News & Events

Neighborhood Association Activities

Garbage and Recycling Pick-up in the Alleys

Since 1996 our neighborhood association has been working toward garbage and recycling collection from our alleys. This year the City has joined forces with the neighborhood association to make this a reality. In order for garbage and recycling trucks to safely drive and pick up carts in the alleys, the rights-of-way will need to be widened in many areas with the goal to clear as close to their legal width of 20 feet and height of 15 feet as possible.

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.

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 14 January 2010 ]