Help Improve Patton Square Park Playground!

Please join Friends of Patton Square Park* in making a difference for kids in North Portland!  We are raising money for much-needed improvements to the park's playground. After several years of gathering input from our neighbors and park users, we know there is strong support to make the small playground in our tiny neighborhood park more accessible and more interactive for children under the age of five. 

As part of the 2014 Parks Bond Measure, Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) plans to improve the playground this summer by replacing its surface with ADA-approved wood chips and replacing its liner for better drainage.  In response to the concerns we outlined in our proposal to them two years ago, PP&R will also replant at the far eastern end of the playground, reconfigure the eastern interior play area curb to match the park’s pathway design and install contrabass chimes as an all-age play feature.

We support and appreciate those improvements. But, there is more we can do to make this playground a more meaningful and fun gathering place for younger children living in the neighborhood and attending school nearby.  PP&R has agreed that there is a need for additional playground equipment. But we must raise the funds by the end of May to pay for them. 

The project will cost approximately $30,000.  PP&R will pay for half of the cost with SDC funds, if we can match that amount.  (Please see update below.)  Our goal is to raise at least $4,250 from individuals and the remainder from businesses. With those funds, we can purchase for installation:
     - one ride-on springer toy and 
     - four interactive play panels with sensory and interactive features.

Over the  last 15 years, we have become aware of the increased numbers of children visiting the park and the limitations of the current major play structure, which is geared to older children. As our neighborhood continues to develop denser housing at a rapid pace, green spaces and playgrounds are more important than ever to the increasing number of children who call the Overlook neighborhood "home."

We need to finish our fundraising campaign by Friday, June 7th.  All donations will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this project!

Here is a rendering of the final design of the play pieces:




They will be placed to the right of and behind the large play structure:


* Friends of Patton Square Park is a committee of the Overlook Neighborhood Association, a 501c3 organization.

*UPDATE*

We've changed our goal in light of a generous offer from Portland Parks & Recreation and Commissioner Nick Fish.  They will dedicate $15,000 from System Development Charge (SDC) funds, if we can match that amount.  Thank you, Commissioner Fish! 

Monies over our share of the purchase and installation costs will be earmarked for our celebration party in August and for future expenses to repair and/or replace the play pieces.

In addition to all of your donations, we have some incredible local businesses and organizations that have helped make this project possible.

We give a big SHOUT OUT to Aprende con Amigos Preschool Academy  for their $3000 donation. They have consistently been a supportive member of Friends of Patton Square Park over the years.  Muchas gracias a Stacey Dunbar, sus maestros y padres de sus estudiantes por su generosidad!

And to Fairfield Residential  for donating $5000. They are currently building an apartment building on Interstate Avenue across from the park; it is slated to open in the summer.  Thank you for your generous donation!

Many thanks go out to neighbor and local small business owner, Joe FitzPatrick of Hardware Security Resources, LLC, for his $2000 donation.

Thanks to the folks at ETHOS Development for their donation of $1500.  They are breaking ground on a new apartment building at Interstate Ave and Church Street.

And many thanks to adidas America Inc. for their donations totaling $5,000.