Today’s Forecast

49º | Showers | 84% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:50 a.m. | Sunset 4:40 p.m.

A digital rendering of a future park expansion showing areas for sporting fields, parking, and public gathering areas.

Neighbors and community groups helped the parks department design the future Parklane Park. | Rendering by Walker Macy via Portland Parks and Recreation

Southeast Portland’s Parklane Park is about to get bigger. Much bigger.

Next week, Portland Parks and Recreation will break ground on a project that will expand the park from five acres to 25 acres and add new amenities for everyone to enjoy (including your four-legged friend).

Here are some of the things you’ll see when the work is completed in the fall of 2024:

Playground
Splash pad
Athletic fields and courts
Events pavilion and covered picnic areas
Community garden
Skate park
Off-leash dog area
Paved paths

Parklane Park started as a parcel of land left undeveloped as subdivisions went up around it. By the time Multnomah County transferred it to Portland Parks and Recreation in 1993, neighbors had planted many trees within its borders and set up red-and-white-striped playground equipment — leading to the nickname “Candy Cane Park.”

In 2001, the city bought a 20-acre former gravel quarry to the north. A master plan for Parklane’s expansion has been in place since 2009 — but it took another 11 years for funding to be identified. The expansion was stalled again by rising costs and supply chain issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the project is finally getting off the ground to the tune of $29.7 million in system development charges (read: not tax dollars).

An undeveloped grassy field. — The entire park will undergo accessibility improvements.
|
Photo courtesy of Portland Parks and Recreation

Officials estimate the expanded Parklane Park will serve more than 2,600 homes — 706 of which do not currently have easy access to a park or natural area. Along with the amenities mentioned above, the park will feature hundreds of new trees, new restrooms, parking, and public art.

If Parklane is in your neighborhood, you’ll want to visit it now because its existing features — like the playground, sports field, and basketball court — will be closed for the duration of the project.

Events

Tuesday, March 28

“Hairspray” | Tuesday, March 28-Sunday, April 2 | Times vary | Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay St., Portland | $39.75-$154.75 | Join 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad in 1960s Baltimore as she sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show — can she change the world?

Wednesday, March 29

Ride Every Wednesday | Wednesday, March 29 | 7:30-10 a.m. | Sixth + Main, 1001 SW Fifth Ave., Portland | Free | Ride, walk, or roll to downtown Portland instead of driving and visit PBOT’s weekly pop-up for fresh coffee, swag, shopping credits, and prizes.
Rocket Science | Wednesday, Mar. 29 | 2-3 p.m. | Multnomah County Library - Capitol Hill, 10723 SW Capitol Hwy., Portland | Free | Students will build paper rockets that they’ll launch with a high-powered air compressor and learn ways to improve their rockets’ trajectories.
Craft Mixology Class: Remembering the Classics | Wednesday, Mar. 29 | 5-7 p.m. | Straightaway Cocktails, 901 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland | $85 | Learn to mix, shake, stir, and correctly garnish four craft cocktails from different eras using the distillery’s own liqueurs, amaro, and vermouth while learning some fun historical facts.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Sacramento Kings | Wednesday, Mar. 29 + Friday, Mar. 31 | 7 p.m. | Moda Center, 1 N. Center Court St., Portland | $9.50+ | As the 13th team in the Western Conference, the Blazers will have their work cut out for them when they take on the No. 3 team.

Thursday, March 30

Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival | Thursday, March 30-Sunday, April 30 | Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, 33814 S. Meridian Rd., Woodburn | $10-$65 | Stroll through 40 acres of iconic spring blooms of all shapes and colors, take a tethered hot air balloon ride, enjoy hot drinks and food from on-site vendors, and take some cut flowers home with you.

Plan ahead with our community events calendar below.

March into a new month

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Weather

50º | Cloudy with periods of rain | 74% chance of rain

Sunrise + Sunset

Rise: 6:58 a.m.
Set: 7:33 p.m.

Closed

Portland-based Hotlips Pizza has closed three of its five locations, citing pandemic, labor, and economic stressors. The Northeast Killingsworth, Hollywood District locations are closing, along with the location across from Providence Park. The two remaining restaurants are in the Pearl District and on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard. (KGW)

Coming Soon

Less than a year after opening its first Portland location, Dough Zone announced it will launch two more in the metro area. The Washington-based dumpling chain plans to open in Beaverton and Happy Valley this summer and fall, respectively, with its signature low prices and items like Shanghai-style pork buns. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Community

The Portland Tribune recently asked its readers if they support tolling in Oregon — and the answer was a resounding no. Some against the idea expressed concerns that tolls could result in many drivers taking back roads; others in favor of the concept said it’s a must to alleviate congestion. (Portland Tribune)

Edu

Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute has seized a rare opportunity to preserve and display the skeleton of a 70-ft-long blue whale that washed ashore in 2015. When enough money is raised, the bones will be sent to Canada for professional reconstruction, then displayed at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport.

Award

Two Jefferson High School students danced into history when they won top choreography awards at the National High School Dance Festival this month — the first time a school had ever won for two different pieces. You can see the Jefferson Dancers perform Thursday, April 20-Saturday, April 22 at Newmark Theatre. (OPB)

Trivia

Eight Oregonians will test their down-and-across abilities at the 45th annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. Meet five Portland-based competitors joining the tournament either in-person or online, Friday, March 31-Sunday, April 2, in Stamford, Connecticut. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Outdoors

Look up at the night sky this week to spot a five-planet parade. If weather conditions align, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus will form a nearly straight line best seen right after sunset or just before dawn. You’ll likely need binoculars or a telescope to glimpse Uranus. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Shop

The spring season is the perfect time to treat yourself. We’re eyeing this six-piece bonbon gift box by Marble & Steel Craft Chocolates. What’s even sweeter? These chocolates are made fresh without preservatives.

Travel

Trying to talk someone into an April vacation? Just show them these hotel deals on Expedia. We love: The Surf And Sand Resort on Laguna Beach.

Vote

🍺 Let’s get down to brewsness

A digital graphic with a green background and text.

This match-up is pitcher perfect. | Graphic by PDXtoday

The competition is boiling over in the City of Roses. Wayfinder Beer and Ecliptic Brewing are going head to head in our championship round — who will win the title of Portland’s best brewery?

See your pick to the finish by voting in our final poll now through Wednesday, March 29.

Answered

Last week, we asked “what should Oregon’s official movie be?” and here’s what you said:

“Drugstore Cowboy.” Portland through and through — at least to this 50-year resident of the city. -Elizabeth R.

“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” -Mark B.

The Wrap

Today’s Edition By:
Cambrie

From the Editor

The blossoming cherry trees at the north end of Tom McCall Waterfront Park are in full bloom. I stopped to see them on Friday and somehow had the place practically to myself (I probably have the cold weather to thank for that).

Based on the current forecast, your best days to see them this week will be Wednesday and Thursday. Don’t wait too long — the blossoms will only stick around for a couple of weeks.

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