News Advisory: Commissioner Fritz, Leah Treat join school kids to celebrate new Pier Park trail to North Portland schools
(September 11, 2014) - Hundreds of North Portland children who previously walked or biked to school along a dirt path that often turned muddy now have a new all-weather paved path through Pier Park to get to school and other key destinations.
On Friday, September 12, city officials will join school kids to celebrate the new safe route that connects low-income apartment residents to Sitton Elementary School and George Middle School, as well as to services and transit on Lombard and Fessenden Streets. The path was constructed in response to the community which organized a petition signed by 400 families asking for improved safety for their children as they traveled to school.
WHO:
City Commissioner Amanda Fritz, who oversees Portland Parks & Recreation
Portland Bureau of Transportation Leah Treat
Portland Parks & Recreation Director Mike Abbaté
Sitton Elementary School Principal Dana Nerenberg, students and their families
WHEN and WHERE:
Friday, September 12, 2014
2:15 p.m. Sitton Elementary School, 9930 N Smith Street: celebratory walking and biking procession begins at dismissal and continues along the Pier Park path to nearby apartment complexes
2:40 p.m. N. Iris Way north of Swenson Street: ribbon cutting with Commissioner Fritz at the path exit along with kids’ activities
VISUALS: A colorful procession of kids and officials walking the new path in a ‘walking bus’ procession. Ribbon cutting and kids activities including clowns at the 2:40 p.m. celebration at the path’s entrance, which connects to four large apartment complexes that are home to hundreds of low income families with a large immigrant population.
MEDIA PARKING: Members of the news media may park on the street near Sitton Elementary School and walk with the procession or park at the community gardens north of N. Ivy and Swenson Street.
Contact:
Diane Dulken, Portland Bureau of Transportation
503-823-5552 c: 503-577-8236
diane.dulken@portlandoregon.gov
Mark Ross, Portland Parks & Recreation
503-823-5300, 503-823-6634