pacific Northwest Garden Tour. Mr. Olson will speak at the June Key Delta Community Center, 5940 N Albina Avenue, across from the Rose Garden’s main entrance on N Ainsworth Street and N Albina Avenue. This event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. To register, visit penrosefriends.org or email penrosevolunteers@gmail.com

We’ll also have opportunities for you to get hands-on experience when we hold our winter climbing roses class, spring pruning and replanting days that usually take place in late January through early March. If you prefer warmer weather, you are welcome to lend support during bloom season and for any of the popular events the Friends sponsor throughout the season. To keep updated, visit our website, http://penrosefriends.org or follow us on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/penrosefriends.

Making Space for Parks

Building cranes raise up to the grey clouds as Portland’s population continues to climb.  According to the Portland State University Population Research Center, Portland added nearly 12,000 residents in 2015.  Projections show population continuing an upward trend and housing is already becoming an issue.  Another issue that rises with increased population is accessible public park space for new residents and their families.

This is just one of the thoughts that came to mind when listening to a talk given by William J. Hawkins III last month at the Friends of Peninsula Park annual meeting.  Mr. Hawkins talked about his recent book, The Legacy of the Olmsted Brothers in Portland, giving a history of how Olmstead’s visit and vision turned Portland into a city of parks. 

Portland in the late 1800s was booming even more than Portland today. Leaders of the city came together to set up a city system for the increasing population. In 1903, John Olmstead, son of Frederick Law Olmsted whose accolades include New York’s Central Park, came to Portland on a whirlwind trip to establish a vision for Portland’s park system. 

While the original design for Portland’s park system included connecting parks along park boulevards like the Terwilliger Parkway in southwest Portland; the vision wasn’t fully realized.  However, what was created remains a park landscape that rivals the best in the nation and has swelled to meet the ever expanding footprint of our city.

During this current building boom, it is important to remember the importance of parks in Portland’s landscape to maintain the character and livability of our city.  As Mr. Olmstead wrote in his plan for Portland, “All agree that parks not only add to the beauty of a city and to the pleasure of living in it, but are exceedingly important factors in developing the healthfulness, morality, intelligence, and business prosperity of its residents.”

The Foundation remains a great advocate to maintaining that vision for Portland’s parks in the face of multiple demands on public funding and spaces and we encourage others to protect park spaces with us.  Looking out at the crowd of Peninsula Park friends it was easy to see we already have great group of park supporters leading the way.

More Information:
Check out our calendar to attend public meetings about park developments in your neighborhood.
Watch the recent PBS Documentary on Frederick Law Olmstead and his work across America: http://watch.thirteen.org/video/1887541606/
Follow this bike trip of the original Olmstead boulevards: http://bloomingrock.com/2013/08/28/why-portlands-visionary-olmsted-park-plan-of-1903-yields-big-benefits-today/