It was actually a collection of lots of plazas that were connected to increase the number of parking spaces for different events going on in the park.

In a nutshell, there was one permanent parking area that would replace the current one along 92nd Ave. There would be another area of similar size that would be separated from the permanent parking by a area with a water feature and benches. At the end of the plaza would sit the Gazebo about 20-30 yards out into the grass. So Along that line you have about 100 permanent parkings spaces, the water feature, a plaza of similar size as the permanent parking lot that could be used for an additional 100 parking spaces when a game is on, then the Gazebo. Flanking this line, on either side are 2 or 3 smaller plazas that could also be used for parking, and along the very outside of the area on either side is a larger plaza that is covered that would bring the amount of parking for a game up to about 500 spaces, perhaps and when there isn’t a game going on could be used for a daily farmer’s Market and other events.

I was trying to brainstorm other ways that this space could be used when it isn’t needed for a ballgame- how many events could be going on simultaneously! You could have a farmer’s Market in one of the big, covered plazas, music going on in the Gazebo, a food court in the plaza between the two events, kids playing in the fountain, maybe a couple of the smaller plazas opened up for some extra parking (’cause there’s lots goin on!), and still have 3 small plazas open for just hangin’ out in!! Maybe there’s a beer garden in one! Maybe once a year there is a Founder’s Day exhibit in one of them!

When I think about how I went from being concerned about there being too much parking- to actually being excited about the potential to really make the Park even MORE usable by adding this space, it makes me almost want to cry!!!

I think we are on our way to solving one of the stickiest problems with the ballpark idea. I think a design charette IS in order.

Jeff

If you really think about it, isn’t a parking lot just a form of hardscape? There’s no law that says parking is synonymous with asphalt and thermal plastic.

Maybe it’s because I go by the art museum sculpture courtyard frequently. I see how that courtyard is blocked by bollards that are removed when vehicle access is required. There’s parking in there, the use of it is just limited.

And the whole area is really a courtyard.

I honestly think it’s a great compromise, that pretty much eliminates the need to completely convert open space to parking. Instead, it will just be temporary conversions that only occur when the stadium is being used for PCL games.

You bring up a good point about the offices. Locating them nearby probably isn’t possible- when the little league has a game- do we want them having to have to carry all their equipment from the other side of Holgate or 92nd? BUT- I think that the offices *COULD* probably fit a little tighter into the footprint of the stadium itself. We are all in agreement too about the need to minimize surface area that is committed to parking as a sole- or even primary- use.

So you like the idea of a multi-use plaza?!! The notion of it make *me* giddy! One thing I was going to do yesterday, but didn’t was to photograph around where Saturday Market is- Anyway, we could have a great location for the farmer’s market- which *could* become a daily market at some point…

Just a reminder, board elections take place at the next neighborhood association meeting in September. You’re seem like a passionate person- even if I don’t see completely eye to eye with you on this one, I can tell you care a lot about what happens to the neighborhood. Why don’t you run?!!

Jeff

You too, Chris!!

Sure we are slowly improving, but with the economic situation we could easily take a huge step back if many of the new businesses can’t survive.

We can deal with traffic, we can deal with noise, but we CANNOT deal with Lents slipping back into the drug and crime infested gutter of Portland. We once were the “bad” part of Portland and unfortunately most of the city still sees us as “that bad area” even though we have made leaps forward.

The point is we need something big and soon to put this neighborhood on the map in order to save it. I don’t think the PDC can offer this to us, at least not in the way this stadium would. I would much rather be known as “that cool neighborhood with the stadium,” than “that bad neighborhood.”

Support the Beavers move!

Multiple parking lots and buildings to house offices is a poor use of greenspace (why do these offices need to be on park land when there is a lot of office space that needs filling in walkable distance) no matter how you shuffle it. With population density increasing (last I heard the ball fields for the boys and girls are going bye bye with a probable density housing aspect to the new construction) open space is at a premium. I don’t really have a problem with the stadium, my issue is pavement and building replacing football fields, running tracks, mature trees, which results in the displacement of these activies which will effectively crowd the other activies of the park or remove it altogether from our neighborhood. This occuring at a time where the neighborhoods immediate vicinity population will probably be going through a spiek. It doesn’t register on the positive side of gain v. loss for the surrounding homeowners and users of the park.

Stepping back from a lents centric position to a portland centric position I also think that this investment money could be better spent to revitalize land in portland that is not currently used by the public. Maybe even rehab one of the enviromentally nasty spots we have about.

To answer some specifics:

‘So, what are you really for?’

I’m for lents, I’m for the park. I reject the notion that buildings and parking lots are a good use of greenspace. Fountains, space for a farmers market, and a recreation plaza could be worked into the existing park space much more effectively without parking lots and without the buildings if that is what the community decides it wants in the park.

‘If the Beavers were coming here and we didn’t have a choice in the matter, how would you deal with it?’

I’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. I’m not frothing at the mouth about the issue, I’m just standing up and saying ‘boo, bad idea’. If this comes to pass and I feel inspired to go all activist I’m well trained in grassroots efforts and will work the system for a compromise that is agreeable to all parties. Parking, noise, traffic will just be motivaters to supporters if these efforts are warrented by any accepted buidling proposals.

‘Do you see a plus side at all?’

Sure it is just overshadowed by the downside.

I’m not sure what you’re talking about here, Jack. Private business space? Slashing the usable space? Speaking for myself, and I think I can probably speak for Cora too on this one- we are both adamantly against slashing the park up with tons of parking spaces. The ballpark itself would only be marginally larger in terms of its footprint than the one that is there now- so this “footprint” isn’t really much of an issue. The parking? The parking is a real issue, but what we are suggesting is that they don’t build a parking lot at all- but a well thought out public plaza that could actually diversify park uses- that is create more and different uses for the park which would actually make an already great park even BETTER!!! And when there is a ballgame, usually in the evening when most park users are through with the park and have gone home, for three hours they open up the plaza(s) and a bunch of cars park on it. After the game, the cars leave, they close and lock the gate, and the next day when the park users return- they have their plaza back! The plaza could contain a water feature that kids could play in during the summer months, the Farmer’s market could use it during the day- maybe eventually there could be a daily farmer’s market there! The Gazebo could be oriented towards a section of it, it could incorporate trees, planter boxes… It really could be a beautiful place. So, what are you really for? I assume that you’re against the Beavers playing here. If the Beavers were coming here and we didn’t have a choice in the matter, how would you deal with it? What kind of solutions would you come up with for parking? The possible noise issues, traffic etc? Do you see a plus side at all?

I guess, I just said basically what Cora said in her last post! I’m working on an interesting design for a plaza that could be used for parking when needed- anyone interested in a charrette?

it’s even better to have a picnic under, but sitting on oily concrete ruins the effect

The next meeting is September 4th at 6pm at the Boys and Girls club.

Outlining a footprint for something does not necessarily indicate that the trees that fall within that footprint will be removed. It’s more likely that some will be preserved and some will be removed. I doubt that they’ll just wholesale raze the area. The mature tree canopy is a valuable asset for a parking area, and there are ways to treat the hardscaping that could make it useful for both parking and open space.

Secondly, the bulk of the stadium footprint is replacing the current stadium. While the Beavers will have a long term lease for game nights and office space etc., the actual stadium will still be public property and open to a number of different uses. I really don’t see much shift from the current limitations on park use, since general public use of Walker Stadium is actually pretty infrequent and limited currently.

Where you see a slashing of greenspace…I see reshuffling and potential improvement of use. If we’re going to accommodate more people in the neighborhood, we need to be sure that every public space is used to its full potential. If the stadium design and siting is treated correctly, it could improve the potential uses in the park.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ilovelents/

Open space is one of the issues that I’m concerned about as well. In fact, I’m looking into some ways that we could potentially have our cake and eat it too! Get on the yahoo group and lets hammer it out!!

Jeff