03/12/2008
3/13/2008
By Keith K. Daellenbach, Madrone Wall Preservation Committee
The Madrone Wall, a 44-acre forested area featuring bluffs and wildflowers, in Clackamas County, Oregon has been closed to public access since 1997. The county had planned to use the area as a rock quarry, but outdoor enthusiasts led by the Madrone Wall Preservation Committee protested, and the county determined a quarry was financially unfeasible.
In March 2005, the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners considered reopening the Madrone Wall as a park, and two years later, the county's Parks Advisory Board recommended creating a master plan for the Madrone Wall area.
Now, more than two years later, the County is finally sending out the requests for proposals to start the parks master planning. Next, according to current County Park plans, the public is expected to wait a minimum of three to four more years while nothing is actually done with the parks master planno funding to create this primitive park, no implementation of a park master plan, no park.
The Madrone Wall Preservation Committee asks you to, once again, make your advocacy known to the county and request necessary capital improvement funding for the 2008-2009 fiscal year so a park can finally be opened in a timely fashion.
Please contact the following County officials. Request they allocate necessary capital improvement funding for the coming fiscal year.
1. Clackamas Board of County Commissioners: 2051 Kaen Road, Oregon City, Oregon 97045, 503/655-8581; email Lynn Peterson, Bill Kennemer,Martha Schrader
2. Dan Zinzer: Director, Department of Business and Community Services (Parks Dept.), Clackamas County, 9101 S.E. Sunnybrook Blvd, Clackamas, OR 97015, 503/353-4661, email Dan Zinzer
3. Rob Smoot: Chair, Clackamas County Parks Advisory Board, c/o Dan Zinzer