In case you didn't see it, Steve Duin has a very timely op-ed piece on bringing baseball to Lents Park, titled "End the madness at Lents Park."  My favorite line from this article neatly explains why we voted to send a letter opposing the stadium at last month's neighborhood association meeting.  Here's how Steve sees it:

If the city can afford to invest another $42.5 million in Lents, the money would be well spent on that grocery store, a new Boys & Girls Club, small-business loans or the ground-level improvements that have been successful for the PDC.

That's how I see it, too. How about you?

After a long hiatus, we're back with a follow-up story to the Lents baseball development we've been following for some time. The City has been teasing deep SE for months with the prospect of relocating the Beavers to Lents Park to make way for Major League Soccer to take over the PGE Park. Hopes of a stadium out here seemed weak when Mayor Adams pushed to locate it in a new "entertainment district" in the Rose Quarter, but citizens balked at his idea of razing the Memorial Colluseum.  Now, Adams and City Commissioner Randy Leonard are supporting the idea of building the stadium in Lents, but at a big price: over $40 million, most of the Urban Renewal funding allocated to Lents. 

Initially, I was stoked about the idea of having the Beavers so close.  Now, I'm not so sure.  I question whether those Urban Renewal dollars wouldn't be better spent on storefront development, support for unique local businesses, and low income housing.  In fact, the money for the stadium is currently allocated... (more)

As much as our neighbor Lents has going for it right now (Urban Renewal Area dollars, a new Max line, contending for the new Beavers stadium), it's still battling old problems, including prostitution on nearby 82nd and drug use. Check out this recent post by Sarah Mirk over at the Mercury's blog on one Lents residents' battle with store owners who sell the miniature roses vases that are often used for cheap crack pipes.

I can't help but ask whether anyone's seen these pipes in Foster-Powell stores. Also, I'm surprised that the Sarah M. didn't include asking the Neighborhood Association for help in her list of possible solutions. Seems like the FoPo N.A. has successfully asked neighborhood businesses to change their ways.

And speaking of baseball in Lents, the Lents Neighborhood Association site, ILoveLents.com, has more information than you can swallow in one sitting, including the rendering shown above. BetterBeaversBallpark.com is another great online resource. This issue is heating up like a pitcher on... (more)

I've already posted my personal reasons to bring the Beavers to Lents Park.  Now it's your turn.

Get your opinion game on tomorrow night, at the Portland Parks and Recreaction meeting held from 6:30-8:30 pm at the Multnomah Arts Center, 7688 SW Capitol highway.

Also on the adgenda:  discussions on the management of Ross Island, the Rose Festival's request for a festival extension, and the 2009/2010 budget process.

More details here, at our event posting.

I'm so excited about the idea of having the Beavers right down the street that I can't get "Take me out to the ballgame" out of my head. 

Via Mid-county Memo Blog.

Top photo by Ian Ransley.

As longtime readers know, rumors have been popping up like fly balls about the prospect of a baseball stadium in nearby Lents. Before today, things were looking good-- especially after the Oregonian reported that Beavers owner Merritt Paulson was "exploring the idea of public financing for a new minor league ballpark where Walker stadium now sits" in Lents Park.

For FoPo residents, the financial, and social benefits of such a location for a new Beavers stadium would be numerous: new businesses would move to Lents, friends would want to hang out with FoPoers on game night, and maybe Foster-Powell would make its name for itself as the funky street connecting Portland to Lents.

Despite the jubilant "O, Yeah! America Finally Comes to Its Senses" cover, today's Willie Week whispers bad news for those hoping for a new stadium at Lents. To go balls-to-the-green-monster-wall with the baseball metaphors, this story made my gut drop like when the opposing team's catcher snags a fly ball.

According the the story in the... (more)