In Brief: Hood River City Council Dec. 11, Lions Club Spearheads $82,000 Playground Project
Hood River, Ore., December 14, 2023 – The Hood River City Council convened on Monday, Dec. 11. Councilors heard a presentation from the Hood River Lions Club on expanding playground facilities, as well as a presentation from Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) on new facilities projects to support the effort to end homelessness in the region.
Hood River Lions Club Announces Playground Project
The Hood River Lions Club has embarked on an ambitious project to enhance local playgrounds, focusing on accessibility for handicapped children, as discussed in a recent city meeting.
Building on their past contributions to Jackson Park, where they invested over $300,000, the Lions Club announced plans to expand playground facilities. The proposed design aims to be inclusive, providing specially designed equipment for children in wheelchairs and toddlers.
The Lions Club has committed $82,000 towards this initiative, covering equipment costs and installation. This includes a contribution for a concrete border essential for the poured-in-place rubber surface, enhancing safety and accessibility.
In addition to the Jackson Park project, the Lions Club also outlined improvements for the Mann Park playground. This project features diverse structures catering to different age groups.
MCCAC Builds Infrastructure For Supporting an End to Homelessness
In other developments, Kenny LaPoint from the Mid Columbia Community Action Council (MCAC) provided updates on various community projects including the Gloria Navigation Center, in The Dalles, a wrap-around service center that will house multiple housing and health agencies and The Annex. The Annex to the center, a multi-million dollar Project Turnkey 2.0 project located in the old Oregon Motor Motel, is a transitional living facility, that helps transition people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing.
LaPoint also spoke about the Hood River Winter Shelter.
Other Business
The council also discussed the jurisdictional transfer of 12th and 13th streets from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to the city as a part of the Heights streetscape plan.
Another topic of the meeting was the review of the Urban Renewal Agency's governance structure. The discussion emphasized stakeholder involvement and potential changes in board composition.
In closing, council members and attendees shared various updates and comments, highlighting upcoming events and ongoing projects in the community.
