St. Johns Pocket Park!

St. Johns Pocket Park project will beautify a nearly barren patch of land adjacent to the St. Johns Plaza and provide a natural area using native plants for all to enjoy. 

For the past year, the Boosters have been working with 1855 Plants, Resilience Design, and Sauvie Island Natives to re-landscape the space at the entrance to the downtown business corridor in St Johns! 

This is made possible through a grant from Venture Portland and Prosper Portland, and community donations. 

Thank you to these businesses and community organizations!

Location and Volunteer Opportunities

The Pocket Park location is on N Ivanhoe & N Philadelphia in St Johns, next to Burgerville. Come out and volunteer at our work party on Saturday, May 14th. Let us know that you can help with an email to info@stjohnsboosters.org.

Nature-Based Solutions

Reinvigorating the pocket park at the foot of the St. Johns Bridge with a Native Plant Park Project is part of what the United Nations, World Bank, and European Union are promoting as “Nature-Based Solutions” to confront climate change, natural disasters, and other climate change-related challenges. In addition to helping native pollinators, Native Plant gardens help protect us at a lower cost and require fewer chemicals, less water, and less maintenance than nonnative plants or grey infrastructure.

According to the Native Plant Conservation Campaign, by filling our parks, gardens, roadsides, and open spaces with natives, our communities will become more ecologically resilient, comfortable, safe, and low maintenance. It is also cost-effective. 

For more information on Nature-Based Solutions, see the Ecosystem Services section of the Native Plant Conservation Campaign website. 

From Barren Patch to Vibrant Oasis

With a grant from Venture Portland, the St. Johns Boosters are beginning the work of transforming the nearly barren patch of land next to the plaza to create a vibrant oasis that resonates with the historical and cultural diversity of our area. The pocket park renovation has broad and enthusiastic support from the community. The Boosters are partnering with several community organizations to design, build and maintain the park and its amenities. We are developing a partnership with the Native American organizations and local community history organizations to ensure that all communities are represented. 

Signage will add educational, cultural, and way-finding components. Plants and their connection to the area’s native Multnomah peoples’ culture and history will be identified. At some future date, we would like to create a signpost indicating the name and distance to other close-by natural parks such as Baltimore Woods, Smith and Bybee Natural Wetlands, Kelley Point Park, Cathedral Park, and Sauvie Island to give visitors an idea of additional attractions in the area. Signage will be in English, Spanish, and Wasco-Wishram, the dialect of the Native American Multnomah tribe that first inhabited the area. The multilingual custom plant signs will be made by a local merchant, A Nice Lady in St. Johns, constructed of durable outdoor materials of photosensitive aluminum.

Adopt a Native Plant

Neighbors, local organizations, and businesses are invited to partner with this project. By “adopting” a plant, with a donation of $100 or $150 depending on the size of the plant. An “adoption certificate” will be provided with a weather-resistant plant tag that will identify the plant as being “adopted” and include the donor’s name. 

“Adoptions” may be renewed annually, creating a dependable income stream for maintenance of the park, plant replacement, and clean-ups.

St. Johns Pocket Park: Part of the St. Johns Revitalization

This project is critical for the revitalization of the Business District. It will create an aesthetically and climate-resilient “Welcome!” to people driving across the St. Johns Bridge, pedestrians, and the community at large. 

In addition to the businesses mentioned above, we would like to thank all of our wonderful volunteers!