Designing for undeveloped parks
The City Council is exploring ways to expand and improve Gresham’s park system, with plans in the works for Gresham's undeveloped neighborhood and community parks. This is a multi-year Council Work Plan item.
Parks outreach events flyer
Gresham has six undeveloped parks that include open space or natural areas with no recreational amenities. Two of the six parks are classified as community parks that serve the entire city and provide recreation for all age groups, from easy picnicking and walking to active sports and play areas.
Each undeveloped park has been broken up into different zones. The zones represent areas for specific activities, such as play areas, dog parks or wildlife viewing. The zones help define areas where we want to protect and preserve the natural environment while maximizing opportunities to activate other areas for public use.
Outreach
In 2019 staff and a design consultant team worked with the community to identify unique features and a vision for each undeveloped park site. Outreach efforts included:
- Six on-site outreach meetings
- Two community park online surveys
- Four neighborhood park online questionnaires
- Six Neighborhood Association meetings
- Eight city-wide outreach events, including two open houses
- Promotion of outreach events on the City website, social media, utility inserts and City newsletter
- Engagement with 100 youth
From these outreach events, we've heard the following:
- Keep parks safe and green
- Protect open space and natural areas
- Desire for context sensitive improvements
Next steps
Concept planning
- Stakeholder meetings: early 2020
- Open house: spring 2020
- City Council: summer 2020
Post concept planning
- Identify funding
- Design and build
More about the parks