Announcing Depave Summer!!!

• Posted by hindi on June 7th, 2009 filed in Local Breaking News

Depave is excited to announce Depave Summer 2009, where we will depave 6 sites throughout the coming months. Please join us in tearing up pavement to create the world we want to live in. A world with abundant greenspaces, gardens and wildlife within the city limits. For more info, contact the Site Coordinator of a specific project or info @ depave.org for general questions.

We are also still looking for a few people who wish to dedicate some time to helping with the overall logistics for Depave Summer, especially people interested in music and food coordination.

Here are the sites:

1. MOSI Architects

Where: MOSI Architects - 4072 N Williams

When: Depaving on Saturday June 27th

Site Coordinator: Scott, scott @ baumbergerstudio.com

The private architecture firm is seeking assistance from DEPAVE to remove a 50’ x 50’ (2500 sq ft) section of asphalt in order to “plant pumpkins”. Although MOSI does have intentions to redevelop a corner of the lot in 4-5 years, they are committed to keep a portion of it in permanent greenspace.

2. Creative Science School

Where: Creative Science School - 1231 SE 92nd Ave -

When: Depaving on Saturday, July 11th

Site Coordinator: Craig, craig.baumberger @ gmail.com

Creative Science School (http://creativescienceschool.org/) (CSS) is a focus option program within PPS for children in grades K-8. The school is interested in removing two small asphalt-covered corners of an enclosed play area, measuring roughly 30′ x 30′ (1800 sq ft total). The CSS is interested in building green-spaces for outdoor learning and play.

3. Holy Redeemer Church

Where: Holy Redeemer Church - 127 N Rosa Parks Way

When: Depaving on Saturday July 25th

Site Coordinator: David, osborn.david.a @ gmail.com

Holy Redeemer Church (http://www.holyredeemerpdx.org/) has been a landmark in its North Portland Piedmont neighborhood for over 100 years. Holy Redeemer has an ambitious plan to disconnect downspouts from their gym roof, create a pair of 610 sq ft pocket swales with native plants to infiltrate roof runoff, remove an unused 5700 sq ft gravel-covered strip, and install a community garden and education space for their school. In addition, they hope to install two 5000 gallon water storage tanks to capture and utilize roof runoff for garden irrigation needs, and to install bioswales in other corners of the parking lot.

4. Kailash EcoVillage

Where: Kailash EcoVillage - 4311 SE 37th Ave -

When: Depaving TBA

Site Coorrdinator: Michael, michael @ osmill.com

Kailash EcoVillage (http://www.kailashecovillage.com/) is a 32-unit apartment complex with shared indoor common space and surrounding, emerging gardens. Almost one half of the KEV property is covered with asphalt parking lot. The KEV community would like to transform the NE section of the parking lot into a community garden. The space currently provides parking for 12 vehicles, and measures 57′ x 75′(4275 sq ft total).

5. JOIN

Where: JOIN Property - 1435 NE 81st Ave -

When: Depaving TBA

Site Coordinator: Hendrik, hendrikbb @ gmail.com

JOIN (http://www.joinpdx.com/index.htm) exists to support the efforts of homeless individuals and families to transition out of homelessness into permanent housing. A new JOIN facility at NE 82nd Ave is surrounded with nearly continuous asphalt, a portion of which provides unneeded parking. The lot measures ~20,000 sq ft, of which 14,000 sq ft is covered with asphalt. DEPAVE will remove ~7,000 sq ft during 2009. This would create space for a garden and landscaped entryway for the building, buffering it from the noise of I-84.

6. Vestal Elementary

Where: Vestal Elementary - 161 NE 82nd Ave -

When: Depaving TBA

Site Coordinator: Drew, drewgsw@gmail.com

Vestal Elementary (http://www.pps.k12.or.us/schools-c/profiles/?id=286) is the site of an ongoing re-greening effort. Last summer, parents and community volunteers removed 15,600 sq ft of asphalt from the schoolyard and converted it to a soccer field and sitting area with benches, a kiosk, salmon sculptures, and native tree plantings. This year, Vestal Elementary plans to remove an additional 15,000 sq ft of asphalt in order to build a community garden, and DEPAVE has offered its assistance to make sure this happens. The combined efforts would ultimately measure to be the single largest community organized de-paving project in Portland, ever!