Friends and Neighbors Groups

FRIENDS GROUPS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS*

in Parks and Natural Areas

Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation Department has several recognized Friends Groups and Neighborhood Associations that continue to provide hundreds of hours of volunteer maintenance/invasive control in several of Lake Oswego's parks.  The Friends Groups are a grass roots movement of dedicated volunteers that work with the City staff and organize work years in advance.  Some Neighborhood Associations* have also adopted local parks and provide many hours of invasive control as well.  These groups have been integral in the successful removal of invasive flora that infest parks and natural areas throughout the region.  Invasive removal occurs during the many work parties throughout year in coordination with the Friends Group leads and City staff. 

*For Neighborhood Association Resources scroll toward the bottom of the page.

 UPCOMING EVENTS!!!

JUNE 13, 2012   

FIRST!!! QUARTERLY FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR GROUPS NATURAL RESOURCE FORUM

The Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation Department is hosting the first quarterly Friends and Neighborhood Association Natural Areas forum. The intent is to gather all of the official and soon to be official Friends Groups and Neighborhood Associations that have volunteered and adopted a local City park to provide stewardship of our Parks and Natural Areas. This is an opportunity to hear the latest City restoration methodologies, meet our Park Ranger, hear about upcoming events, and network with other community members that are passionate about our natural areas. The first meeting will be a meet and greet of all our groups and we will take the opportunity to outline future forums!

THURSDAY JUNE 13, 2013 - 1:00 PM TO 3:30PM
WEST END BUILDING (4101 KRUSE WAY), IN THE SANTIAM ROOM

EVENTS

To learn more about and connect with a Friends Group to volunteer see below.

Friends of Springbrook Park Website CLICK HERE

Friends of Iron Mountain Park (formally Friends of Brookside) Contact Mike Buck at m.bucks@comcast.net or 503-914-8607

Friends Groups Resources

Per Resolution 08-83 The Lake Oswego City Council established an administrative policy for park and natural area friends groups.  To read that resolution CLICK HERE. The resolution will explain the intent of friends groups and provide some guidelines. 

HOW TO BECOME A FRIENDS GROUP

If you are interested in starting a friends group there are a few steps to follow below: 

1. Organize a group of interested people. The group must consist of at least four active members.
2. The group members must fill out the Friends Group Application and attach a five year work plan. This will be submitted to the City for review. CLICK HERE for the Friends Group Application. 
3. Submit your application to Ryan Stee with the Parks and Recreation Department at rstee@ci.oswego.or.us or     503-697-6575. 
4. The application will be reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Department.  Staff will work with your group to align your 5 year project ideas with current and future City work plans, making sure they coordinate.
5. The application will then go to both the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and Natural Resource Advisory Board for approval.  Once approved the Friends Group is official and recognized by the City. 
6. The final step will involve the Friends Group to fill out a more detailed work plan for each fiscal year.

• CLICK HERE for the FY 2012/2013 work plan**.
• CLICK HERE for the FY 2013/2014 work plan**. 

**See annual work plan submittal deadlines in the next section. 

7. The annual work plan will be reviewed by staff and aligned with current City work plans and goals.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call Ryan Stee at 503-697-6575.  Staff is here to help and make the process efficient and as simple as possible.

WORK PLAN TIMELINES  

FY 2012/2013*** work plan due dates.

At this time the 2012/2013 work plans are past due and cannot be submitted.  If you have a work party planned and have not submitted a work plan please contact Ryan Stee at 503-697-6575 or rstee@ci.oswego.or.us  to discuss your project.

FY 2013/2014*** WORK PLAN DUE DATES.

*** Work plan timelines are based on the fiscal year (FY) which runs annually from July 1 to June 30.

Please submit work plans to Ryan Stee Parks Project Manager at rstee@ci.oswego.or.us or mail to P.O. Box 369, Lake Oswego, OR 97034. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Ryan Stee at 503-697-6575.

 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WORK PARTIES

Neighborhood Associations also play a vital role in Park and Natural area stewardship.  The following Neighborhood Associations have adopted Parks within their areas and have work parties annually.

Neighborhood Associations that wish to have work parties within Public Property need to submit work plans annually.  Please see the following table for due dates and details. Work plans are based on the fiscal year which runs from July 1 to June 30. 

FY 2012/2013*** work plan due dates.

At this time the 2012/2013 work plans are past due and cannot be submitted.  If you have a work party planned and have not submitted a work plan please contact Ryan Stee at 503-697-6575 or rstee@ci.oswego.or.us to discuss your project.

FY 2013/2014*** WORK PLAN DUE DATES.

 *** Work plan timelines are based on the fiscal year (FY) which runs annually from July 1 to June 30.

Please submit work plans to Ryan Stee Parks Project Manager at rstee@ci.oswego.or.us or mail to P.O. Box 369, Lake Oswego, OR 97034. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Ryan Stee at 503-697-6575.

RESOURCES AND DOCUMENTS

Invasive removal and planting guide (This will discuss the best times of the year for particular invasive removal and planting for optimal success) -  COMING SOON!

Guidelines for working in Public Properties (This will discuss regulations such as spraying laws)

MORE TO COME......

If you have any ideas for resources please contact Ryan Stee at rstee@ci.oswego.or.us