[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6168738,"mediaKeyId","5406958-d5937eceb785e5a5a8b68542220383ef","parentId",5406958,"title","Watershed council reports invasive-plant surveys in McCormick Park, offers plant donations and volunteer support","audioSeconds",615,"startMs",3379000,"endMs",3994000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5406958-d5937eceb785e5a5a8b68542220383ef&start=3379&end=3994","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5406958-d5937eceb785e5a5a8b68542220383ef/thumbnail_3379000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6168738/St-Helens/Columbia-County/Oregon/Watershed-council-reports-invasive-plant-surveys-in-McCormick-Park-offers-plant-donations-and-volunteer-support","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6168738-8cf909a9d80385a25341f931b2e8d006/orig.mp4?Expires=1776079516&Signature=etV9odBx-7esEUZiyXn3TPI07mtDrxabyag12IR5AzpAAWJRktL3NnbFnqVPpm5o1Aq2HkiB8YWv0YVA1c9CuRtffe9HVbsY1DaFGQ~iwOe1qj~tDqOrxjjh8Br49JVjxTU9hgrwrSRk-uZn5BjDfJLw4LE~X8kSFE99YKBKLWhvYSL7CXUAz~i209YFCHQ6xs2cCONfv7mmqQ3PNQiYLxYcq60zPas4yRwzJLG~MwEietR0V3-cxQT-uIiDNGcUPoY-LN8FzavvAmFYO9-IXBnSVEF08PCrAkMcQcKst5lufT0tLuTfIyQ2bdvtE7p7sLyoIgcG7S1kzrTdhNQyMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of St. Helens, OR","date","2025-07-15T12:40:29Z","article","Representatives of the Scappoose Bay Watershed Council told commissioners they have continued invasive-species surveys and educational outreach in local parks, including McCormick Park and Nob Hill Nature Park.
The council said it partnered with Scappoose High School students to survey invasive plants in McCormick Park, set Mediterranean oak borer traps (with no detections so far), and donated 58 plants and tools for Nob Hill work parties. The council said it will mail informational brochures to property owners in areas where pokeweed was found and plans more biosurveys to inform future restoration.
Council representatives offered tools and plant donations for volunteer work parties and said they can help lead assessments of the disturbed slopes near recent utility work at the end of Third Street, where volunteers reported heavy pokeweed and mullein growth. Commissioners and council staff discussed coordinating a joint site visit to assess whether volunteers can safely remove invasive species from steeply sloped areas and to plan native-plant replacements.
The council asked to continue collaborations and noted previous intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) helped sustain past work; staff said budget constraints led to changes in IGA coverage this year but expressed interest in restoring formal collaboration when feasible.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Parks & Trails Commission","oneSentenceSummary","The Scappoose Bay Watershed Council briefed commissioners on invasive-species surveys, Mediterranean oak borer traps and volunteer plant donations; the council offered tools, plants and volunteer help for park restoration projects.","taxTitle","St. Helens, Columbia County, Oregon","taxId",52788,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6168742,"Residents seek to form 'Friends of Botanical Gardens' group; commissioners offer staff follow-up",712,2404000,3116000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5406958-d5937eceb785e5a5a8b68542220383ef&start=2404&end=3116","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5406958-d5937eceb785e5a5a8b68542220383ef/thumbnail_2404000.jpg","/articles/6168742/St-Helens/Columbia-County/Oregon/Residents-seek-to-form-Friends-of-Botanical-Gardens-group-commissioners-offer-staff-follow-up","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6168742-035116c3b0ce56e8780974939ea5ddb7/orig.mp4?Expires=1776079516&Signature=Y3mp5YBk7EnRIFyyWkUN37pN579evOUSbLW~jLmThBK13SeGB~BVBfnIWZiN6JyS1D6TCMMYZI4M820uCxpJd5aR7ZeiLY186SLF6igMZlcYLw2FZcxTkl1Oym~QuZfmRjWxC7bQAzmoAubxXBV6Ii1NcgdWhCbBUV~dmLIagcdm1EFoNROlQ-5p-kbeIzL02vAcTObYYa7n2mnKrA6~0LUEyXdbUmNKCzqHhyno9iwzmYnmZhQxuWkr~--PeBo9ZzA~xzgyXALsazci0DYGhdDy0NtNOh9OS83FXVt1qlLxjG907ks2fZXALHchCbYT~QNZ2~10kB2-xMMxPejTEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ashley Stanley told commissioners she is starting a Friends of the Botanical Gardens group to improve trails, remove invasive plants and increase accessibility at the site.
Commissioners reviewed the city's Friends-of-Parks application process and said a form exists on the city website; they also noted the staff contact listed on the page (Shauna) has moved roles and the online guidance may need updating. Commissioners asked staff to follow up with the appropriate city contacts—Cathy and Buck were mentioned as possible staff liaisons—and to return with clarified steps for forming and approving a friends group.
Commission members offered practical advice: the city requires volunteers to sign releases for work parties; the parks department can supply gloves, tools and promotional help; and a Facebook or private-group page can be used for volunteer coordination, but public communications must follow city guidelines. Commissioners invited Stanley to return next month with a follow-up and said they would help streamline the application route on the city website.","An attendee asked about forming a Friends of Botanical Gardens group; commissioners walked through the existing application process and directed staff to clarify the city contact and application handling.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6168747,"Volunteers plan improvements to McCormick BMX track, including paving starting hill",334,668000,1002000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5406958-d5937eceb785e5a5a8b68542220383ef&start=668&end=1002","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5406958-d5937eceb785e5a5a8b68542220383ef/thumbnail_668000.jpg","/articles/6168747/St-Helens/Columbia-County/Oregon/Volunteers-plan-improvements-to-McCormick-BMX-track-including-paving-starting-hill","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6168747-ce70851bf37cc4c2c4197e3ed0e14505/orig.mp4?Expires=1776079516&Signature=Vkj~Hut-BRCKgZY9K34aqb~SgndjOmDliV7J1VO6uJXZiCucidJaSFG~GMvO5k4x564bVA6YSnuMyWNrSCXoIAs7RcZWOEKqsb5UTivgYvJy~2ScCihLJdvwsuI-rtnP9~ndBeIAAWY~MzzdshQ8ZncNv1DnA0K6v3uh5FecBtMaZCBtPtIKqQo0sEmOoIRJs7zaKqTTOsTL7UXHNhE57JcI678P80qUY34n5GFwxFuvnsWPs~7wbJMCky-aneRizYDU1KctY16rJXNm~C7ehG3rL0pBPJuSJ7XPHeOnPzr4dDOsH1faYwNQ~1vD5JxmeD9WeP-xmMkc-x1sDF7PPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A long-time volunteer who has helped run the McCormick BMX track said he intends to remain involved but is handing leadership to a new volunteer group and wants to pursue improvements that would reduce ongoing maintenance.
The volunteer said the group has funds to pave the starting hill and is exploring paving high-wear corners — a trend at many modern pump-track facilities — to reduce ruts and the need for frequent volunteer maintenance. He said paving those two problem areas should make the track more sustainable and easier to keep open year-round.
Commissioners asked whether paved sections would be harder to crash on; volunteers said crashes are still likely on either surface but that paving decreases rutting and maintenance. The volunteer said they have material funding but need volunteer labor and a contractor for installation and that he would seek the city’s blessing and coordinate with parks staff.
Commissioners and staff encouraged the volunteer group to keep the commission informed and seek formal approval if a contractor will be involved or if city land needs modification.","Volunteers told commissioners they have material funding for paving the BMX starting hill and may pave high-wear corners to reduce maintenance; they requested the city's blessing and volunteer coordination.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6168753,"Therapist proposes public 'wind phone' in St. Helens to support grief processing",1335,1014000,2349000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5406958-d5937eceb785e5a5a8b68542220383ef&start=1014&end=2349","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5406958-d5937eceb785e5a5a8b68542220383ef/thumbnail_1014000.jpg","/articles/6168753/St-Helens/Columbia-County/Oregon/Therapist-proposes-public-wind-phone-in-St-Helens-to-support-grief-processing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6168753-ee51fcf39a35f867e8efa8a08b3e006b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776079516&Signature=RCGYLvR0TuNbeoKcY3CfAILm7g9RWdG-z6WqvtjzjbX-geFahAxQKt1s3qFob1EDTf4i6~nkWohYGkRsyrz1tPjJnGtyo-fn1U4Xy-G5fqa5-79JNElel4a-LFohopS-4WwGc2UexSPcM43QdGefgNu7fRyLkIQCinQ56mXcYzBUxCXD6-lzTwMxr2Q2kZz1zRuIPkOWkd3U8HnLNJDQYycP9U1eKoPVG13c4e7JK5enE2suwXraTlcur2by9Vv9SLZYT1zE4Wk6YbvxUmlhD2rh5cBJqdYKwDU4aPHLCVz1VxyLxSHSAsJqPpy3rH-tpmONpiK932ObxNsaPIHE9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bailey Feekin, a mental health therapist at Columbia Health Services, proposed installing a public \"wind phone\" in Columbia County to create a private, symbolic space for people to process grief.
Feekin described wind phones as disconnected rotary telephones placed in a dedicated spot where people can speak aloud to a lost loved one. She said the idea originated in Japan and has spread to dozens of communities in the U.S. She asked the Parks and Trails Commission for permission to place a wind phone on public land in St. Helens and for help identifying potential sites and collaborators.
Commissioners and staff reacted positively but raised practical concerns including vandalism, weather exposure and the need for maintenance. Commissioners suggested locations such as McCormick Park's Japanese garden and Heritage Park in Scappoose, and recommended a location that balances privacy with visibility to discourage vandalism. Several commissioners encouraged Feekin to return with specific design concepts, a maintenance plan, financing details (Feekin said Columbia Health Services can support some costs), and a proposed public location so the commission can review and formally recommend next steps.
Feekin said she intends to register any completed wind phone with an online directory and is open to collaborating with civic groups and volunteers. Commissioners offered staff contacts and suggested including signage and a resource brochure linking visitors to local grief and crisis services.","A local mental health therapist presented a proposal to install a symbolic, disconnected 'wind phone' on public land to offer a free space for people to express grief and access resource information; commissioners encouraged collaboration and asked the presenter to return with site and design plans.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6168758,"Parks commissioners plan field survey to narrow Milton Creek Reserve boundary",1041,4075000,5116000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5406958-d5937eceb785e5a5a8b68542220383ef&start=4075&end=5116","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5406958-d5937eceb785e5a5a8b68542220383ef/thumbnail_4075000.jpg","/articles/6168758/St-Helens/Columbia-County/Oregon/Parks-commissioners-plan-field-survey-to-narrow-Milton-Creek-Reserve-boundary","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6168758-3b8c44a816c42074573e6d542723a267/orig.mp4?Expires=1776079516&Signature=JCDf8p6Nfeuoq8ioOgsElGNeVrMOdPOB2gAY70IQ25unUzE-7z8~JaiorCYWHHBT0P7QLR05iK3dP55elPx18umK93uub~Etw-qFg70VEv7APREog-Y4Lg49gutrDwIqS-OBFxUwJI~UPzt8KlfUI4TyENjVObYddecolr93ZsM--lpuXgf6rIFGC9xth~6Lw3exExCC89lx~tTKKVysdw4l8VZnNMEUnjtP5~KNa-isRVSPJ7R~r~CKFFhA1XVbIMJUHn1gFU1yY-6HDmVEv2CdL3IBl2rceuEv32BQhd6lfTyIBES6v~Fc0-skTlcB7Tlax3UsP7IH9E~eVOJeLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Parks commissioners agreed Wednesday to a field survey to mark a recommended boundary for the Milton Creek Reserve after a joint meeting with the planning commission and city council raised questions about a buildable parcel within the proposed reserve.
The commission said it will use topographic maps presented at the joint session to identify the specific areas that are most important to preserve and to propose a clear line the commission can present to council. Commissioners emphasized that most of the proposed reserve lies in the floodplain and is not readily developable, but a higher, buildable parcel containing camas fields prompted requests for more precise mapping and tribal consultation before any development decisions proceed.
Commission members discussed conceding the single higher parcel now to allow the overall project to move forward while retaining the right to expand the preserved area later. Commissioners also requested an assurance that, if the city proceeds with development in any of the disputed areas, the parks commission would receive advance notice so volunteers and staff could salvage plants and other ecological resources first.
To carry the work forward, the commission scheduled a site visit and mapping session for Wednesday the 6th at 4 p.m., meeting at the city building across from McCormick Park. Commissioners said they will bring Jacob's topography maps to the field visit and follow up with a delineated boundary to present to the council.
The site visit was framed as an information-gathering exploratory trip rather than a regulatory hearing. Commissioners said the goal is a practical, contour-based boundary the group can endorse and ask council to adopt as phase 1 of the reserve plan.
The commission noted the need for tribal consultation and for a topography-based plan in order to avoid delays if artifacts or cultural resources are found during future development.","Parks commissioners agreed to a site visit to identify priority natural areas within the proposed Milton Creek Reserve after a joint planning discussion raised questions about a potentially developable parcel.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Watershed council reports invasive-plant surveys in McCormick Park, offers plant donations and volunteer support

Residents seek to form 'Friends of Botanical Gardens' group; commissioners offer staff follow-up

Volunteers plan improvements to McCormick BMX track, including paving starting hill

Therapist proposes public 'wind phone' in St. Helens to support grief processing

Parks commissioners plan field survey to narrow Milton Creek Reserve boundary