Johnson Creek flows south through the heart of Lowami Hart Woods
I was at a THPRD Board of Directors meeting the other night where a couple visitors spoke up about the future of Lowami Hart Woods. The place is a “jewel” they said, and voiced some concerns about plans to make the place more accessible to the public. Right now it is mostly frequented by folks in the immediate area, but the addition of parking spaces and a picnic area will almost certainly increase traffic in the park. One of the main concerns is that this increased human traffic will exacerbate the pollution and conduct issues that already exist. The potential impact of greater traffic levels on current wildlife populations is also a major concern.
The property is owned by Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District (THPRD) which has developed a master plan that currently calls for construction to begin in the Spring of 2013. There’s a long way to go before actual work begins, and it is going to be very interesting to see what this plan looks like after the permitting process.
If you live in Washington County anywhere north of Scholls Ferry Road and west of the Multnomah county line you probably know about THPRD already. It has a solid civic reputation and enjoys such a broad base of support that in 2008 it was able to float a $100M bond and sail it right through the heart of some very rough economic seas. When the Beaverton Valley Times took an editorial stand against the bond measure local citizens gave the paper an earful. The responses to that editorial provide some key examples of the kind of services the District has been able to provide for more than a half century.
The Lowami Hart project is one of many that have been made possible by the infusion of money THPRD so badly needed in order to upgrade and effectively maintain key properties. Like most other project sites situated in residential areas it presents the District with some serious challenges, not the least of which is the neighborhood’s reaction. And while public meetings were held prior to approval of the park’s master plan it’s safe to say that not everyone is quite yet fully on board. Development of any kind in urban natural areas – even development clearly intended to provide positive public services – is becoming an increasingly contentious issue. The general public is becoming more savvy about the environmental toll that necessarily accompanies urban development; and that same public is becoming ever more distrustful of the organizations and processes involved in governance of the few natural resources that may remain.
One way for those who govern public assets to cultivate and nurture public support is to make their processes and their activities as open and transparent as propriety and resources allow. Another is to avoid assuming a defensive posture when public counter opinion is being expressed. My sense is that the former goal is far easier to achieve than the latter, but in either event THPRD appears to be working very hard to maintain confidence in both its processes and its decision making.
After reflecting on the project for awhile, and in view of the ardor with which the folks in that meeting expressed both their love for the park and their concerns for its future, I decided it was time for me to see Lowami Hart Woods for myself. I’ve posted an album of photos from my visit on the side bar and you can also access it here. It was a lovely day when I visited and I spent a couple very enjoyable hours on site. I’d heard it is a great favorite with birders and I am not surprised. While I was there I heard all kinds of birds ranging from a Steller’s jay to a belted kingfisher. I whole heartedly agree with folks who think the park is a jewel. A diamond in the rough to be sure, but a diamond nonetheless. I suspect THPRD will do a great job of polishing it up.