Construction has begun on a memorial at Lone Fir Cemetery, in Southeast Portland.

More than 3,100 people of Chinese ancestry were from the 1880s to the early 1900s, mostly in the cemetery’s southwest corner (“Block 14” on maps), according to Metro. When Multnomah County took ownership of the cemetery in 1928, officials began pushing to have the Chinese section cleared of graves. Eventually, the area was paved over, and a maintenance facility was built there. The building was later demolished, and Metro became the property owner in 2007, according to Metro.

The new Lone Fir Chinese Memorial is intended to honor the memories of the people who were once buried at Block 14, Metro stated.

Crews started work last week on the project, which is being overseen by Metro’s Parks and Nature department. The site is around 1.2 acres of the cemetery, which is mostly within Southeast 20th and 26th avenues and Southeast Stark and Morrison streets.

Landscape architect Knot Studio is leading a multidisciplinary project team that includes contractor Paul Brothers Inc. of Boring. Allied Works, a subconsultant, designed the memorial walls and spirit tablet pavilion – one of the memorial’s key features, Metro spokesperson Cory Eldridge stated in an email. Other contributors to the project include historical researchers, archaeologists, interpretive designers and artists as well as civil, structural and electrical engineers, and others.

Much of the construction will be concentrated on the site’s western edge, which was never used as a cemetery and can accommodate sufficient digging to support a large structure, Metro stated in a press release. A curved walkway and plantings in the site’s central portion will help discourage visitors from walking in the area most likely to hold human remains.

Screened windows in the memorial walls will draw from traditional Chinese design.

“The leaf pattern of the screens was inspired by a graphic detail in the original burial ledgers the Oregon Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association discovered in 2004,” Eldridge stated.

A new, circular altar will include a trough of sand for burning incense sticks. The top will be engraved with the words “we honor you as though you were present” in Chinese calligraphy. The phrase was on the plaque of an altar that formerly stood at the site’s east end, according to Eldridge.

A Portland-based artist team, Qi You and Sophia Xiao-fan Austrins, has guided development of art for the site. They presented opportunities for community members to – frequently food, which people would leave as offerings to the deceased, Eldridge stated. Clay creations will be cast in bronze and mounted around the site.

Lone Fir Cemetery will remain open during construction. However, to ensure visitors’ safety and allow the contractor access, the cemetery’s southwest portion will close temporarily. The walkway from Southeast Morrison Street will be closed, and the original cemetery access from Southeast 20th Avenue will be used exclusively by construction crews. Also, some internal cemetery roads will close temporarily.

Construction is expected to wrap up by early 2027, with a grand opening to follow in the spring.

Metro expects the total project cost to be approximately $6 million. Funding is coming from a $475 million bond measure approved by voters in 2019 and from Multnomah County.

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The city of Lake Oswego has broken ground on Rassekh Park. The park includes a new multi-purpose sports field, large playground and skatepark for the community at the Rassekh property on Stafford Road.

The new 10-acre park will also include a parking lot with a dropoff area, new access pathways and the expansion of existing multi-use pathways, restrooms, walking trails, a covered picnic area, a protected natural area surrounding Pecan Creek, and the necessary utilities, including water, electricity, stormwater and sanitary sewer service.

The project team includes landscape architect and civil engineer Mackenzie, electrical engineer Sazan Group, skatepark design-build California Skateparks and general contractor Paul Brothers Inc.

Mackenzie helped engage the surrounding community by embarking on a year-long public outreach process that encouraged and enabled key community members to influence and inspire the concept and vision for the park. Through a series of meetings hosted by Mackenzie and the city of Lake Oswego, more than 600 community members drove a concept for the park that maximized play and exercise opportunities, while respecting the natural character of the surroundings, Mackenzie stated in a news release.

Since athletic fields in Lake Oswego are in high demand, new fields were identified as a high priority to be funded with the Lake Oswego Parks & Recreation bond money, the firm stated.

The groundbreaking event served as the official launch of the phased development. Phase I of the project will include the construction of a 10,000-square-foot skatepark (designed by California Skateparks); right-of-way improvements for Stafford Road such as trees and streetlights; reconstruction of the multi-use path; a new restroom building; and the development of a variety of other critical utilities that lay the foundation for the rest of the project.

Phase I of the project is expected to be complete next year.

Additional features will be realized in the subsequent phases: a synthetic turf athletic field will enable year-round soccer, lacrosse, baseball and softball games for youth sports. A new, large playground will also be constructed. Input from more than 100 local elementary school children informed the final concept of the playground, which will include a mix of natural play elements and accessible play equipment.

The total project cost for all phases is expected to be over $5 million.

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A weekly compilation of the largest winning bids in the Pacific Northwest, according to the Daily Journal of Commerce Project Center.

1.

Winner (contract awarded): C.A. Carey Corp. of Issaquah, Washington

Amount: $18,887,172

Project: I-5, SB S Spokane St. (King County, Washington)

Owner: WSDOT (Washington State Department of Transportation)

Cost estimate: Not available

Project team: Not available

2.

Winner (contract awarded): Rodarte Construction Inc. of Auburn, Washington

Amount: $6,576,225.20

Project: Fish Passage (King County, Washington)

Owner: WSDOT Contract & Award Office

Cost estimate: Not available

Project team: Not available

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3.

Winner (contract awarded): Goodfellow Brothers LLC of Wenatchee, Washington

Amount: $5,599,717.60

Project: NE 238^th Dr: NE Halsey St. – NE Glisan St. (Multnomah County)

Owner: Multnomah County Purchasing

Cost estimate: Not available

Project team: Not available

4.

Winner (contract awarded): Central Washington Asphalt Inc. of Moses Lake, Washington

Amount: $3,068,000

Project: Wenatchee Area Paving (Various Counties, Washington)

Owner: WSDOT Contract & Award Office

Cost estimate: Not available

Project team: Not available

5.

Winner (intent to award): Paul Brothers Inc. of Boring

Amount: $2,522,000

Project: Gabriel Park Play Area Improvements (Portland)

Owner: City of Portland – Bureau of Parks & Recreation

Cost estimate: Not available

Project team: Not available

Do you want to be the winner of an upcoming Top Bidders project? Then join the 91��Ƶ Project Center to find, track and bid on your next project. For a free tour, or more information on monthly and annual rates, contact Sharlene Richard at 503-802-7252 or srichard@djcOregon.com.

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