Within the SESNA neighborhood you’ll find four public parks: Aldrich Park, located next to Bush Elementary, Richmond School City Park, Lee Park, adjacent to the Shelton Ditch, and the tiny Mill Race Park. SESNA contains many multi-family dwellings, making the parks indispensable for the health and social life of our neighbors.
Aldrich Phase I – Gazebo repairs
Aldrich Park is a neighborhood park located next to Bush Elementary. It is bounded by 14th St, Mill St, Strand Av and Bellevue St. It has open playfields, basketball courts, a playground, horseshoe pits, and a picnic shelter in a unique, old wooden gazebo.
The floor of the Gazebo shelter was damaged posing a safety hazard.
October 2018 – SESNA applies for a grant to replace broken gazebo floor. City estimates project costs, consisting only of removing and replacing existing plain concrete, at $21,500.
February 2019 – We are awarded $19,000 toward the project. Begins process of applying for additional grants. Starts exploring expansion of project to include improved floor and artwork; additional cost to be determined as scope of project changes.
Summer 2019 – The repairs are completed.
Lee – Improve lighting
The lighting at Lee Park is insufficient making the area more susceptible to crime.
January 2020 – SESNA reaches out to the City with a proposal for improved lighting.
February 2020 – The City replied that the lights are the purview of Portland General Electric, who has been informed and will upgrade the fixtures later in 2020.
Aldrich Phase II – Basketball court repairs
This time around we hoped to present a project benefitting all four parks located in the SESNA neighborhood. With the COVID-19 pandemic in full effect, we were advised not to be creative and instead opt for a conservative approach such as continuing the work at Aldrich park.
The basketball court surface and installed equipment at Aldrich are damaged and can no longer service their original purpose.
April 2020 – SESNA applies for a grant to replace the broken basketball court surface and replacement of damaged hoops, fences etc.
May 2020 – We are awarded $3,000 towards refurbishing the basketball court surface. A much smaller scope than we hoped to achieve.
We are working on raising more money.