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The new Luuwit View Park officially opens this Saturday. It’s a 16-acre gem in northeast Portland’s Argay Neighborhood.
Portland’s newest park features accessible play areas, a water play feature, gardens, paths, sports fields, and much more, all on formerly undeveloped land adjacent to Shaver Elementary School. The park is also close to Parkrose Middle School and Parkrose High School.
Luuwit View Park will serve nearly 1000 households which prior to its opening did not previously have ready access to a park.
WHAT: Grand Opening of PP&R’s new Luuwit View Park
WHEN: Saturday, October 21, 2017; 11am-2pm.
WHERE: The covered shelter at the new Luuwit View Park, NE 127th Avenue and Fremont Street.
Join Portland Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz, neighbors, Shaver School students and staff, Parkrose School District Superintendent Dr. Karen Gray, the Parkrose and Argay Neighborhood Associations, family, and friends old and new for the FREE community celebration with family-friendly activities including a Native American blessing and a drumming ceremony, a DJ and breakdancing, a Portland Park Ranger-led youth pledge as kids promise to care for the park, Zumba and exercise activities, skateboarding lessons, live guitar music, light refreshments, and celebrating.
“After years of dreaming and 15 months of construction, the grand opening of Luuwit View Park represents another major milestone in my time as the Commissioner for Portland Parks & Recreation,” says City Commissioner Amanda Fritz. “Luuwit View Park gives Argay Terrace neighbors a jewel of a space to play, relax, and reflect – a park which they had been awaiting for more than 40 years. At the same time, we recognize that still, only two of five residents enjoy easy access to a park in this area of east Portland. We will continue to work to close this play gap.”
LUUWIT VIEW PARK HAS IT ALL
Luuwit View Park features expansive lawns, an accessible playground, walking trails, a misting water play feature, grand views, a youth soccer/sports field, a full-size basketball court, a Portland Community Garden, and a teen area. The latter includes a climbing structure, two ping-pong tables, a group seating area; and a skateboarding area. The entire teen area will be covered (project completion expected in Spring 2018), with colorful sports court surfacing. Other park features include accessible picnic areas, a covered shelter, a restroom, parking, public art, and a fenced off-leash dog area. A multi-use paved trail connects the entire site, and additional soft surface trails meander through the park creating many options for walking loops.
Luuwit is the Upper Cowlitz word referencing the iconic mountain also known as Mt. St. Helens. The park’s name helps to honor the indigenous people who have lived on the land since time immemorial, and to recognize the overall history of the area. The City also recognizes the significant farming history of the land.
“Nearly 1000 households – close to 1500 people – now have access to a wonderful PP&R park for the first time,” notes PP&R Director Mike Abbaté. “We are moving ahead with our Parks 2020 Vision to provide a wide variety of high-quality park and recreation opportunities for all Portlanders. The site has been transformed from a vacant space to an amazing gathering spot for every kind of recreation. We thank the literally hundreds of people - Argay neighbors, our PP&R staff and contractors, and all of our partners - for their advocacy, input, and tireless efforts to make this amazing park a reality.”
The park cost $11.8 million and was funded by Parks System Development Charges - revenue from development across the City which is intended to support growth - and not General Fund tax dollars.
Luuwit View Park would not have been possible without the dedication of its Project Advisory Committee and other dedicated neighbors, including students and staff at Shaver Elementary School. They have the City’s sincerest thanks.
Souce: Portland Bureau of Parks and Recreation