May work sessions

• May 5th Work Session 9:00am
• May 12th Work Session - 9:00am

Meet at River Front Park.  We will be finishing up trail 3.

Work Session Update

Hi,

We will be moving the start time for Saturday to 10 am and will meet at River Front Park (infront of the playground). See you then. -SG

Burgerville Night

Hi just a reminder for our Fund Raiser Monday April 23 from 5pm - 8pm @ Burgerville. Here is a flyer to pass to everyone you may know. Flyer

We Will see you there. -SG

News Paper Article

We made the news, Craig Colman from the Itemizer Observer wrote a great article for us in this weeks IO (http://www.polkio.com/ns/news/22875/new-rec-opportunities-for-city-planned). 

I want to thanks Craig for the article. -sg

New rec opportunities for city planned

INDEPENDENCE -- A running trail and disc golf course just north of Riverview Park are in the works.

Craig Coleman

April 17, 2012

INDEPENDENCE -- A running trail and disc golf course just north of Riverview Park are in the works.

Independence's Parks and Recreation Board recently gave its blessing to projects being spearheaded by two separate groups of local volunteers.

Shaun Gatherum of Monmouth is part of a contingent that includes local high school and middle school athletes that wants to build a roughly 2.5-mile wood chip trail.

It would start at Riverview Park and wind north through a wooded area along the Willamette River. The route would link to and border the city's forthcoming 50-acre sports field complex and boat ramp north of town off Highway 51.

Gatherum approached officials about the idea late last year.

"It would give the community a place to run that's safe and off the street," he said.

The project is completely volunteer driven. Gatherum said he and others have been clearing out undergrowth for several weeks. They'll also be responsible for the funding, construction and maintenance of the course, he said.

The hope is it would be ready in June.

A separate group, meanwhile, is seeking to create a disc golf course that would encompass 7 to 8 acres of the northern part of Riverview Park and overlap a portion of the proposed running trail.

This effort has just begun. Like the trail, it's not city funded and is in need of volunteers and donations, said Steven Christenson of Independence, an organizer.

"There's a lot of area in the park right now that's not being used," Christenson said. "The nearest course is in Dallas ... I personally would prefer having a course here instead of driving or going to courses in Corvallis or Eugene."

Christenson said the goal is to start with nine holes, "and if the community likes what it sees, we could get it up to 18."

For more information on the Independence Running Trail: 503-838-2175 or visit www.isctrail.blogspot.com.

To learn more about the disc golf course: independencediscgolf@gmail.com.

Work Session April 14th - 9:00am River Front Park

I hope everyone had a good couple of weeks since our last work session. This Saturday the weather should be warmer and the flood waters have receded, so its time to get back to work. Do to flood damage we will be meeting at River Front Park by the playground verses the Grand Street parking lot which is currently closed and in need of repairs. We will meet @ 9:00 am and work until 11:00am. 

Last night I meet with the Independence City Council and gave a report on our progress. They and the Mayor are supportive of our project and I encouraged them to come out and help. Afterward I was approached by a reporter from the Itemizer Observer, who would like to do a story on our project. I spoke with him via the phone and gave some details on what we are up to. They will most likely be sending a photographer down this week or maybe next, and the story should be published in the next couple of weeks. I am hoping this will bring more help and support to move the trail forward faster (many hands make lighter work), and inform running enthusiasts. -SG

Here is the schedule of upcoming trail events:

Saturday April 14th 9:00am - work session

Saturday April 21st 9:00am - work session

Monday April 23rd 5pm - 8pm - Burgerville night fundraiser

Saturday May 5th 9:00am - work session

Saturday May 12th 9:00am - work session

Burgerville night take two. rescheduled for April 23rd.

Due to problems with getting all the paperwork together with the nonprofit foundation we are working with, our date was given to another group. Therefore we have rescheduled for April 23. I really appreciate Burgerville's willingness to accommodate us and I am sorry for the inconvenience the date change may cause. 

That being said we are still in need of volunteers to help out. We need 4 volunteers from 4:45 - 8:00. This usually works best if done in 1 hour increments. Please let me know if you are able to help out. 

I appreciate all of your willingness to help I could not possibly do this project without each of your help. -SG