School Ground Improvement Letter to Neighbors

Dear Irvington Neighbor: Irvington Elementary School grounds provide a great neighborhood resource. It is a place to enjoy the outdoors, for play, for exercise, or for just meeting-up with friends and neighbors. The Irvington School PTA, Irvington Community Association and many of your neighbors have spearheaded and continuously supported improvements and ongoing maintenance of the grounds for many years. Some of the significant milestones in the life of the school grounds are noted following: 1972 - 10 homes were purchased and demolished along the western edge of school grounds to expand playground and make a soccer field, accommodating Irvington School's student population. This was the largest in the PPS district at the time. 1997 -1998 - Irvington PTA established a Playground Committee – A Master Plan was developed highlighting school and neighborhood priorities, including the replacement of decrepit and unsafe playground equipment and adding a water fountain. 1999-2000 - PTA Playground Committee successfully raised over $250,000 to implement a portion of the Master Plan. Most notably, new play areas and structures for “Big Kids” and “Middle Kids” were created and an outdoor “Picnic Classroom” was completed. In the fall of 2004 the Irvington School PTA established a School Grounds Committee. Its first task was to prioritize current safety and maintenance issues and review those issues and concerns in the context of the 1998 Master Plan. Currently, we are in the initial stages of reviewing the (muddy) soccer field area and “Mount Irvington” to the northwest of the school building. This formerly grassy area provides the primary “green” playing surface for the school children. After school hours, this area is used in a myriad of other ways. Among those uses are soccer practices, pick-up games, and an informal off-leash neighborhood dog play area. We are focused on this area of the grounds for the following reasons. Although “Mount Irvington” is terribly popular with the students and neighborhood children, its height prevents school teachers and parent volunteers to view and monitor students (see note attached). It also provides a safe haven for illicit behavior and activities during and after school hours. The soccer field has deteriorated. Use by school children, neighbors and pets, combined with poor grading, over-use, and no maintenance, has left us with a field that is neither safe nor pleasurable. We would like to address these issues. Of these issues, the use of this field as an informal off-leash dog area has been the one that has raised the most concerns from the school administration, teachers, parents, and neighbors. On the other hand, many in the community recognize the benefit of the dog gatherings, particularly in early mornings and evenings, as a presence that discourages illicit activities and vandalism–and we are interested in finding ways to maximize the benefit while minimizing the downsides to the soccer field and other playground users. Among the issues raised: 1. Off-leash dogs may create a safety concern for playing children and parents. Sadly, there are frequent incidents of playing children being chased, nipped, or intimidated by other people’s dogs. 2. Although most all dog owners are responsible and clean up after their friends, teachers, administrators, and volunteers are too often cleaning doggie poop off of childrens’ shoes, school hallways, and carpet. 3. The poor condition of the field is exacerbated by our happy, exercised dog population. Unfortunately, as anyone who has a dog knows, a green lawn and lots of dog traffic do not go together. In looking to address these issues and concerns, the Irvington School PTA, School Grounds Committee, and the ICA are looking into the costs involved in improving Mount Irvington and the soccer field to a safe, functional, and enjoyable condition. To achieve these goals we need everyone's participation, energy and ideas. We welcome your thoughts and input on use of the Irvington School grounds and are expecting that we can collectively work to improve and implement a Master Plan concept to maintain and enhance the quality of our shared community asset. As we commence with this endeavor we are asking here that you consider answering the enclosed survey and forwarding your responses, in either letter or e-mail form, to the Irvington School PTA Grounds Committee at Irvington Elementary School, 1320 NE Brazee Street, Portland, OR 97212, or by email to Miles@ygh.com or Nathan.Corser@idc-ch2m.com. If you would like to participate in and provide additional input into the Master Plan and “DRAFT” level planning for the soccer field restoration and Mount Irvington, we would welcome your joining us at both the January and February monthly ICA board meetings. For more information on the ICA, see www.irvingtonpdx.com. The meetings are the 2nd Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at Irvington Elementary School, 1320 NE Brazee Street. We welcome your input and thank you, in advance, for helping us in our mutual interest of maintaining and improving the Irvington School Grounds. Respectfully Submitted, Irvington PTA School Grounds Committee Miles Woofter, Irvington Parent & Chair Nathan Clark Corser, Irvington Parent & ICA Board Member

Written by mwoofter on Jan 25, 2006 at 11:13 PM Back

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