Wichita Park Receives Grant for $265,000 from Oregon Parks and Recreation Department

The City of Milwaukie, in partnership with North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District (NCPRD), received $265,000 in grant funding from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) for improvements to Wichita Park.

Located in the Linwood neighborhood at 5908 SE Monroe Street in Milwaukie, Wichita Park is currently a one-acre undeveloped neighborhood park site with an open lawn area and trees planted by volunteers. The $265,000 grant will match with $255,000 from NCPRD capital improvement funds and a $10,000 grant from the Linwood neighborhood for the total $530,000 needed to complete the project.

The funding will provide a playground, walking paths, water fountain, benches and picnic tables, irrigated grass, native landscaping, fencing and park signage.

“This grant lets us finally finish a beautiful neighborhood park and city site that, so far, has gone underused,” said Mitch Nieman, assistant to the city manager. “The city is incredibly appreciative of OPRD for these funds and we’re looking forward to seeing these improvements come online.”

Wichita Park was adopted into Milwaukie’s Comprehensive Plan in 1999. Updates to the Wichita Park Master Plan were made in 2011 by the Linwood Neighborhood Association with assistance from NCPRD, and approved by the Milwaukie Planning Commission in May 2014. NCPRD and the city completed an initial set of concept drawings and a preliminary construction cost estimate in May 2015.

With the new funding from OPRD, completion for the Wichita Park improvements is anticipated for fall 2018.