By Vanessa Miali | CNA Media Team

Cully Park is not your ordinary park or location. It’s a $14 million dollar, 25-acre outdoor destination for people of all ages.

The neighborhood, at 72nd Avenue and Killingsworth Street, is one of Oregon’s most ethnically and racially diverse, according to Portland Parks & Recreation.

It is also one of the most park deprived in the state. Its history goes back almost two decades. The city purchased the lot in 2000, in hopes of turning it into a park. But lack of funds put the project on hold until 2008, when nonprofit Verde, a Cully-based outreach and advocacy group, created the Let Us Build Cully Park coalition.

Funding for the park came from public and private partnerships. Verde raised more than $7 million in donations from a combination of 50 donors, partners and grants. Portland Parks & Recreation devoted $6 million in system development charge revenues for the park’s construction.

More than just fundraising involvement, Verde took a community-based approach to the park’s research and development process. That allowed it to meet ambitious contracting and workforce diversity goals. This generated income for low-income people and people of color, as well as the businesses they work for or own.

“We’ve devoted a lot of energy to working with the community on this project and are most excited about how in-depth it has been,” said Tony DeFalco, Verde executive director.

“We had existing relationships in the Cully neighborhood, and we developed a bilingual survey to expand our reach to over 1,000 people. Their feedback was incorporated into the design process, construction and workforce,” he added.

Verde also worked with 191 neighborhood students to design the play area. That involved teaching them basic design concepts, map reading and calculating scale using an architect ruler.

In addition to a youth soccer field and huge play area that includes a wheelchair-accessible sensory wall, Cully Park has a community garden, an off-leash dog area, parking lot, trails, fitness course, overlooks, habitat restoration and picnic areas.

Another unique element is the Native Gathering garden, which is the highest point in Cully Park and provides visitors views of Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood. Verde also turned undeveloped 72nd Avenue into a modern green street with flush curbs and an extra wide sidewalk.

“This alternative street design delivers environmental benefits such as storm water handling and tree canopy cover,” Tony pointed out. “The community has been asking for this park for 20 years, and we are thrilled to have made their vision a reality.”

Vanessa Miali has lived in Concordia for 18 years. She is a former public relations professional with two kids who cooks every day and gardens occasionally.

By Steve Elder CNA Media Team

At a time when people are camping on sidewalks – and the mayor has declared Portland is in a housing crisis – there are potentially livable houses here that are near collapse from inattention.

There is at least one residential structure in Concordia that’s not even finished, but may become a teardown. Searching records, talking to city sources, neighbors and a title company turns up seemingly hundreds of clues and many loose threads.

The unfinished house is at the intersection of Emerson Street and 38th Avenue. It is ultramodern, looming high above the bungalows adjoining. Work started about four years ago, dragged on slower and slower, then stopped about three years ago. It’s just sitting there.

The structure is two conjoined units, each with an accessory dwelling unit. There are four empty electric meter boxes and two offstreet parking spots. The neighbors aren’t wild about the place.

Artist Curtis Phillips lives across the street, and he has cultivated a thick hedge to block his view of the structure. If it weren’t for him performing occasional maintenance, the situation might be worse.

Curtis is no stranger to the city Bureau of Developmental Services. “I’ve called many times. They seem to feel their hands are tied, and they can’t demand that the owner cleans and makes the place livable or tear it down.

“They seem to figure there’s nothing they can do for just trash complaints,” he added. “It would take doing something criminal for the city to get serious.”

Where’s the owner? A search of public records provides little clarification.

The listed owner is Julie Selby, whom none of the neighbors have met. A title company notary met Julie when, in May 2015, she made an $865,000 mortgage.

The neighbors have met a fellow who identifies himself as the building contractor, Robel Alemseghed. Robel told a neighbor he lives in a house he built for himself on 26th Avenue. Although the address he offered them appears lived in, nobody came to the door despite several visits. In the meantime, the neighbors wait. And wait.

“The neighborhood has changed,” Curtis said. “We bought this house 10 years ago, moved back East and returned in 2013 or 2014. We’ve been surprised by changes in the neighborhood. “There’s more traffic and there’s more so called development going on.

Steve Elder, East2@ ConcordiaPDX.org, is an inactive lawyer, a developer, activist and old grouch.

By Heather Pashley | CNA Treasurer

One day a couple of summers ago, I was reading Concordia News and saw that the neighborhood association was looking for a treasurer. I thought, “I’m pretty good with numbers. That sounds like a good way to get involved.” I really had no idea what I was getting into.

I went to a board meeting, and what I discovered was a bunch of great people who volunteer their time to make sure Concordia stays such a great place to live.

Concordia Neighborhood Association (CNA) was created to help its members involve themselves in the affairs of the neighborhood. The board of directors meets at least 10 times a year to make sure CNA is filling the needs of its members.

Once a year, in November, is the CNA Annual Meeting when members of the neighborhood get the chance to vote on who they’d like to see on the board. If you’re a resident, property owner or business owner and want to get more involved, you may nominate yourself – or others with those qualifications – for election.

The current board members are listed below, and so is the map of their districts.

These the positions are up for election and re-election: East 2, Northwest 2, Southwest 2, At Large 2, At Large 4 and At Large 6. Additionally, East 1 and the chair positions require filling.

The bylaws of the association require that at least 15 nonboard members be present to vote at the annual meeting for the positions to be filled. One representative from each residence or business is eligible to vote at the annual meeting, and voting members can be as young as 14 years old as long as they have a parent or guardian’s permission.

I’m glad I got involved in CNA. I have met so many wonderful people, and I’ve learned a lot about my neighborhood.

I urge you to attend the general meeting and participate in discussions about neighborhood issues and concerns. Perhaps you’ll even volunteer to help lead those discussions and contribute to Concordia’s future by getting elected to the board.

The meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in McMenamins Kennedy School Community Room. See you there!

Heather Pashley was born in Portland and grew up playing at Fernhill Park. She has worked for OHSU for more than 20 years, worships at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, and she has never strayed far from her beloved Concordia neighborhood.

By Marsha Sandman | CNA Media Team

The Concordia neighborhood loves Halloween. There are treats and tricks all over the place.

Concordia University (CU) invites families with children 12 years old and younger to its Halloween festival at the George R. White Library and Learning Center Wednesday, Oct. 31.

About 140 student volunteers will transform the library into a Halloween carnival with games, booths, crafts, book readings, a coloring corner, treats, toys and prizes.

Twelve years ago CU wanted to engage the community with an open campus while it prepares future leaders.

Faculty and local businesses are generous with their donations to make sure there is plenty for everyone. Moms and dads have not been forgotten. There will be a coffee corner in the library so you can get a little rest from your more independent kids.

From 5 to 8 p.m. assigned groups will be escorted with their parent(s) to the Halloween-decorated eastside dorms where enthusiastic costumed students will dole out the goodies.

Upon request, there will be alternative treats for trick or treaters with allergies. There’s nothing scary at this party – all is fun and funny.

Dani Deputy-Grobbel is the CU residence life and community standards division director. She talked about this event that is more than just free candy. Twelve years ago CU wanted to engage the community with an open campus while it prepares future leaders. Besides the Halloween event, students are involved in outreach with the newly rebuilt Faubion School and after school programs throughout the community.

“A community event like our Halloween-in-the-Halls is just one way the university engages with neighbors and can promote early awareness about the options of education,” Dani said. “And it provides a fun holiday experience.”

Last year between 1,300 and 1,500 people enjoyed the safe, dry, welcoming Halloween celebration.

According to Dani, CU students are aware their school is mission centered and they understand that, when children come to the college campus, they see what’s possible in their future.

After living east, south, north and west, Marsha Sandman is home at last. And she wants to hear your story. Contact her at MarshaJSandman@gmail.com.

By Tamara Anne Fowler | CNA Media Team

A lobbyist’s day at work can be long, and it can be varied, accord ing to Courtney Westling, Portland Public Schools government relations director. In just one day, she:

• Worked on the logistics of an upcoming visit to the school district by the Oregon Joint Legislative Committee on Student Success
• Met with city officials to talk about ways to strengthen the district’s relationship with the Portland Parks & Recreation
• Conferred with a colleague from another school district to discuss ways to collaborate during the upcoming legislative session

Courtney also connects with the federal government to keep elected leaders updated about the work happening around the school district.

A lobbyist in Salem hired to move education policies, Courtney works with legislators and representatives of other school districts, school boards and education-focused associations. Their goal is to improve current policy to better serve students and to find solutions to impediments.

Courtney also connects with the federal government to keep elected leaders updated about the work happening around the school district. She coordinates logistics if an elected leader wants to tour a program, a school or host a school event.

In 2007 Courtney was a grad student in Washington, D.C. She returned home to Oregon and began to work on Jeff Merkley’s successful 2008 campaign. The senator called her back to Washington, D.C. – to Capitol Hill – from 2009 to 2011.

Courtney then moved to Michigan and lived in Ann Arbor until 2013. She worked for the Center for Michigan, a nonprofit “think-and-do” tank.

“I led an outreach project to engage communities across the state in a conversation about what they saw as the biggest challenges in public education,” she explained. “From that work, we created a strategy to engage lawmakers in ways to address some of the common concerns that came up during our outreach.”

When Courtney and husband Mike moved back to Portland in 2013, they definitely wanted to live in northeast. In October 2014, they bought their house just off of Holman Street at 28th Avenue when Courtney was pregnant with their first child, and they needed room to grow.

Courtney and her family enjoy the neighborhood being so walkable. They like to walk or ride bikes to Tamale Boy on Dekum Street or to Handsome Pizza on Killingsworth. They love being close to parks – for sons Evan, 3½, and Graham, 1½, and for French pointer Seger (as in Bob).

Portland Public Schools are all in the family. Courtney’s mom attended Faubion School. Soon Courtney’s sons will attend Faubion as well.

Tamara Anne Fowler is Edit Kitten, a writer with 20-plus years of experience offering a softer, gentler approach to editing and coaching. Her personal editors — Armani, Max Factor and Spicey’D — are also her cats. Visit her at EditKitten.com or contact her at Tamara@EditKitten. com.