Overlook Neighborhood Update (Sept. 13) – Overlook Neighborhood Association

1) Swan Island bridge update

Many Overlook residents found significant traffic backups on main routes this week as the thousands of vehicles that travel to and from Swan Island backed up due to restricted access after last weekend’s train derailment. This was especially true during the morning commute.

The Going Street Bridge to the island remains restricted to one lane in each direction, and the Portland Bureau of Transportation says it could take weeks or even months to repair. Expect significant traffic congestion until all lanes re-open. The Oregonian put together a photo package of backups earlier this week.

Union Pacific has identified a broken rail as the cause of the derailment that damaged the bridge support column to Swan Island. The cause of that rail damage, however, remains unidentified.

OKNA will share updates about the Swan Island bridge situation through this email list. If you’d like to receive email updates directly from PBOT, sign up here.

2) Board elections and more at next week’s annual meeting

Join your neighbors at the Overlook Neighborhood Association annual meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Kaiser Town Hall on N Interstate Avenue. At the meeting, we will choose board members for the coming year. Thirteen candidates declared interest by the deadline to appear on the ballot. The board, however, can have up to 15 members, so other candidates will be invited to announce from the floor at the meeting. Candidates will have an opportunity to introduce themselves to residents, and if there are more than 15 candidates we will cast ballots. (If there are 15 or fewer, all candidates will become board members.)

The 13 candidates who will appear on the printed ballot are:

Chris Trejbal*	Cynthia Sulaski*
George Spaulding*	Chelsea Snow*
Peter Parks	John Parks
Alexandra Penney	Marci Macfarlane
Robert Morus	Kristina Kern*
Brad Halverson*	Alexandra Degher*
Alan Crana*

(* indicates an incumbent).

Following the election, we will hear from the Portland Bureau of Transportation about work on N Greeley Avenue and from the developer of a multifamily project at 1404 N Killingsworth Street. The developer presented in July and wishes to share some design updates. View the full agenda.

3) Apply for a Multnomah County Cultural grant

Multnomah County is accepting applications for 2020 Community Cultural Participation grants. The grant program supports community-based cultural events, programs and organizations. Grants can be used for a specific cultural event or activity as long as it is open to the public. This includes registered neighborhood associations, artist collectives, groups of citizens with a declared common purpose consistent with the goals of this grant program, and nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit status is not required to apply. Projects are funded up between $1,000 to $2,000. For more information please review grant criteria.

Apply online by Oct. 4. This program is made possible by the support of the Oregon Cultural Trust.

4) Patton Square Park celebration tomorrow

Join the Friends of Patton Square Park, the Overlook Neighborhood Association, and Portland Parks & Recreation in celebrating the completion of improvements at Patton Square Park’s playground with a free, kid-friendly community party on Saturday, Sept. 14, 1-3 p.m.

The event will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by neighborhood kids. We’ll also have face painting by Mystique’s Fancy Faces, community information tables, music performed by Ants Ants Ants, and free cupcakes and ice cream.

Thanks to funding from the 2014 Parks Replacement Bond, systems development charges, and funds raised by Friends of Patton Square Park and their donors, this playground has received an expansion with new play pieces and a natural seating area.

Friends of Patton Square Park would like to thank everyone who donated to their fundraising campaign. We raised a total of $20,750 from 45 individuals/couples, eight businesses (adidas, Fairfield Residential, Aprende con Amigos Preschool Academy, Hardware Security Resources, Ethos Development, Atomic Pizza, Firelight Yoga and Ger-Brock Automotive) and the Overlook Neighborhood Association.