Getting to Know Lents A Thematic Atlas of Healthy Eating

Getting to Know Lents A Thematic Atlas of Healthy Eating and Active Living�Getting to Know Lents: A Thematic Atlas of Healthy Eating and Active Living

�Getting to Know Lents A Thematic Atlas of Healthy Eating and Active Living

Getting to Know Lents A Thematic Atlas of Healthy Eating and Active Living�

Getting to Know Lents:A Thematic Atlas of Healthy Eatingand Active Living


Spring 2008 Capstone

Allison AdcoxMarina CarterAllen DavisJonathan GrayDevon KelleyLyn KirbyYu-Ching LiuMeg MerrickNick NicholsonSteven Zach OwenBlake ShepardSimon Skiles Blia Xiong

Summer 2008 Capstone

Ben BlessingPreston BrookfieldValerie DePanSarah EganRory HammockBrandon JonesNick JonesTroy KenyonJames KerridgeMeg MerrickDerrak RichardMichael RussellHiroko SegawaBlair Whiteman

Acknowledgements

This project was made possible by Portland State University spring and summer capstone students 2008 in conjunction with Community Health Partnership: Oregon’s Public Health Institute.

Community Partners

1000 Friends of OregonActive Living by DesignAmerican Heart AssociationBureau of PlanningCoalition for a Livable

FutureCommunity Health

PartnershipGrowing GardensKelly Elementary SUN

ProgramLents Food GroupLents Neighborhood

AssociationMarshall High SchoolNorthwest Health

Foundation

Oregon Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity

Portland Development Commission

Portland Office of Transportation

Portland Parks and Recreation

Portland State UniversityPortland/Multnomah Food

CouncilRobert Wood Johnson

FoundationWattles Boys and Girls ClubZenger Farm


Contents

Mission Statement

Created through a lens of healthy eating and active living, this atlas is intended to describe the historical richness and importance of the Lents community and exhibit significant projects and programs in the area.

Acknowledgements ........................................................................ 4Background on Community Health ............................................. 6Why Place (Lents) Matters: Building a Movement for Healthy Communities ................................................................... 7Lents History ................................................................................ 8Urban Renewal Context .............................................................. 10Community Development Corporations & the Portland Development Commission ......................................................... 11Programs and Projects ................................................................. 12SUN Program ............................................................................. 12Zenger Farm ................................................................................ 12Community Gardens .................................................................. 13Growing Gardens ........................................................................ 13Kelly GROW .............................................................................. 13Transportation ............................................................................. 14Active Transportation .................................................................. 15Safe Routes To School (SR2S) & Bike Safety Programs ............... 16Safety Projects ............................................................................. 16Youth Bike Safety Club Program ................................................. 16Lents WALKS! ............................................................................ 17Parks and Greenspaces ................................................................. 19Springwater Corridor Trail Projects ............................................. 20Conclusion .................................................................................. 22

Demograph and Infrastructure Context:Race and Ethnicity ...................................................................... 26Crime Statistics in Lents .............................................................. 29Employment and Sales Distribution ........................................... 30Current Land Use ........................................................................ 32Zoning ........................................................................................ 33Existing Food Options ................................................................ 38


Background on Community Health

According to the report, A Healthy Active Oregon, public health practitioners generally agree that there is a connection between the environment that people live in and their opportunities for healthy lifestyles. Increasing opportunities for healthy eating and active living requires taking a holistic look at the factors that impact community health, such as neighborhood demographics, local foodscapes, natural areas and greenspaces, walkability, and community safety. Below are some recent trends affecting health.

• Long hours of sitting in office jobs

• Increased elevator availability, which has reduced stair usage

• Decreased physical education in schools due to cutbacks

• Television and computer usage outpacing active outdoor activities for leisure time

• Less walking and biking due to easy access to modes of transportation such as automobiles and transit systems.

Factors contributing to negative health impacts and obesity include poor eating habits, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. A Healthy Active Oregon identifies the following contributing factors:

• Availability of fast food restaurants

• Convenience stores

• Vending machines with few healthy selections

• Higher consumption of unhealthy foods high in sugar, fat and calories

“One key factor in fighting obesity and chronic diseases involves a comprehensive approach addressing not individuals and individual behaviors per se, but environments and settings where children and adults spend a significant part of their days – in schools, work sites, the home, the community, in health care systems and the built environments. Such an effort reinforces healthy behaviors in many settings throughout the day for wide numbers of people.”

–A Healthy Active Oregon

For more information about this report and health statistics for Oregonians visit: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/pan/docs/PAN_report-plan07.12.web.pdf

The growing movement for healthy communities holds great promise. Engagement, leadership, and a commitment to change will improve communities and allow people to live healthier lives. In order to better understand the factors that help build and sustain community and individual health, it is critical to know the barriers that negatively affect a neighborhood. Why Place Matters provides an excellent overview of aspects that affect communities, both negatively and positively. According to this document, developing strategies for healthier communities requires understanding bot h people and the places in which they live.

This atlas describes some of the work of the Lents neighborhood Healthy Eating Active Living initiative, which is directed by Noelle Dobson of the Community Health Partnership, Oregon’s Public Health Institute.

Facts • Nearly 26% of adults eat half of the daily recommended amount of fruits and vegetables per

day. • Between 2001 and 2005, a downward trend in fruit and vegetable consumption was found

when comparing students from 8th grade and 11th grade.

• An increase in the consumption of sweetened beverages such as soda pop and flavored juice (not 100% juice) has led to obesity.

• Soft drink consumption has tripled since 1978 (Source: Institute of Medicine).


Why Place (Lents) Matters: Building a Movement for Healthy Communities

The most important number in your life may be your address. A number of recent empirical studies have shown that where you live often determines how you live. Some factors affecting lifestyle choices and health are listed below.

Positive

• Nearby parks and playgrounds• Living wages• Good health care delivery• Social ties among neighbors• Grocery stores selling nutritious foods

Negative

• Living near a freeway• Auto dependency• High crime rates• Inadequate sidewalks in high foot-traffic

areas

The negative factors tend to lead to obesity, diabetes, asthma, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

Obese youth with sedentary lifestyles and poor eating habits are more likely to be heavy as adults and suffer disproportionately from obesity and related chronic diseases, such as diabetes and congestive heart failure (Source: The Oregon Health Policy Commission Report).

CO2 emissions are highest and most concentrated along freeways. Many recent studies have shown direct links between living near a freeway and lung-related diseases, especially asthma. People of color, immigrants, the underprivileged, and

low-wage earners have greater chances of living near freeways or busy roads.

This atlas focuses on healthy eating and active living in Lents, the most southeastern neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. Its borders are SE Powell Blvd.., 82nd Ave., Clatsop St., and 112th Ave.

Why Lents? The Outer Southeast Community Plan, adopted January 1996 as part of Portland’s Comprehensive Plan, creates a framework for a 26-mile area designated “the Southeast.” The southeast region includes about one-fifth of Portland’s population and housing. It has large pockets of undeveloped land and industrial sites, including 20 acres that the Freeway Land Company owns south of Foster Rd.

Lents is near regional shopping centers and contains several parks. It also houses major recreational and natural resources, such as the Johnson Creek Watershed and an underutilized part of the Springwater Corridor Trail (a 40-mile pedestrian and bicycle path loop inspired by the 1903 Olmsted and Parkway and Boulevard Plan). Above all, Lents is strategically located, having superior auto- and freight-transportation accessibility.

Facts • The population in Portland totals 2.2 million (Source: Population Research Center, Portland State

University).• During the 1990s, the Lents neighborhood grew by about 21% to more than 15,000 residents.

By 2004, the population had jumped to more than 23,000 residents. (Source: Daily Journal of Commerce).

I-205

I-5

I-84

LegendLents

Highways

Population Per AcreLess than 3

3 - 6.9

7 - 10.9

11 - 14.9

15 and over

Source: U.S. Census Bureau 1990 & 2000


Lents History

• Founded in 1882 by Oregon Trail Pioneer, Oliver P. Lent

• Originally called the “Town of Lent”• The first steam railway was brought

into Lents in 1892 by the Lent family • Annexed by City of Portland in 1912

“Lents was a pioneer town which was annexed into Portland in the early 20th century but which maintains its own sense of identity and separate history. The story of early white settlers in Lents is the story of the Oregon Trail, federal land grants, and building a society from scratch.”

The Lents neighborhood has a rich history in its social and cultural contexts as well as its natural history. The original boundaries of the “Town of Lents” were at SE Foster Rd., SE Duke St., SE 92nd Ave, and SE 97th Ave. with Foster Road serving as a critical arterial and pathway connecting Lents directly to downtown Portland.

The above map shows that even in 1860, the Lents community was formed around critical roadways. The development of these pathways has continued to shape and affect this community over the course of history. The map shows that Lents has always been a critical intersection of transit; hence, a critical hub of commerce. Neighborhoods close to major highways, like Lents, can suffer from respiratory problems and are hindered by their presence. Lents has been affected by this, especially with I-205 running straight through the community. Instead of an seeing the highway as an obstruction, the community has seen it as an opportunity to transform the area into a landmark that will act as a gateway into the Lents neighborhood. Ideas that have been entertained for this upcoming project include water features, such as a water retention pond that would take in much of the water runoff from surrounding streets and highways, and landscape changes that may include various lighting techniques underneath or around the I-205 overpass (Source: Portland Tribune).

Lents Junction (circa 1892)

Lents School (circa 1900)

Lents Post Office (1886-1917)


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LENTS

The community of Lents is a short distance from rich farmlands to the southeast and Foster Road. Foster Road was a farm-to-market road named after Philip Foster, a pioneer who lived and operated a farm to the southeast near Estacada (<trimet.org/pdfs/i205/I-205_cultural_history.pdf>).

The construction of I-205 through the center of downtown Lents split the community in half and displaced roughly 500 family homes. Often compared to the Great Wall, this concrete barrier created a huge mental and physical barrier that still exists today. After Lents was annexed, the condition of sewers and streets went downhill as less funds were allocated to them. Due to its prime location, Lents is scheduled to be TriMet’s next stop as part of its South Corridor Project, the Portland/Milwaukie Light Rail. While many view the community fractured by the I-205 freeway, others have viewed the recent investments in Lents as a time to make lemonade out of lemons.

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LENTS

This map shows, at the neighborhood scale, how I-205 bisects the Lents neighborhood down the middle running from north to south with Foster road running east and west. Historically, Lents has been shaped by the decisions made related to transportation planning. When comparing the neighborhood scale map to the historical map (previous page), it becomes evident that the current pathways for I-205 and Foster Road are located near historic trade routs and major thoroughfares.

10Getting to Know Lents A Thematic Atlas of Healthy Eating and Active Living

Urban Renewal ContextWith the completion of the Outer Southeast Community Plan, Lents Neighborhood Plan, and Lents Revitalization Plan, community stakeholders worked together to craft short- and long-term objectives for public and private partners to guide an ambitious and comprehensive neighborhood development agenda. As a designated “Town Center,” the future of Lents is also an important component of the Metro 2040 Framework Plan.

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Lents Neighborhood Boundary

In September 1998, the City Council established a Lents Town Center Urban Renewal Area (LTCURA) in order to accomplish community goals. These include generation of new, living-wage jobs; assistance to emerging and existing businesses; improvements to streets, parks and other types of local infrastructure; construction of new houses; and improvements to existing housing. Implementation of the plan began in fiscal year 1999.

Objectives

• Assist in fulfilling community goals to facilitate the emergence of Lents as a key Town Center within the Metro Region.

• Provide support for the revitalization of commercial and residential areas in and near Lents.

• Stimulate business development and investment in the area. • Provide increased opportunities for residents to compete for new jobs. • Provide housing opportunities for the Lents community’s diverse income

and tenure needs. • Improve local streets and parks.

Current Projects Planned, Completed or Underway

• 82nd Avenue of Roses High Crash Corridor Safety Project (PDOT) • East Portland Review (BOP)• I-205 Light Rail (TriMet)• Inner Powell Boulevard Streetscape Plan (PDOT) • Johnson Creek Flood Mitigation & Habitat Restoration (BES)• Lents Town Center Plan Amendment Study• Lents Town Center: Assurety NW• Lighting and Pathway Improvements at Parks• Neighborhood Street Paving Program (PDC)• SE 92nd and Harold • Springwater Corridor Trail Improvements • Zenger Farm Renovation

The commission has completed a final study for the Lents Town Center Plan Amendment, which recommends the URA, set to close in 2015, be extended through 2020. In addition, the PDC wants to increase the maximum indebtedness for the area from $75 million to $240 million. The study, which took a year to compile, was collaboration between the PDC and the citizen-led Urban Renewal Area Advisory Group.

Getting to Know Lents A Thematic Atlas of Healthy Eating and Active Living11

Source: Portland Development Commission

205

82N

D

FOSTER

122N

D

POWELL

Community Development Corporations (CDCs) & the Portland Development Commission (PDC)

Throughout Lents, a number of CDCs have invested in the redevelopment and creation of the neighborhood’s housing stock. These corporations, including HOST, Rose, and Habitat for Humanity, have helped improve the physical environment and overall livability of Lents. These CDCs are local non-profits, and receive funding for their improvement projects from private donations, the Federal government, and the Portland Development Commission (PDC).

The PDC has also done some serious work in the Lents neighborhood (as well as Portland as a whole). It is financed similarly to the CDCs, but also obtains funding through managing assets and leveraging financing, thereby maximizing the effectiveness of their long term grants on the Portland area (http://www.pdc.us/default.asp).

Kelly Elementary

Lent ElementaryMorrison Adolescence Ctr

Lents Urban Renewal DistrictMAX Green Line

MAX Stop

Lents Towncenter

Lents Urban Renewal Area

Habitat For Humanity

Portland Community Land Trust

Public Parks

Public FacilitiesAssurety NW

Fire Station No. 11

PDC Owned Property

HOST(Home Ownership One Street at a Time)

Lents Intl. Farmers Market


Programs and Projects

A number of programs and projects promoting healthy eating and active living have been or are planned to be initiated in Lents, as described in the following pages. They were crafted with consideration to the environment, economics, safety, and social issues – all key factors in quality equitable living.

International Farmers Market

In its second season, the Lents International Farmers Market is dubbed “international” because it offers many foods and products produced by Lents’ diverse community. More than 40% of the market’s vendors are immigrants including Hmong, Turkish, and Africans. The market is located on SE 92nd and Foster and is open every Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm, June 15th through October 12th.

SUN Program

The Schools Uniting Neighborhood (SUN) program promotes healthy eating habits at Kelly Elementary School and Marshall High School in cooperation with many community partners. The program works with Growing Gardens to hold sessions of the Garden Club, which teaches children where their food comes from, the importance of eating high nutrition foods, and how to grow their own foods.

Zenger Farm

Zenger Farm is located in the LTC URA and offers a Youth Education program. Friends of Zenger Farm, a non-profit organization, leases four acres of Zenger Farm’s 16-acre lot to hold summer youth camps. These week-long camps teach children healthy eating habits through harvesting and cooking their own food.

Lents International Farmers Market

More than 16 native Languages are spoken at the Lents International Farmers Market. Major languages spoken include:

English 72.3 percent

Spanish 8.1 percent

Indo-European 9.7 percent

Asian 9.2 percent

Other 0.7 percent

Key


Vendors

Farmers Market Vendor Locations


Community Gardens

The community gardens program was developed in 1975 to provide urban residents the physical and social benefits of gardening. These gardens offer the community an opportunity to be healthy and improve nutrition while providing a forum to break down the isolation of neighbors and bridge social capital.

The community gardens in Lents are open to the public, divided into individual plots, and tended in a communal fashion. They have had a synergistic effect on the neighborhood by connecting neighbors, providing opportunities for social gatherings, and encouraging residents to grow and share their own food.

There are total of 30 community gardens located throughout the city two of which are within the Lents neighborhood. These are located at Lents Park and Earl Boyles Park and were developed in 1976 and 2007, respectively.

Growing Gardens

Growing Gardens began as the Portland Home Garden Project in 1996. Its mission is to promote home-scaled organic food gardens in order to improve nutrition, health and self reliance while enhancing the quality of life and the environment for individuals and communities in Portland.

In 2000, Growing Gardens began offering a service learning program for Youth GROW after school clubs at Kelly Elementary, Wattles Boys and Girls Club, and Summer Garden field trips. This program facilitates gardening and nutrition education by using an on-site vegetable garden to show the importance of healthy eating.

As of 2008, Growing Gardens has provided gardens to 17 families in the Lents community and continues to support them through ongoing education and technical assistance. These gardens are intended to help decrease the risk of food insecurity in low income households in Lents.

Kelly GROW

The Kelly GROW program creates an integrated systems approach to prevention of childhood obesity through an after-school program that teaches active, healthy lifestyles to 4th and 5th graders at Kelly Elementary. Elements of the program include Youth GROW gardening and nutrition, Earn-A-Bike safety, pedestrian safety, and community mapping. Parents who volunteer

with Kelly GROW can earn a home garden or commuter bicycle. Partners include: Kelly Elementary, Growing Gardens, Community Center, Bicycle Transportation Alliance, and Community Health Partnerships.

Lents Community Garden

Boyles Community Garden

Zenger Farm

Key


Community Gardens

Growing Gardens: Home Gardens

Zenger Farm

Public Parks & Open Space

Lents Boundary


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The Max Green Light Rail (I-205/South Corridor Project/Portland Milwaukie) will open in 2009 and a station, pictured above, will be located in Lents Town Center.

Transportation

An important planning objective is to decrease reliance on automobile travel. This should reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. Metro’s 2040 Growth Concept encourages the use of public transportation, walking, and bicycling. More intense commercial and mixed-use developments are promoted to improve the pedestrian environment in the regional and town centers and around the MAX Light Rail stations (Source: Summary of 2040 Growth Concept, Metro).

“Due to its Town Center Designation, Lents will receive new light rail (MAX) service commencing in 2009. This $500 million regional investment will benefit Lents significantly because four of the seven new stations along the seven mile route, between Clackamas Town Center and the Gateway Transit Center, are in Lents. Portland’s transportation system is recognized as one of the most efficient in the U.S. Adding Lents to the network will connect the it to downtown and the airport. As in other areas of Portland, extensions of light rail and street car service have resulted in new investment, transit-oriented development (TOD) and appreciating property values.”

Source: PDC


Active Transportation

Bicycling and walking are known to be good forms of physical activity. In the past, East Portland has lacked the infrastructure to create safe, well lit walking paths and bicycle lanes. Safety improvements made in Lents have promoted safe locations for bicycling and walking.

With rising obesity rates and high levels of car dependency, now more than ever adequate daily exercise is essential for good health. The Lents neighborhood has been designated as an Urban Renewal Area, which has made funding available for community projects. Some of the money has gone toward projects that promote alternative modes of transportation, attempt to break down barriers to healthy and active living.

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Lents Neighborhood Boundary


Safe Routes To School (SR2S) & Bike Safety Programs

Brief History

With the passing of House Bill 3712, Oregon adopted the SR2S program in 2001. The goal of the bill was to have cities and counties work with the schools to find safe and friendly routes to walk or bike to school. Before these routes can be established, barriers to safety in the area must be identified. The community and local business can then work to remove these barriers.

Safety Projects

Sidewalk improvements have been made along SE 92nd Ave. to facilitate a safer walking environment. Bicycle lanes were also added in order to connect existing, non-continuous bike lanes in the Lents’ neighborhood.

Safety

For middle school aged kids, the plan calls for safe businesses. Though Lents has not yet taken on this part of the program, each business would be marked to show that it operates as a “safe business.” The purpose of the safe business is to provide “stop-in” points in case of any type of emergency. The implementation of this portion is critical.

Safety Markers

Another important part of this program is having the community, the schools, and businesses know where the safer routes are. The plan calls for painting footprints or posting signs to show pedestrians and bicyclists the routes to follow. The youth of the community create the posters and/or paint footprints as a way to engage students in the process and know where all the safe routes are. It also gets the community and local businesses involved.

National Facts• 20-30% of morning traffic is parents taking their kids to school.• 50% of children hit by cars near schools are hit by other parents of students.• 51% of trips in a vehicle is under ½ a mile in distance.

Oregon Facts • 81% of eighth-graders reported riding a bike in the last year and only 22% said they always wore a

helmet when they rode.• In 2001 58.9% of eleventh-graders reported spending zero days in physical education classes

(Source: SR2S Toolkit).

City of Portland Office of Transportation

Youth Bike Safety Club Program

A program that promotes safe and active living is the Youth Bike Safety Club program. Community Cycling Center and the SUN after school programs offers this free 12-session class to low-income youth ages 9-12 at eight Portland area elementary schools. Two of these schools are located in the Lents neighborhood (Lent and Kelly) are recipients of this program. The students are instructed about bicycle safety and repair, and participate in supervised group bicycle rides. Upon successful completion of the course, students are rewarded with their own bicycle and safety gear. This course has a high success rate: approximately 90% of students complete the course and earn bicycles. This program works well in conjunction with the Safe Routes to School program by creating safe ways to arrive at school along with promoting physical activity for children.

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Mt. Scott ParkMt. Scott Park

Bloomington ParkBloomington Park

Glenwood ParkGlenwood Park

Raymond ParkRaymond Park

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Springwater CorridorSpringwater Corridor


Terrace Trails ParkTerrace Trails Park

Tenino PropertyTenino Property

Lents FloodplainLents Floodplain


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MITCHELL

91ST

OGDEN

LONG

REEDWAY

75TH

ELLIS

DUKE

65TH

CLAYBOURNE

UN

NA

M

KNIGHT

MITCHELL

UNNAMED

119T

H

81ST

MALDEN

MT SCOTT

73R

D

94TH

INSLEY

MARTINS

GLENWOOD

74TH

LIEBE

86TH

74TH

UN

NA

MED

BRISTOL

LONG

76TH

RAYMOND

UN

NA

ME

D

68TH

80TH

MALDEN

MALDEN

118T

H

RAYMOND

114T

H

COOPER

89TH

LIEBE

HENRY

LAMBERT

78TH

BYBEE

UNNAMED

REX

RAYMOND

BROOKSIDE

ELLIS

61ST

CLATSOP

63R

D

111T

H

71ST

66TH

120T

H

67TH

100TH

HENRY

105T

H

89TH

RAYMOND

73R

D4T

H

108T

H

114T

H

116T

H

103R

D

STEELE

118TH

103R

D

81ST

110TH

106T

H

68TH

KNIGHT

99TH

STEELE

HINKLEY

KNIGHT

LIEBE

LAMBERT

114TH

90TH

COOPER

RURAL

115T

H

68TH

113T

H

110T

H

HENDERSON

COOPER

CORNWELL

109T

H

80TH

UN

NA

ME

D

BRIS

TOL

84TH

REEDWAY

MITCHELL

INSLEY

RURAL

115TH

INSLEY

85TH

76TH

79TH

LONG

66TH63

RD

76TH

108T

H

65TH

SCHILLER

RAYMOND

LIEBE

100T

H

BYBEE

114T

H

73R

D

HENRY

106TH

79TH

85TH

108TH

65TH

117T

H

119T

H

H

101S

T

83R

D

LINDY

96TH

75TH

111T

H

TOLMAN

SHERRETT

GLENWOOD

BYBEE

91ST

11

FERN

UN

NA

M

TEN

INO

UNNAMED

REX

MALDEN

HENDERSON

STEELE

98TH

HENDERSON

114T

H

86TH

100T

H

80TH

66TH

88TH

LEXINGTON

REX

TENINO

91ST

SHERRETT

S

REE

66TH

FLAVEL

120T

H

79TH

88TH

66TH

87TH

64TH

86TH

INSLEY

UNNAMED

70TH

112T

H

89TH

75TH

80TH

RAMONA

69TH

67TH

SCHILLER

STEELE

86TH

LEXINGTON

63R

DUNNAMED

MARTINS

64TH

CLAYBOURNE

FIR

63R

D

KNAPP

84TH

96TH

70TH

MALDEN

KNAPP

98TH

ELLIS

102N

D

MITCHELL

EVERGREEN

A

A

B

B

C

C

D

D

E

E

F

F

6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1

0 0.50.25 MilesThe City of Portland Safer Routes To School program strongly encourages parents to walk and/or bike with your students initially, to explore the safest path from your home to your school. If you see safetyproblems along the identified safer routes, please contact Lore Wintergreen, City of Portland Safer Routes To Schools Coordinator: 503.823.2304 or [email protected] .

Kelly ESKelly ES


Zenger Farm

Kelly ES

Marshall HS82

ND

92N

D

72N

D

FOSTER

POWELL

HOLGATE

FLAVEL

WOODSTOCK

112T

H

MT SCOTT

111T

H

DIVISION

JOHNSON CREEK

LUTHER

FULL

ER

BE

LL

CLATSOP

ALBERTA

110TH

PO

WE

LLB

LVD

-DIV

ISIO

NS

T

DIV

ISIO

NS

T-P

OW

ELL

BLV

D

FOS

TER

RD

-I205FW

Y

COUPLET

I205

FWY-

FOS

TER

RD

92N

D

DIVISION

112T

H

111T

H

DIVISION

DIVISION

CLATSOP

DIVISION

Lent ES

Lents WalksKeeping Safe Walk

Making History Walk

Memory Walk

Springwater Corridor Trail (E)

Springwater Corridor Trail (W)

Zenger Farm Walk

0 0.5 10.25Miles

Lents WALKS!

Lents WALKS! was a community-based walking program that consisted of a series of 10 guided walks during June through August 2006. A local history expert was recruited to identify specific points of interest along each route, and wrote a “script” that was used to share information with participants during each walk. A walk coordinator was responsible for recruiting volunteers to lead the walks. Participants received several incentives for participation and to promote future physical activity. An incentive packet included:

• A pedometer,• Local walking and biking maps,• A coupon book for local businesses,• Information about local organizations and events, and• A physical activity calendar and log book.

Participants also received other incentives specific to the theme of the walk. As examples, seed packets were distributed during the Zenger Farm Walk and reflective wrist wristbands handed out during the Keeping Safe Walk.

Based on community input, six walking themes were developed:

• Springwater Corridor Trail East• Springwater Corridor Trail West• Making History• Memory Garden• Zenger Farm• Keeping Safe


Earl Boyles Park Johnson Creek

“Healing the broken bond between our young and nature is in our self interest, not only because aesthetics or justice demands it, but also because our mental, physical and spiritual health depends on it.”

–Richard , Author, Last Child in the WoodsEarl Boyles Park

Lents Park Bloomington Park

Lents Park Gazebo


Access to Green SpacesPark

Open space

Cemetery

Schoolyard

Stadium

Community Garden

MAX

I-205

1/4 Mile Access to Parks

Outside of 1/4 Mile Walk Area

0 0.25 0.50.125

MilesAccess to Green Spaces

Park

Open space

Cemetery

Schoolyard

Stadium

Community Garden

MAX

I-205



0 0.25 0.50.125

Miles

Parks and Greenspaces

Creating a healthy environment is a culmination of all the factors that make up the framework for a healthy community. Clean water and air, the presence of sidewalks, access to parks, safe streets, and quality housing all contribute to a healthy neighborhood.

Park Improvements

Earl Boyles, Raymond, and Lents Parks have all had major improvements to help create a healthier and more sustainable environment for the people in and around Lents.

Spanning 7.85 acres, Earl Boyles Park is located on the south side of Earl Boyles Elementary School. Improvements and renovations made to the park include:

• sidewalks, • curbs, • pathways, • park lighting, • a play area, • a water spray feature, • landscaping, • irrigation, • picnic tables, • benches, and a restroom enclosure.

Lents Park has also seen many improvements including new paths, lighting, and numerous field and stadium improvements, which caters to the very popular Lents Little League.

Improving these parks is consistent with meeting the goals and objectives to increase neighborhood livability. These facilities are within walking and biking distance, providing an attractive destination for recreation in the middle of a busy residential neighborhood.


Open space

Cemetery

Schoolyard

Stadium

Community Garden

MAX

I-205



0 0.25 0.50.125

Miles


Open space

Cemetery

Schoolyard

Stadium

Community Garden

MAX

I-205



0 0.25 0.50.125

Miles


Springwater Corridor Trail Projects

History

The Springwater Corridor Trail is a 40-mile loop through, part of which goes through the southeastern part of the Portland Metro Area. The trail was originally part of a commuter rail line, founded in 1903, that had fallen into disuse. Since 1990, the City of Portland has acquired more and more portions of the corridor. The trail first opened in 1996, and today has almost no remaining gaps (http://www.40mileloop.org/trail_springwatercorridor.htm).

Geographical Context

Running roughly east to west, the Springwater Corridor bisects the Lents neighborhood, allowing bicyclists, pedestrians, equestrians, and wheelchair users to move through the neighborhood and beyond. The Corridor was designed to be both functional and scenic. It provides access to Beggar’s Tick Wildlife Refuge and the I-205 bike path, and brings travelers close to the Brookside Natural Area (http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?action=ViewPark&PropertyID=679).

Johnson Creek An example of poor access to the Springwater trail

Bikers along the Springwater Corridor Trail

Barriers

Due to some barriers, the Trail’s potential as a neighborhood asset hasn’t fully been realized, but volunteers, community organizations, and public agencies are teaming up to address them. These barriers include, but are not limited to, a long history of illegal dumping, the perception, by some, that the trail is unsafe, and the poor condition of portions of the Corridor.

Lents Springwater Habitat Restoration Project

This project was a volunteer effort to restore native flora and clean up the trail, especially the left over effects of nearly a century of use as a rail right of way. The project was made possible through a collaborative effort made by local residents (especially the children of Lents), Portland Parks and Recreation, the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services, and various other agencies and non-profit organizations. Since the its inception in 1995, the project has removed countless yards of debris, garbage, and invasive plant species, while simultaneously adding in soil amendments and planting around 35,000 native species of trees and shrubs.

Lents Springwater Corridor Trailhead Assess-ment Survey

In 2006, in an effort to improve access to and raise awareness of the Springwater Corridor Trail in Lents, Portland Parks & Recreation contracted work with ALTA Planning & Design to identify sites where new trailheads could potentially be developed. The survey included consideration of existing conditions surrounding the trail such as zoning, transportation networks, environmental conditions, and land ownership. Three sites were eventually settled on. The hope is that they will improve connectivity to the trail, tie into existing circulation routes, highlight the presence of Johnson Creek and other historical features of the neighborhood, provide a safe, comfortable park experience, and become centers of neighborhood activity.


LENTSI2

05

82N

D

92N

D

87TH

84TH

83R

D

FOSTER

91S

T

FLAVEL

112T

H

89TH

97TH

90TH

TOLMAN

WOODSTOCK

88TH

KNIGHT

101S

T

REX

KNAPP

HARNEY

105T

H

94TH

86TH

111T

H

YUKON

100TH

RAMONA

LAMBERT

102N

D

106T

H

85TH

108T

H

93R

D

TEN

INO

110T

H

CLATSOP

99TH

104T

H103R

D 109T

H

HENRY

BYBEE

MT

SC

OTT

OGDEN

ASPENSUM

MIT

98TH

MARTINS

MALDEN

CARLTON

LUTHER

DUKE

113T

H

79TH

HENDERSON

81S

T

COOPER

SHERRETT

114T

H

LEXINGTON

CRYSTAL SPRINGS

107T

H

RO

SE

CLAYBOURNE

GLENWOOD

ELSASSER

KRIEGER

HENRY

YUKON

103R

D

KNAPP

LEXINGTON

84TH

CRYSTAL SPRINGS

FLAVEL

UNNAMED

HARNEY

111T

H

96TH

80TH

HENDERSONHENDERSON

MARTINS

GLENWOOD

86TH

OGDEN

107T

H

101S

T

UNNAMED

108T

H

HENRY

104T

HUNNAMED

REX

FLAVEL

TENINO

110T

H

MALDEN

85TH

89TH

KNAPP

80TH

87TH

I-205

HENDERSON86TH

DUKE

88TH

MALDEN

98TH

UNNAMED

101S

T

94TH

FLAVEL

110THCLAYBOURNE

COOPER

DUKE

81S

T

80TH

80TH

85TH

UN

NAM

ED

106T

H

103R

D

KNAPP

83R

D

BYBEE

103R

D

HENRY

CLATSOP

MALDEN

86TH

100T

H

93R

D

Beggars-tick Wildlife Refuge

Brookside Natural AreaGlenwood Park

Boys and Girls Club

Terrace Trails Park

Tenino Property

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.50.05Miles

Site 1

Site 2

Site 3

KeySpringwater Corridor TrailTrailhead Site Assessment Study

Total Restoration Project

Springwater HabitatRestoration Project

Public Parks

2005 to 2006

1996 to 20041998 to 1999

2007 to 2011


Conclusion

Lents is a neighborhood with a long and rich history, at times marked by periods of disinvestment, geographical disruption, and economic struggle. In response to these challenges, a variety of projects and programs spearheaded by a coalition of community activists, neighborhood residents, non-profit and profit organizations, governmental agencies, new approaches emphasizing economic development, infrastructure improvements and healthier lifestyles are being implemented.


Demographic and InfrastructureContext


Background

Lents’ history dates back to the late 1800s and today is one of Portland’s last affordable places to live according to recent property values. However, a number of people who live in Lents can’t afford to buy a home. The total household income in Lents has not kept pace with today’s inflation. According to school records, Lents’ school-aged children have the highest free and reduced lunch subsidies in Portland, a sobering indicator of poverty. Many of the buildings in Lents are dilapidated, neglected, and in danger of condemnation. Lent Elementary School has been relocated four times. Its current location is next to I-205, a fact that school administrators are criticized for and a source of contention for asthma-related chronic health conditions.

Lents—a Community with a Future

With the completion of the Outer Southeast Community Plan, the Lents Neighborhood Plan, and the Lents Revitalization Plan, community stakeholders worked together to craft short- and long-term objectives for public and private partnerships to guide an ambitious but long overdue comprehensive neighborhood development agenda. Because it is expected to experience a population growth of over one million, Lents has been designated a “Town Center.” Metro’s 2040 Framework Plan designates regional and town centers as growth areas and key transportation hubs in the region. This designation attracts economic investments. Lents is poised to receive roughly $500 million (Lents Town Center Urban Renewal Area, Portland Development Commission). Portland’s City Council adopted the Lents Town Center Urban Renewal Area (LTCURA) in September 1998 to accomplish the goals of the community. Living-wage jobs and assistance to new and existing businesses (e.g., street improvements, park upgrades, and housing stimulation) are a few of Lents’ goals planned or underway. However, it is often said, “Without your health, the rest is meaningless.”

Lents is one of many communities receiving funding by a grant from the Active Living by Design program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The goal of this program is to “encourage changes in design, transportation, and policies to cultivate and support active living, a way of life that integrates physical activity into daily routines” (activelivingbydesign.org/).

Lent Elementary

50%

55%

60%

65%

70%

75%

80%

85%

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Year

Per

cent

age

ofS

tude

nts

Marshall High

50%

55%

60%

65%

70%

75%

80%

85%

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Year

Per

cent

age

ofS

tude

nts

Kelly Elementary

50%

55%

60%

65%

70%

75%

80%

85%

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Year

Per

cent

age

ofS

tude

nts

Percent of Marshall High School Students on Free or Reduced Lunch

Percent of Lent Elementary Students on Free or Reduced Lunch

Percent of Kelly Elementary School Students on Free or Reduced Lunch

Source: Portland Public Schools, 2007


Facts • 15 percent of the residents in Lents live below the poverty line (Source: ONI) .• The average median household income is about $35,700 in Lents, compared to $45,800 in

the whole Portland-Metro area (Source: U.S. Census Bureau).

Multnomah Co.

Clark Co.

Washington Co.

Clackamas Co.

LENTS

0 1 2 3 4 50.5Miles

Portland by NeighborhoodCensus 2000: % Population in Poverty

0% - 6.2%

6.3% - 12.3%

12.4% - 18.5%

18.6% - 24.7%

24.8% - 30.8%

30.9% - 37%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau 1990 & 2000 modified by ONI


Portland Elementary Schools' EthnicityDistribution 2007

Unspecified1%

Multiple 3%Asian 11%

AfricanAmerican

16%

Hispanic16%

NativeAmerican

2%

White 51%

Portland Elementary Schools' EthnicityDistribution 1997

Asian 8%

AfricanAmerican

17%

Hispanic 7%

NativeAmerican

2%White 66%

Kelly Elementary | Youth Bike Safety Club

Race and Ethnicity

Portland became more racially and ethnically diverse during the 1900s. Between 1997 and 2007, the Portland Elementary Schools’ White population decreased as a percentage of the whole, while the African American population remained about the same, the Hispanic community nearly tripled in absolute numbers and more than doubled as a percentage of total population. The Asian population increased nearly 38 percent, while Native Americans increased in number but fell slightly as a percentage of the population (Source: Portland Public Schools).

Racial and ethnic minorities in the region have higher poverty rates—23% for African Americans, 16% for Native Americans, and 22% for Latinos, compared to 10% for Asians, and just under 8% for Whites (Source: The Regional Equity Atlas).

“Regional equity is ultimately an issue of justice. In more practical terms, it means that the community doesn’t fully access its assets because people confront too many barriers in their lives, beginning with public education and leading civic participation.”

—Lowell Greathouse, former Tools for Living Council Manager, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette


!

!

!Kelly Elementary

Lent Elementary

Marshall High

Kelly Elementary 2007 Distribution of Ethnicity

Multiple7%

Unspecified1%

Asian 12%

AfricanAmerican

5%

Hispanic26%

NativeAmerican

2%

White 47%

Lent Elementary 1997 Distribution of Ethnicity

Asian 9% AfricanAmerican

2%

Hispanic10%

NativeAmerican

1%

White 78%

Kelly Elementary 1997 Distribution of Ethnicity

White82%

NativeAmerican

3%

Hispanic7%

AfricanAmerican

2%

Asian6%

Lent Elementary 2007 Distribution ofEthnicity

NativeAmerican 2% Hispanic 35%

AfricanAmerican 10%

Asian 14%Multiple 4%

White 35%

Kelly Elementary 1997 - 2007 Distribution of Ethnicity

Lent Elementary 1997 - 2007 Distribution of Ethnicity

Marshall High 2007 Distribution of Ethnicity

Native American 2.7%Hispanic

American 20.6%

Asian American 13.9%

AfricanAmerican 8.5%

EuropeanAmerican White

53.3%

Marshall High School 1997 - 2007 Distribution of Ethnicity

White


Multnomah Co.

Clark Co.

Washington Co.

Clackamas Co.

LENTS

0 1 2 3 4 50.5Miles

Portland by NeighborhoodCensus 2000:% Adults with less than a High School Diploma

0% - 3.3%

3.4% - 7.4%

7.5% - 15%

15.1% - 21.8%

21.9% - 32.3%


Fact• 24 percent of Lents’ residents do not hold a high school diploma and 9.7 percent have less than

a 9th-grade education.


Crime Statistics in Lents

Historically, Lents has been a low-income community, a condition that has encouraged high crime rates. Crime became bad enough to earn Lents the monicker “Felony Flats.” People’s perception of crime influences their behaviors, including what they will do and when they will do it. According to the 2005 Portland Citizen Survey, Lents’ residents felt substantially less safe in their neighborhood and parks than the city averages. The primary locations for crime in Lents are along 82nd Avenue. Numerous renovations and improvements to the sidewalks and parks have helped to mitigate this ill effect on the community. With improved lighting and safer areas to walk, people’s perception of the neighborhood is changing from unsafe to safe. This creation of more “eyes on the street” should help deter crime from taking place.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Holgate & 92nd Holgate & 100th Foster & 82nd Foster & 92nd

Violent Crime Property Crime Vice Crime Misdemeanors

LENTS

82N

D

92N

D

HOL

FLAVEL

WOODSTOCK

112T

H

MT SCOTT

LUTHER

111T

H

112T

H

CLATSOP

Foster and SE 82nd

Foster and SE 101st

Holgate and SE 82ndHolgate and SE 100th

KeyPublic Parks

Crime:Around selected intersections

Violent Crime

Property Crime

Vice Crime

Misdemeanors

1/2 Mile Sample Area

Miles

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5

Source: Crime Mapper 2008


Construction&

Mfg.12%

GeneralServices 54%

ProfessionalServices 23%

FinancialInstitutions

11%

Employment and Sales Distribution

The percentages in figures 1 and 2 were derived from a detailed business and industry listing database called Reference USA. Reference USA data allow the public to query addresses and information on businesses over various regions in the United States. Employers self-identified themselves using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), a statistical service implemented by the U.S. Census Bureau and designed to logically identify the type, size, financial status, and location of businesses within a given search area.

In the case of this study, data were requested from the 97266 zip code, which is comprised of the Lents neighborhood and parts of bordering neighborhoods.

Figure 1 illustrates the distribution of employment in the Lents neighborhood. General services represent the majority of jobs, while professional services are the second largest category. The new construction, as part of the Urban Renewal effort, will create new jobs and increase the economic opportunities that Lents has to offer. These improvements are beneficial for the community, adding to the neighborhood’s general livability.

Annual sales data are included in the Reference USA database. In 2007, general services businesses generated the largest percentage of sales (49 percent) followed by professional services (30 percent) in the Lents neighborhood. Other services consisting of construction/manufacturing, professional services, and financial institutions made up the remaining job base.

Source: http://www.referenceusa.com/

Figure 1: Lents Employer Distribution

ProfessionalServices

30%

FinancialInstitutions

9%

Construction &Contracting

12%

General Services49%

Figure 2: Lents Sales Distribution


Multnomah Co.

Clark Co.

Washington Co.

Clackamas Co.

LENTS

0 1 2 3 4 50.5Miles

Portland By Neighborhood

Census 2000:Median Household Income

$17,105 - $37,574

$37,575 - $44,284

$44,285 - $46,483

$46,484 - $53,193

$53,194 - $73,662

$73,663 - $136,102


Current Land Use

The role of planning and public health are interconnected and date back to the turn of the 20th Century. Since then land-use and zoning goals have altered how land is used. Early planning initiatives like the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 did not adequately foresee the future popularity of automobile use or take into account the long-term adverse affects that automobile-related pollution and accidents would have on community health.

Today’s communities are going back to the drawing board to find what works and what doesn’t. The story of Lents centers on health and the environment in an under-served neighborhood.

Lents is a example of a community of people working together to provide a policy framework for development and includes residential, retail, open space, transportation and business related goals.

Source: METRO: RLIS Files

Max Green Line

I-205

Land UseIndustrial

Commercial

Manufacturing

Parks

Single Family Residential

Vacant

Max Green Line and I-205

Ararat Grocery Store and Bakery

Zenger Farm


Eastport Plaza

Earl Boyles Community Garden

I205

82N

D

FOSTER

POWELL

DIVISION

I205

FWY-

PO

WE

LLB

LVD

WOODSTOCK

I205

³

Lents Generalized ZoningCommercial

Industrial

Mixed Use Employment

Multi Use Residential

Parks/Open Space

Single Family Residential

Multi Family Residential

Lents Boundary

Source: METRO: RLIS Files

Zoning

Historically, the Lents neighborhood has had an agricultural, and later an industrial manufacturing, base and function. As the city of Portland grew eastward, the zoning and land uses of Lents have changed to include a network of employment, residential, and commercial uses. Today, Lents is a designated Urban Renewal Area with a relatively high level of vacant land parcels that are available for redevelopment.

The Lents Town Center is zoned EX (Central Employment) with a design overlay. The design overlay indicates that Portland recognizes the cultural and historical significance of Lents and therefore must meet the community design standards that are compatible with the existing neighborhood. The intent of the zoning designation and design overlay will help Lents in its redevelopment as an urban renewal area by promoting healthy, efficient, and smart growth.

Residential housing in Lents Town Center


Single Family ResidencesYear Built

Before 1935

1935 - 1963

1964 - 1986

1987 - 2008

Vacant land

MAX line

I-205

Home ValuesSingle Family Residences

$170,000 and under

$170,001 - $230,000

$230,001 - $320,000

$320,001 - $470,000

Over $470,000

Vacant land

MAX line

I-205

Source: Metro RLIS, 2008 Source: Metro RLIS, 2008

20

08


Housing in Lents | Top row newer housing; bottom row older housing


Facts • In 2000, 45% of Lents’ residents were renters as opposed to home owners (Source: Office of

Neighborhood Involvement).

• Lents has a higher proportion of vacancies than other parts of Portland.

Multnomah Co.

Clark Co.

Washington Co.

Clackamas Co.

LENTS

0 1 2 3 4 50.5Miles

Portland Neighborhood Rental StatisticsCensus 2000:% Occupied Units: Rentals

4.3% - 20%

20.1% - 40%

40.1% - 60%

60.1% - 80%

80.1% - 100%




Multnomah Co.

Clark Co.

Washington Co.

Clackamas Co.

LENTS

0 1 2 3 4 50.5Miles

Portland by NeighborhoodCensus 2000:Median Home Values

$96,950 - $128,410

$128,411 - $140,033

$140,034 - $165,300

$165,301 - $184,840

$184,841 - $224,931

$224,932 - $279,143

$279,144 - $455,400

Fact• The average median property value in Lents was roughly $125,000 in 2000 (Source: U.S.

Census Bureau 1990 & 2000).


Existing Food Options

Although there are several full service grocery stores at the northeast boundary of the Lents neighborhood, it is clear from this map that they are relatively inaccessible to community members without access to a car. On the other hand, convenience stores are well distributed. In addition, there is a large number of fast food restaurants close to Marshall High School. Unhealthy food options tend to promote diets low in nutrients and high in fat and calories.

The Lents neighborhood has taken steps to promote healthier eating by initiating changes in its food environment. The addition of the Lents International Farmers Market and the push by community members for a new grocery store are two examples.

DUKE

HAROLD

FOSTER

HOLGATE

FLAVEL

LUTHER

FLAVEL

FOSTER

HAROLD

111T

H

HOLGATE

POWELL

104TH

WOODSTOCK

92N

D

JOHNSON CREEK

82N

D

I205

Lent ES

Kelly ES

Marshall HS

0 0.5 10.25Miles

Source: ReferenceUSA, 2008

Retail Food OutletsConvenience Store

Ethnic Market

Retail Bakery

Supermarket

Fast Food Restaurant


For more information please contact:

Noelle Dobson, Community Health Partnership, [email protected]

Meg Merrick, Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies, PSU, [email protected]


Documents

Getting to Know Lents A Thematic Atlas of Healthy Eating