News & Events

Neighborhood Association Activities

Garbage and Recycling Pick-up in the Alleys

In November 2009 after more than 15 years of working together with the City of Lake Oswego, garbage, recycling and yard debris collection returned to the alleys in FAN. This was a long process and many changes have occurred in the neighborhood since this plan was first included in the First Addition Neighborhood Plan. Continuing efforts by Chairs old and new helped us reach this long established goal and bring a long awaited project to closure with great rewards. We now have cleaner, more accessible alleys, safe streets for pedestrians and bicyclists and less clutter to mar the charm of our neighborhood. Thank you to all to the folks that worked on this project over the years, but especially to Lisa Shaw-Ryan who helped develop reasonable expectations and guidelines and move this project into a reality!

Project Benefits:

  • Reclaim and maintain a neighborhood and city asset.
  • Keep the regular streets clear for safe pedestrian travel.
  • Help the neighborhood support sustainability goals by reducing the number of garbage trucks needed to pick up carts.
  • Define the rights-of-ways, keep utility and sewer access clear, and provide better access for emergency vehicles.
  • Accomplish a FAN recommended action measure from the 1996 neighborhood plan.
  • Help define property lines and allow residents to more easily maintain the award winning neighborhood character.
  • Garbage and Recycling bins can be positioned and left along on the alley right-of-way reducing the need to wheel the carts to the curb each week.

To learn more see First Addition Neighborhood Alley Restoration Project.

Fifth Street & A Avenue Crosswalk System

After years of active campaigning to improve safety for residents trying to cross one of our busiest downtown thoroughfares, our push for crosswalk improvements at Fifth Street and A Avenue came to fruition as the City of Lake Oswego completed construction of an enhanced crosswalk, September 25, 2009. The new crosswalk system provides street light illumination, a curb extension on the south side to reduce the crossing distance, overhead warning lights activated by pedestrian push buttons, and high intensity pedestrian crossing signs to provide more attention to the presence of pedestrians in the crosswalk. Successfully working with the City and the Evergreen Neighborhood Association, we can celebrate the completion of another important project.

E Avenue Pathway

As recommended in Lake Oswego’s Transportation Management Plan for Downtown Neighborhoods (May, 2006, prepared by DKS Associates), a pedestrian path is currently being designed for installation on the north side of E Avenue between Fourth and Tenth Streets. It will connect Forest Hills School to the Library and other City services.

  • Stakeholders’ meeting March 12, 2009 to discuss a preliminary design for the pathway.
  • Concept Plan - Alta Planning and Design presented at neighborhood meeting May 28, 2009:
    • 5 foot meandering path, 18 inches to 5 foot buffer between path and roadway.
    • Maintain as much plant material as possible.
    • Pathway surface will meet ADA requirements, could be packed gravel like Headlee Walkway (cheaper) or asphalt or cement (longer-lasting).
    • Ladded-style crosswalks.
    • Not like Tenth Street—much simpler.
    • Will not address drainage issues but will not exacerbate current drainage problems.
    • Maintenance will be responsiblity of adjoining homeowners.
    • These kinds of projects usually include 2-year contract to water/maintain plants.
  • At present, project is not funded. Possible funding sources:
    • Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), possibly budget year 2010/2011. E Avenue Pathway is next on the list of pathways; scope (relatively small project) makes it very doable.
    • Safe Routes to School, 2012 - more administrative expense if project is "federalized", 6 foot width.

For more information about the project, contact Jerry Knippel, Special Projects Director, City of Lake Oswego, at 503-5340-5680 or gknippel@ci.oswego.or.us

[ Last updated 4 May 2010 ]