Portner Park site visit finds attractive site but structural defects on historic buildings, staff says

City staff updated the commission on a January site visit to the 27-acre Portner Park property and reported that while the site has strong recreational potential, several historic structures show significant structural defects.

An ad hoc group—including the commission chair, advisor and youth member—walked the entire site on Jan. 4. "The structural engineer... basically said, it's bad and you should secure it so nobody gets in it," Department of Planning staff reported. The department has acted to secure the largest bank building and is evaluating whether remaining structures are worth preserving.

The visit also identified two additional studies: a sight-distance analysis of the site’s existing access point (to ensure safe public entry if the park is opened) and an assessment of the dam, causeway and downstream erosion. Staff said the dam shows vegetation growth and some erosion downstream that would require further analysis.

Commission members discussed salvaging smaller, more sound structures—one commissioner suggested the chicken coop may be on concrete pilings and more salvageable—and the potential to reuse timbers for other city preservation projects like the log cabin reconstruction. Staff said the city historically saves reusable elements when possible.

Why it matters: Portner Park is an active master-planning item in the commission’s 2025 work program. Engineering, stabilization and potential remediation of the dam and structures will influence feasibility and project costs.

No formal removal of structures occurred at the meeting; staff said any decision to remove structures would begin with the commission.