On Friday, October 14, 2016 the Portland Monthly magazine awarded the Friends of Nadaka a Light A Fire Award in the category of Game-Changing Project. This award recognized an innovative collaboration that generates a transformative impact for one or more nonprofits. There were over 100 nominations submitted of which seven were given to organizations and five to individuals.
Check out the article published in the November Portland Monthly issue and the video at the bottom was shown at the gala event.
Everyone is welcome to the 6th Annual Nadaka Community Festival to be held at Nadaka Nature Park in Gresham on August 20th from Noon to 3:00pm. Portland Audubon’s live educational birds will be there and we’ll have activities for all ages. Free hot dogs (while they last), face painting and the Aztec dancers will perform in the meadow. Community groups will have information tables.
Address: 17615 NE Glisan Street, Gresham, OR 97230. Enter at NE 175th & NE Pacific where there is parking in the neighborhood or NE 175th & NE Glisan with parking in St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church parking lot. Also parking available on the south side of NE Glisan at NE 176th in the neighborhood. Crosswalk available across NE Glisan.
Join the Friends of Nadaka at the Columbia Slough Watershed Council’s Slough Celebration Gala event on February 5, 2016. Its really exciting that the Nadaka Park & Garden Project will be receiving an Achievement Award. 
Click here for more information and to order your tickets now.
On April 4th, 2015 the new 2 acre section of Nadaka Nature Park opened to the delight of the community. Read more about the opening in the article written by Jodi Weinberger of the Outlook.
Children aged 3-5 with their parents are invited to a short story and guided nature walk. Watch birds fly overhead, search for hidden animal homes, and learn about local trees and flowers. Themes change monthly. Event runs rain or shine. $3 admission/donation per child, no charge for adults. Families are welcome to bring a snack.
Register for this event. Meet at the picnic shelter at Nadaka, NE 175th & NE Glisan.
This is a weekly event occurring on Wednesdays in May (Please RSVP for each date you plan to attend). Children aged 3-5 with their parents are invited to a short story and guided nature walk. Watch birds fly overhead, search for hidden animal homes, and learn about local trees and flowers. Themes change weekly.Event runs rain or shine. $3 admission/donation per child, no charge for adults. Families are welcome to bring a snack. Additional event dates can be found here: Tadpole Tales
Register for this event. Meet at the picnic shelter at Nadaka, NE 176th & NE Glisan.
The Friends of Nadaka Nature Park would like to thank Metro, Starbucks, Albertsons, Park Place Cafe, and the Center for Family Success for their donations which made the Grand Opening of Nadaka Nature Park & Garden Project a spectacular success; we greatly appreciate their generosity.
We would also like to thank the Columbia Slough Watershed Council, AARP Foundation, Center for Family Success, Outgrowing Hunger, Cathy Sherick with the Springwater Parks & Community District, the Audubon Society of Portland, and the City of Gresham for providing information and education to community members during the event.
Our wonderful volunteers at the Grand Opening included members from the community, Wilkes East Neighborhood Association, AmeriCorps leaders from HB Lee SUN program, former Camp Fire Girls and Cub Scout Troop #214. A special thanks to Representative Carla Piluso for being the announcer for the event and our guest speakers which included:
Mayor Shane Bemis
Metro Councilor Shirley Craddick
Urban Conservationist Jim Labbe- Audubon Society of Portland
Executive Director Jane Van Dyke- Columbia Slough Watershed Council
Executive Director Jay Udelhoven- East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District
Cherie Ludwig-Former Camp Fire Girl and City of Gresham Employee
Community Leader Lee Dayfield- Friends of Nadaka
H.B. Lee Student Andrei Viatlev
None of this would have been possible without the help of the following people and organizations:
Mayor Shane Bemis, Steve Fancer & others at City of Gresham
Mike Green, City of Gresham – Project Planner
Todd Jones & Norm Helgeson – Gresham Parks Staff
T. A. Nelson Family – Donation Property
Metro – Funding
Meyer Memorial Trust – Funding
Trust for Public Land – Owen Wozniack – Negotiated Transaction for purchase 2 acres
East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District – Funding
St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church Members – Gloria Trunk, Andrew Agler, Byron McKinlay & Many Others
MIG – Christina Frank designed nature based play area, Lauren Schmitt & Rachel Edmonds
Lora Price, Design With Nature – Project Manager for Friends of Nadaka Team
Adam Kohl, Outgrowing Hunger
Bob Michaud-Tradd – Belkor Logworks
Human Solutions – Jean DeMaster – Programming This Summer
Verde – Alan Hipolito, ExecutiveT Director, Ricardo Moreno & staff helped build community garden, nature based play, and did all the landscaping
Ron White, Probity Builders – Project Manager for Verde
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc – Built Garden Sheds, ADA boxes, trellises
Sue Aschim – Graphic Designer
City’s Contractors: Cedar Mill Construction Co – Jesse Vail & Earthworks Excavation & Construction – Todd Erickson
Chief of Police – Craig Junginger – Boulders
Dayfield Family – Paul, Garrett & Nohelia and Sister Fran Dearborn – Continuing Support
Eastrose Unitarian Church – Fundraising & meeting space
Wilkes East Neighborhood Association
Rockwood Neighborhood Association
Monica McAllister – new Nadaka Nature Park Coordinator
Thank you for making Nadaka Nature Park and Garden’s Grand Opening a huge success!
Official grand opening celebration. Come and see the development of the 2 acre site at the South edge of Nadaka Nature Park. The Audubon Society of Portland’s Education birds will be there together with activities for the whole family and light refreshments.
A big thank you to MetroEast Community Media for putting together this great promotion for the grand opening celebration at Nadaka.
You’re Invited to the Grand Opening Celebration
of Nadaka Nature Park
Saturday, April 4th 10:00am to Noon
The official opening of the newly created community garden, nature based play area, and picnic shelter on the south two acres of the park.
Come and see our new community garden at Nadaka. There are six ADA raised beds for those needing them. Plots are available for 50 families depending on size desired. Adam Kohl of Outgrowing Hunger will be managing this City of Gresham community garden.
You can register online with the City of Gresham or register at the Grand Opening.
The amazing nature based play area for children will connect them to the natural world through play. Wood elements for this structure donated by Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation. Other wood elements are from Doug Firs in the forest that had to be removed & boulders are from the new Rockwood Police Station site on NE 181st.
The Audubon Society of Portland’s Education birds will be present and teaming up with Slough School to provide environmental education. Attendees can spread seeds on the new eco lawn areas and enjoy a walk in the forest stopping to view the Camp Fire Girls kiosk.
Refreshments and fun for the whole family! Meet the many partners of Friends of Nadaka that have made this possible.