The Veterans Peace Park - Portland OR, VFP Chapter 72

If we build it, will you come? The Veterans Peace Park

by BOHICA
Sun Apr 30, 2006 at 04:18:06 PM EST

Veterans For Peace Chapter 72 broke gound this last week on a Peace Park in Portland, Oregon. An idea brought to the chapter by Brad Perkins, a realtor in PDX, who found out the City had a program where groups could adopt a piece of City property if the were willing to landscape and maintain it. He found the perfect spot, a 2 acre plot next to the Rose Quarter, (home of the Failblazers), and right next to the MAX (light rail) transit station. The land had a 75 foot circle of grass on the north edge.
On Sunday the 23rd we all assembled with shovels and rakes and implements of destruction to remove the grass from the circle and start prepping it for a grass peace sign.

Groundbreaking pics

All was going well until the rototiller we had turned out to be not up to the job and proceeded to throw its belt. Crap. The grass was a thick mat of roots so we quit for the day planning to retrun Tuesday with a rented BIG rototiller.
Tuesday arrives and we pick up a 13 HP tiller that was so big it had its own trailer. 7 hours later, we've got the circle tilled and ready for the prep of the ground to receive the sod we have ordered for this Saturday the 29th.
Saturday, again with shovels and rakes we arrive and start the hand work of smoothing out the path for the sod. Its all assholes and elbows as about a dozen vets for peace and others start raking and shoveling. With the peace sign smoothed out we proceed to use a roller to tamp it down and make sure the lines are straight and the ground is level. A beautiful 70 degree day in the Rose City.
At 3:00PM just as we are ready to start laying the sod, the wind picks up and the rain comes in sideways. Not to be put off (after all we are webfooted Oregonians) we spend the next 90 minutes in the pouring rain making what we believe is the largest grass peace sign within a major city, if not the world.



Just as we are finishing up the rain stops and the sun comes out. We did it! We were all soaked to the bones, but the smiles were everywhere.
This morning I took some pics which you can view HERE.

Our next work party ( May 6th 9AM) will be prepping the flower beds which will then be planted on May 20th. We plan on a dedication on memorial day May 29th.
If you live in Portland or the Metro area come down and check it out. You can find information and a map at the Peace Park web page.



If in Portland and want to help with the work, email info at: vfpchapter72.org .

Here's the mailing address for donations. Please note "Peace Memorial Park" in the memo line of any checks to help us keep track of directed donations.
Veterans for Peace Ch. 72
P.O. Box 40783
Portland, OR 97240-0783