2019 Year-End Report

Woo Hoo! Has it really been over 15 years? Why, yes it has.

Friends of Pier Park was rekindled in 2005 when we were fighting to keep Pier Pool open. But, it was started before then. Anyway, 2019 was another banner year for Pier Park.

Steve Davis planting a native tree at Pier Park — Steve Davis, Chair of Friends of Pier Park, planting a native tree during the No Ivy Day event.

Thank You

We want to say thank you to Allison Parker, Parks Services Supervisor for the North Service Zone, who works with tirelessly Friends of Pier Park, attends and reports at most of our meetings, shows up for every big volunteer event, and advocates to her higherups on behalf of Pier Park. Allison is outstanding!

We also want to thank Dave Blado, also with Portland Parks, who is responsible for bringing in new native plants and helping make Pier Park beautiful.

Volunteers gathering before the No Ivy Day event — Volunteers gather before No Ivy Day. Allison Parker is on the far right. Dave Blado stands next to her.

Accomplishments:

Installation of the new restrooms by hole #1 of the disc golf course. This one was a long time coming. We’ve been lobbying City Hall for new bathrooms at Pier Park for over five years. See this post from 2015 showing Pier Park’s “Tin Palace” compared to restrooms at other Portland Parks, Pier Park Restrooms Need and Upgrade.
420 Earth Day Pier Park Pick-Up — April 20, 2019, was Earth Day and the day of our annual SOLVE-IT event. Over 50 volunteers came out, including volunteers from Roosevelt High School, Schnitzer Steel, and Stumptown Disc Golf. Work included removing invasive ivy and blackberries. See the full report in this post, Earth Day Success.
No Ivy Day — October 26, 2019, was our best No Ivy Day yet. Disc Golf volunteers worked to improve the course by adding tree protection and gravel to the paths and tee pads while other volunteers planted native trees and shrubs in areas formerly overrun with invasive plants.
Playground Improvements — As part of the 2014 Parks Replacement Bond, the Pier Park playground got repairs to the drainage, new wood chips, and fabric underlayment. Ongoing work into 2020 includes an ADA path. Read Temporary Closure of Pier Park Playground for details.
Finances — We thank our volunteers and also our donors! Friends of Pier Park is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and donations are deductible. We ended the year with $5,531 funds available to leverage grants, improve the disc golf course, and much more!
November Meeting/Party and Board Elections — Yes, we like to have fun! On November 18, 2019, we met for a potluck and to elect our 2020 board. Our new board of directors includes Steve Davis, Chair; Kelly Pergande, Vice-Chair; Collette Peck, Secretary; and Keola Morley, Treasurer. We thank our retiring Chair, Matt Kuntz, for his years of service to Friends of Pier Park.

Enjoy Pictures from 2019

The New Restroom

The line for the new toilet during No Ivy Day and a cross country meet — The line for the new restroom during No Ivy Day, which coincided with a Pier Park cross country meet.

Earth Day Pier Park Pick-Up

Volunteers gathering before the Pier Park Pick-Up — Volunteers gather for instructions from Parks staff

Volunteers from Roosevelt HS — Volunteers gather for instructions from Parks staff

No Ivy Day

Disc Golf volunteer repairing a disc pad — Stumptown Disc Golf volunteers adding gravel to a tee pad.

November Party and Board Elections

2020 Board of Directors — Board of Directors, Keola Morley, Kelly Pergande, Steve Davis, and Collette Peck

Friends of Pier Park holiday party — Board of Directors, Keola Morley, Kelly Pergande, Steve Davis, and Collette Peck

Upcoming in 2020

Friends of Pier Parks meets January – October on the third Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Stormbreakers Brewing on North Lombard Street. Check the website events page for details. All are welcome.

Support Friends of Pier Park

If you want to volunteer, donate, or have services to offer, check this link. We want to hear from you!

Thank You