Tag: Montavilla Park

Community, Food and Drink

2026 Free Lunch + Play Returns June 22

On Monday, June 22nd, Portland Parks & Recreation’s (PP&R) Free Lunch + Play program returns to Montavilla Park on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with free lunch from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. for youth 18 years or younger. For many children, school offers activities and services that extend beyond education. Some students rely on school as their only structured playtime with peers and depend on the free lunch program for a midday meal. Thanks to funds provided by the 2020 voter-approved Parks Local Option Levy, the Free Lunch + Play program offers children weekday activities without registration or cost. From June 22nd to August 21st, kids can visit 23 parks citywide for recreational activities and a nutritious lunch.

Portland Public Schools closed for the summer on June 5th. With over half the city’s school-age children qualifying for free or reduced-price meals during the school year, PP&R’s Free Lunch + Play program is a critical tool in keeping young people fed during the summer break. However, the free lunches are available to anyone meeting the age requirements, regardless of enrollment in a school district’s free lunch program. Adults bringing 10 or more youth to a location for a free lunch should contact 503-729-0332 at least 5 business days in advance, so park staff can accommodate the group. USDA Federal guidelines require recipients to eat their meals on-site in the designated area, and youth are limited to one serving per day. Locations will have a No Thank You Table offering unwanted lunch items that youth can take to supplement their meals during the designated lunch hours.

A swimming pool area featuring a clean, blue pool with lane markers, a slide, and surrounding grass and trees under a clear sky.

Montavilla Park at 8219 NE Glisan Street, Gateway Discovery Park at 10520 NE Halsey Street, and Lents Park at SE 92 Avenue and SE Steele Street will host Free Lunch + Play activities for Montavilla area residents. Meal times vary by location, but Parks employees will organize games and other group activities throughout the four-hour sessions. The program staff will observe the July 4th national holiday on the 3rd and will take the day off.

All meal packs comply with USDA Federal Lunch Program regulations. Youth must attend in person to receive meals and eat all the food on-site. Foodservice occurs only during stated mealtimes. For Montavilla Park, that is from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. At Lents Park, food is available from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Gateway Discovery Park has a shorter mealtime window, 11 to 11:45 a.m. Staff will require everyone to wash their hands before receiving food.

Free Lunch + Play is part of Portland Parks & Recreation’s (PP&R) Summer Free For All program, offering more than 50 free outdoor events for all ages, including multicultural festivals, free outdoor movies, and concerts across the city. It also includes activities at PP&R outdoor pools, opening on June 18th. Six outdoor pools will host a weekly free swim session in addition to their fee-based swim lessons, open-play swims, and water fitness classes. Montavilla’s pool offers free swim sessions on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. People will find a complete list of Summer Free For All’s inclusive and family-friendly activities on the PP&R website.

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Jacob Loeb

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Community, Construction, Government, Infrastructure

Montavilla Picnic Shelter Added to Budget

On May 20th, at the end of a marathon budget session, the Portland City Council approved an $8.5 billion city budget for fiscal year 2026-2027 with a $755,000 line item for a replacement Montavilla Park picnic shelter. Portland City Council Member Tiffany Koyama Lane’s amendment to the budget came back to consideration at the tail-end of the proceeding after a quick revision to specify Parks Local Option Levy money as the intended funding source. This budget addition passed seven to five at the end of an evening Council session that saw many failing amendments with 6-6 ties as city leaders addressed a $160 million revenue shortfall.

A construction site showing the partial demolition of a building, with scattered debris and a bulldozer in the foreground.
Montavilla Park picnic shelter demolition October 2021, photos by Weston Ruter

Political interest in funding a replacement picnic shelter ramped up recently; however, the community’s desire for its replacement began years before. In October 2021, demolition crews removed the aging picnic shelter at Montavilla Park and installed new grass turf rather than preparing the site for an already-designed replacement structure. Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) postponed the planned modern 2,000-square-foot open-walled replacement shelter due to a department-wide budgetary shortfall. Before its removal, the area was fenced off for safety concerns. Earlier this month, a community group began circulating a petition to build that Montavilla Park structure.

Architectural drawings of a picnic shelter, including a floor plan and elevation views from the east/west and north/south. The design features a metal roof, wood rafters, and a concrete foundation.
Proposed Montavilla Park Picnic Shelter from 2021

The petition effort, led by members of the Hope & Bread Street Church who gather in the park for Sunday service, gained community interest, with ABC Television affiliate KATU and MV News covering the campaign. On May 17th, Councilor Koyama Lane from Montavilla’s District 3 included shelter funding as part of her seven proposed budget amendments, later receiving expressed support from other elected officials, including Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards and Oregon Representative Thuy Tran.

Votes for the Montavilla Park picnic shelter did not fall strictly on Portland City Council District lines with District 3 and District 1 residents having local access to the park. District 3 Councilor Steve Novick voted against the funding due to reservations regarding project priorities, given the City staff reductions and program cuts necessary to balance this year’s budget. He expressed support for the project but worried about the potential to overlook other needed projects without an evaluation process to rank community needs. “I would love to be able to vote for this. This is important, but I think that we should make all of these decisions in the context of considering trade-offs, and parks as a huge maintenance backlog,” said Novick, preceding the vote. “I just can’t make this decision out of context. Maybe if we took a long look at all the things that communities have been promised in the maintenance backlog, this would rise to the top. But I can’t say that I’ve done that work, so I can’t support this today.”

Black and white photograph of NE 82nd Street at NE Glisan Street, featuring a mix of storefronts and residential homes, with a wet road and power lines visible.
1933 Portland Archive image. 82nd Ave roadwork looking north from NE Glisan St. A previous Montavilla park shelter is visible at the right but is not the one removed in 2021

Some petitioners supporting replacing Montavilla Park’s picnic shelter had been watching the proceedings since early afternoon and had to wait until nearly 9:30 p.m. for the session’s final budget amendment vote. The Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission will conduct a legal review of the amended budget. The council can make further adjustments to the approved budget, provided that no individual fund is adjusted by more than 10%. In June, the Portland City Council must formally adopt the budget ahead of July 1st, when the new fiscal year begins. At that point, Parks planners can begin project planning for the return of a Montavilla Park picnic shelter, restoring a nearly 100-year run of having a covered outdoor gathering space at this location.

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By

Jacob Loeb

Portland City Council District 3 members and Representative Thuy Tran are up for reelection in November 2026. Julia Brim-Edwards is seeking the Multnomah County Chair position. Montavilla News does not endorse individual candidates or ballot measures.

Update: Portland Archive image description expanded to note that the shelter shown in 1933 photo is not the one demolished in 2021. It was removed at an unknown date.

Community, Government, Infrastructure

Group Circulates Montavilla Park Picnic Shelter Petition

In October 2021, demolition crews removed the aging picnic shelter at Montavilla Park and planted new grass turf. Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) has postponed the planned modern 2,000-square-foot open-walled replacement shelter due to a department-wide budgetary shortfall. Now, half a decade later, without a functional covered park space, a community group is circulating a petition to build that Montavilla Park structure.

Abandoned covered structure surrounded by a metal fence in a grassy area, with overgrown vegetation and 'Do Not Enter' signs posted.
The aging picnic shelter at Montavilla Park fenced in 2020 and demolished in 2021

Before demolition work began, PP&R updated the Montavilla Park Picnic Shelter project webpage, announcing the pending deconstruction of the structure and noting the lack of funds for its replacement. That web page is no longer accessible to the public. Park staff planted grass seed on the worksite, and signs of the shelter’s past presence are near undetectable. In 2021, PP&R representative Mark Ross confirmed the project’s indefinite delay while emphasizing that staff would continue to seek opportunities to revive it in future budgets.

With Montavilla’s decaying shelter demolished and no longer a danger to parkgoers, the replacement shelter project eventually disappeared from the PP&R project page. However, the picnic shelter is still listed as a Montavilla Park amenity on the location’s official web page and park maps. Tired of waiting for the project to become a priority on its own, Hope & Bread Street Church decided it was time to launch a petition requesting that the project be returned to priority status with PP&R. The faith group uses the park 52 Sundays a year, in all weather. The lack of covered shelter is a significant burden for that group, and they understand it is impacting other park users as well. The petition will collect the digital signatures from all interested parties who want a new picnic shelter in Montavilla Park.

Architectural drawings of a picnic shelter, including a floor plan and elevation views from the east/west and north/south. The design features a metal roof, wood rafters, and a concrete foundation.
Proposed Montavilla Park Picnic Shelter from 2021

Hope & Bread Street Church’s volunteers pride themselves on adapting to conditions and set up portable canopies during the winter months. However, they note that wind and rain limit their ability to keep people dry year-round, and they want to serve attendees with dignity while remaining accessible to those who are not comfortable attending within a traditional indoor gathering space. Although the host petitioner’s need is specific, their request is generic: for all community members and all Montavilla Park users to have access to a covered area within the neighborhood’s public recreation space.

Hope & Bread Street Church’s representative says the petition has 70 signatures from its participants and hopes the community will join their efforts. This request comes at a time when the city faces a budget gap of over $160 million, and many city services will likely face significant cuts. However, even during budget shortfalls, PP&R has tapped System Development Charge (SDC) funds paid by eligible developers. That money is used for capital projects that expand the park system’s capacity, including the expansion of existing parks or facilities. People have until May 17th to sign the petition before it is delivered to the Portland City Council.

Update May 19, 2026: Portland Councilor Tiffany Koyama Lane is proposing seven budget amendments for FY2026–2027, which includes funds to rebuild the Montavilla Park picnic shelter. Portland City Council will consider these and other budget amendments as the city leaders work to finalize a balanced budget.

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Jacob Loeb

Transportation

Transit Impact on Recreational and Historic Areas Survey

As part of the 82nd Avenue Transit Project currently under development, Oregon Metro and TriMet have launched a survey to gauge the impact of station construction on recreational and historic areas along the planned Bus Rapid Transit route. Provided details and several questions focus on work to convert the existing bus stop in front of the Montavilla Community Center, at 8219 NE Glisan Street, into an FX–Frequent Express station. Additional improvements impacting the recreational center include widening the connecting sidewalk along Montavilla Park’s NE 82nd Avenue frontage.

Mosaic artwork depicting various athletic figures on the brick wall of the Montavilla Community Center.

Transit line improvements will provide faster bus service along 82nd Avenue from the Cully
neighborhood to Clackamas Town Center through a partnership between TriMet, the Portland Bureau of Transportation, the Oregon Department of Transportation, and Metro. The project offers several components that will impact 72 bus riders and street users along the route. Draft plans will transform some sections of the pedestrian zone near stations by improving sidewalks where they connect to new boarding platforms, offering covered seating, lighting, trash cans, and digital signage similar to some FX2 stops on SE Division Street.

Expanding the sidewalk width along Montavilla Park’s western edge and creating the FX station would push the property line eastward towards a row of mature trees, making 1,300 square feet of parkland public right-of-way. Construction crews would stage materiel along the worksite using 1.37% of the adjacent park property for temporary access. TriMet expects construction work to begin in 2027 and last around two months. Visitors will retain access to the park and community center throughout the project.

Map showing the proposed improvements for the Montavilla Park and Community Center area, highlighting sidewalk widening, transit station platform, and construction impacts along the Bus Rapid Transit route.
Montavilla Park site diagram courtesy TriMet and Metro

Transit planners have asked community members to complete several surveys meant to guide the 82nd Avenue Transit Project. However, this outreach is designed to share specific information about park, recreational, and historic resources in the project corridor that pertain to federal regulations governing the transit planning process. Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act prevents harm to publicly owned parks, recreation areas, and historic sites that are along this transportation project’s path. The survey documents explain that “transportation agencies must show there is no feasible and prudent alternative and that all possible measures are taken to minimize harm.”

The other federal regulation under consideration is Section 106, which requires federal agencies to consider a project’s impact on historic properties. The Milepost 5 Apartments—originally the German Baptist Old People’s Home—at 823 NE 82nd Avenue is on the National Register of Historic Places (NHRP), and designs will need to minimize impact to that site. TriMet plans to remove the bus stop and shelter in front of that property and build a new FX station 300 feet north on the same block. Historians and archaeologists will evaluate the history, setting, and characteristics of older buildings and sites to determine whether any other resources in the project area are eligible for listing on the NHRP.

Exterior view of the Milepost 5 building, showcasing a brick structure with windows and a sign displaying 'MILEPOST 5' along with 'ART HAUS' and additional text, surrounded by landscaped grass and trees.
National Register of Historic Places registered German Baptist Old People’s Home at 823 NE 82nd Avenue (now Milepost 5 Apartments)

Survey questions allow community guidance on preservation considerations and gather comments on plans that could impact recreational spaces along 82nd Avenue, which may be affected by the transit development. The survey is available until January 18th, 2026.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The author of this article previously served on the 82nd Avenue Transit Project Community Advisory Committee (CAC).

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Community, Food and Drink

Free Lunch + Play Returns June 23

On Monday, June 23rd, Portland Parks & Recreation’s (PP&R) Free Lunch + Play program returns to Montavilla Park on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with free lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m. for youth 18 years or younger. For many children, school offers activities and services that extend beyond education. Some students rely on school as their only structured playtime with peers and depend on the free lunch program for a midday meal. Thanks to funds provided by the 2020 voter-approved Parks Local Option Levy, the Free Lunch + Play program offers children weekday activities without registration or cost. From June 23rd to August 22nd, kids can visit 22 parks citywide for recreational activities and a nutritious lunch.

Portland Public Schools close for summer on June 12th, and over half the city’s school-age children qualify for free or reduced-price meals during the school year, making PP&R’s Free Lunch + Play program a critical tool in keeping young people fed during the summer break. However, the free lunches are available to anyone meeting the age requirements, regardless of enrollment in a school district’s free lunch program. Adults bringing 10 or more youth to a location to receive free lunch should contact 503-729-0332 at least five business days in advance so parks staff can accommodate the group. USDA Federal guidelines require recipients to eat their meals on-site in the designated area, and youth are limited to one serving per day. Locations will have a No Thank You Table offering unwanted items from lunches that youth can take to supplement their meal during the designated lunch hours.

A swimming pool area featuring a clean, blue pool with lane markers, a slide, and surrounding grass and trees under a clear sky.

Montavilla Park at 8219 NE Glisan Street, Gateway Discovery Park at 10520 NE Halsey Street, and Lents Park at SE 92 Avenue and SE Steele Street will host Free Lunch + Play activities for Montavilla area residents. Meal times shift based on location, but Parks employees will organize games and other group activities throughout the four-hour sessions. The program staff observe the July 4th national holiday and will take the day off.

Portland Public Schools, Centennial School District, Parkrose School District, and David Douglas School District provide all the meal packs that adhere to the USDA Federal Lunch Program regulations. Youth must attend in person to receive meals and eat all the food on-site. Foodservice occurs only during stated mealtimes. For Montavilla Park, that is from noon to 1:30 p.m. At Lents Park, food is available from 11:30 a.m. through 1 p.m. Gateway Discovery Park has a shorter mealtime window of 11 to 11:45 a.m. Staff will require everyone to wash their hands before receiving food.

Free Lunch + Play is part of Portland Parks & Recreation’s (PP&R) Summer Free For All program, offering more than 40 events for all ages, including multicultural festivals, free outdoor movies, and concerts across the city. It also includes activities at PP&R outdoor pools, opening on June 20th. Six outdoor pools will host a weekly free swim session in addition to its fee-based swim lessons, open play swims, and water fitness. Montavilla’s pool offers free swim sessions on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. People will find a complete list of Summer Free For All’s inclusive and family-friendly activities on the PP&R website.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Community, Entertainment, Government

Budget Cuts Could Impact Montavilla Community Center

On Tuesday, March 18th, Portland residents will have an opportunity to participate in a District 3 budget listening session and express their community funding priorities to City leaders. Portland is facing a substantial budget shortfall for its fiscal year starting July 1st, and cuts are needed across City operations to balance spending against revenue. Within $16 million of recommended reductions to Portland Parks & Recreation’s budget are possible solutions that would impact Montavilla residents, including the loss of summer programs and the potential closure of the Community Center at 8219 NE Glisan Street.

From 6 to 8:30 p.m. on the 18th, members of the Portland City Council, Mayor Wilson, and representatives from the Budget Office will gather on the University of Western States campus at 8100 NE Tillamook Street to gauge community priorities regarding proposed budget cuts. People can also attend online via the Zoom conferencing app or passively watch on the City’s YouTube channel. Participants attending from the campus or via Zoom can provide two minutes of testimony. In-person speakers will register upon arrival, starting at 5:30 p.m. City staff will post virtual testimony instructions on the City’s website by Sunday, March 16th. Residents who will not attend the event or do not want to speak can submit written comments online via the City’s budget page.

Proposed budget cuts could impact a wide-ranging assortment of city services people have grown accustomed to receiving. In the recently posted Vibrant Communities – Decision Packages v2 budget document, two possible reduction proposals could impact Montavilla Park. One recommended reduction would close a community center, eliminating all current programs and services. The document does not identify which center would close, but the Montavilla Community Center is one of three examples given.

“This package would close a neighborhood community center, eliminating all programs and services currently provided to the community through this facility. Staff reductions will accompany this center closure, and recreation programs, including educational preschool and afterschool programs will no longer be offered. Events, rentals, and other recreational programming will also be eliminated at this location. Examples include, St Johns Community Center, Montavilla Community Center and Peninsula Park Community Center.” – Vibrant Communities – Decision Packages v2

In addition to the possible closure of Montavilla’s Community Center, the document includes recommendations for eliminating youth summer camp programs at ten locations in summer 2026. These reductions would include programs at Montavilla Community Center and the East Portland Community Center at 740 SE 106th Avenue, which is the next nearest parks resource center for people in the neighborhood.

“This budget package would result in the elimination of the youth summer camp program, currently provided at ten locations through five regional community centers (Southwest CC; East Portland CC; Charles Jordan CC; Matt Dishman CC; Mt Scott CC) and five neighborhood/specialty centers (St Johns CC; Peninsula Park CC; Woodstock CC; Montavilla CC; Multnomah Arts Center). Summer
2024 provided camps to 6,949 registered participants.” – Vibrant Communities – Decision Packages v2

These possible Parks department reductions are just two examples of proposed cuts to the City’s budget. People should review the proposed budget for more examples ahead of the listening session. Residents should note that these plans can adjust with community input, and no action is inevitable outside the need to close the City’s funding gap. Montavilla Community Center will close from March 17th to March 22nd for annual building maintenance. This short closure is unrelated to the budget deficit but previews how a possible Montavilla Community Center closure would impact the neighborhood. Organizers have three other listening sessions scheduled throughout Portland, including District 1 on March 20th, District 4 on April 1st, and District 2 on April 3rd.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

History

Montavilla History Questions Answered: Montavilla Pool

Q – When did the Montavilla Park swimming pool open?

A – The public swimming pool in Montavilla Park formally opened on July 28, 1930, nine years after the park itself. In the park’s early years, other types of recreation took priority. Two baseball diamonds were built in 1921, a playground in 1925, and tennis courts in 1927.

Montavilla Pool 2023, photo by Jacob Loeb

Of course, a pool and accompanying building were more expensive, costing $30,000. They were designed by Portland architect Roscoe Hemenway (1899-1959). At the time, Hemenway was just beginning his architectural career, but later, he became a favorite of Portland’s elite. His original building has been added to and altered over the years, so the current Community Center and gym have a much different look.

Group of children at Montavilla Park Pool. August 16, 1935 (Portland Archives)

From the beginning, the Montavilla pool was extremely popular. Soon after opening, it attracted 2,200 bathers a day. Because of its heavy use, a new 1931 state health law required a filtration system to keep bacteria within safe limits. This improvement cost $10,300.

By

Patricia Sanders

This is part of a new segment at Montavilla News called Montavilla History Questions Answered. If you have questions about Montavilla’s past that you’d like answered, local historian Patricia Sanders will investigate your question. Please email your questions to history@montavilla.net and we may feature it alongside Patricia Sanders’ research in a future post on this page.

Community, Entertainment, Event

Delayed Opening of Montavilla Pool

Montavilla Pool will not open on June 20th alongside Portland Parks & Recreation’s (PP&R) other outdoor pools. The seasonal public swimming facility requires the fabrication and installation of a new pool drain cover to meet federal safety compliance for pools and spas. The pool has been closed to the public since August 25th, 2023, when a young swimmer was found unresponsive in the pool and later died. Aquatic maintenance staff could not complete upgrades earlier due to an ongoing independent safety review instigated by last summer’s tragedy. The incident was PP&R’s first fatal drowning in nearly 40 years.

Drain cover crews will replaced seen in lower right

Work at the site will require an excavator and other heavy machinery to open up the pool’s concrete base, exposing the plumbing to maintenance staff. The contractor expects to complete the work at Montavilla Pool on or before July 22nd, 2024. The 2024 pool season concludes on August 23rd for all outdoor swim facilities, so this delay truncates Montavilla Pool’s available class capacity. People who have already registered for a Summer Session 1 lesson from July 1st to 12th can participate in the East Portland Community Center (EPCC) programs. Registrants could also receive a full refund if EPCC is not a suitable alternative. Montavilla Pool staff will temporarily transfer to EPCC pool to assist customers who have signed up for swim lessons and summer swim team activities at Montavilla and have shifted locations during the construction closure.

PP&R will launch a new Safe Swim hub on June 17th, featuring swim safety resources for indoor and outdoor swimmers. Parks leadership expressed a commitment to making the future swimming season safer through equipment upgrades and education. If crews complete pool construction before July 22nd, Montavilla News will update this article.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: A family member of this article’s author works for PP&R as a seasonal employee in the Free Lunch + Play program.

Montavilla Pool is located at 8219 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR 97220

East Portland Community Center is located at 740 SE 106th Ave, Portland, OR 97216

Community, Event, Food and Drink, View of Montavilla

Free Lunch and Play Returns in 2024

When Portland Public Schools close for summer on June 14th, families will need a way to fill the gap left in their children’s daytime schedule. For many kids, school offers activities and services beyond education. Some students rely on school as their only structured playtime with peers and depend on the free lunch program for a midday meal. Thanks to funds provided by the 2020 voter-approved Parks Local Option Levy, the Free Lunch + Play program offers children 18 years old and younger weekday activities without registration or cost. From June 24th to August 16th, kids can show up at 22 parks citywide for recreational activities and a nutritious lunch.

Montavilla Park at 8219 NE Glisan Street, Gateway Discovery Park at 10520 NE Halsey Street, and Lents Park at SE 92 Avenue and SE Steele Street will host Free Lunch + Play activities for Montavilla area residents. The Monday through Friday parks program runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with meal service times shifting based on location. Parks employees will organize games and other group activities throughout the four-hour sessions. The program staff will take July 4th and 5th off in observance of the national holiday.

Portland Public Schools, Centennial School District, Parkrose School District, and David Douglas School District will provide all the meal packs that adhere to the USDA Federal Lunch Program regulations. Youth must attend in person to receive meals and eat all the food on-site. Foodservice occurs only during stated mealtimes. For Montavilla Park, that is from noon to 1:30 p.m. At Lents Park, food is available from 11:30 a.m. through 1 p.m. Gateway Discovery Park has a shorter mealtime window of 11 to 11:45 a.m. Staff will require everyone to wash their hands before receiving food.

Free Lunch + Play is part of Portland Parks & Recreation’s (PP&R) Summer Free For All program. It also includes activities at PP&R outdoor pools, open from June 20th through August 23rd. Six outdoor pools will host a weekly free swim session in addition to regularly scheduled swim lessons, open play swims, and water fitness offerings. Montavilla’s pool offers free swim sessions on Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. People will find a complete list of Summer Free For All’s inclusive and family-friendly activities on the PP&R website. The programming celebrates Portland’s diverse cultures and local artists while providing fitness, food, and entertainment opportunities.

Update: Montavilla Pool will open later than other PP&R pools due to planned upgrades. It should open no later than July 22nd, 2024.

Disclosure: A family member of this article’s author works for PP&R as a seasonal employee in the Free Lunch + Play program.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Community, Construction, Infrastructure

New Lamp Poles at Montavilla Park

Recently, crews working with Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) replaced ten lamp posts and ornamental fixtures in Montavilla Park at 8219 NE Glisan Street. This work is part of the PP&R Light Pole Safety Project, which grew out of public objection to the program’s first iteration, which planned to remove 244 light posts in twelve parks without sufficient funds for replacement. Since May 6th, lighting installers have concentrated efforts in Mt. Tabor Park, replacing 88 old and unstable lights. 

On February 22nd, 2023, PP&R began the removal of potentially dangerous light poles in City parks. Engineers determined that some older cast-concrete light poles in Portland Parks have structural anchoring issues that could pose life and safety hazards to the public. This project had limited funding, with just two parks expected to receive new lights within 16 months. Affected parks would have closed at 10:00 p.m., with Park Rangers frequently visiting at night to compensate for the dangers caused by the poorly illuminated facilities. Before citizen groups could mobilize, PP&R crews removed lights in Mount Scott Park, Sellwood Park, and Sellwood Riverfront Park. The maintenance worker’s quick action and the public’s short notice caused anger in the community. 

Within weeks of announcing the Light Pole Safety Project, several community groups asked PP&R leaders and City elected officials to halt the removal and reconsider the process. Among them, Montavilla’s neighborhood coalition Southeast Uplift sent a letter signed by 23 community-based organizations. The letter requested the City find funding to restore all lighting it had or planned to remove. It also asked PP&R to postpone further light removal until they procured replacement units and engaged the community in the replacement lighting process.

At the April 5th, 2023, Portland City Council session, the Mayor and all four Commissioners approved an amended contract with McKinstry Essention for energy savings performance contracting services, including funding for new park lights. PP&R halted light pole removal and sourced replacement lighting that met the community’s requests for replacement.   

Example of old fixture on the left with a new one on the right in Montavilla Park

The new lamp posts feature a similar design and use LED lights that are 66% more efficient than the nearly 100-year-old units they are replacing. Vendors fitted new fixtures with a shield to direct light towards park pathways, lessening light pollution in the night sky caused by upward illumination. Additionally, circuitry in the lights ensures limited operation from dusk to dawn, saving energy while providing nighttime safety. PP&R says they selected new light poles and fixtures to replicate the previous ones as closely as possible. The replica fixtures are objectively equivalent in design, and most parkgoers will not notice a difference other than the new poles look cleaner and more substantial. The fixture connects to the cast concrete pole with the same vertical straps cinched in place with four metal bands. The spacing of each element exactly matches the older version’s proportions. The lamp’s glass-paneled housing differs slightly from the past fixtures seen in Montavilla Park. However, not all park lamp posts are of the same vintage, and the new poles lean towards the classic design found in many older parks. In this instance, Montavilla Park’s lamp posts will better match the neighboring parks.

PP&R will continue to replace the light pole in Mt. Tabor Park through May and then work on the remaining two parks. If the project keeps on schedule, crews will install nine new poles at Lair Hill Park in June, with four units replaced at Ladd Circle Park in August. A year after community groups moved to action, residents are seeing the results of their advocacy, just in time for a season of warm summer night strolls. 

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

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