Off Grand Prairie Road, a sign warns people to watch their step on the Periwinkle Bikepath.
The sign advises caution because the “sidewalk” is uneven. This is not a sidewalk but Albany’s Periwinkle Bikepath, but otherwise the sign is right.
Here is an exaggerated view of the path’s pavement not far from Grand Prairie Road, where I saw the caution sign posted on July 7, 2023.
Holding the camera close to the ground gets you this view of one of many cracks in the path.
But don’t let the caution sign or the condition of the path keep you from taking that route, which connects Grand Prairie Park in the south with the Pacific/Santiam intersection in the north.
This path was completed in 1977. It was a project in which the state highway department (now ODOT) cooperated with the city of Albany.
It’s hard to overestimate the achievement of getting that path built. Try to imagine the difficulties of creating such a pathway through the middle of a populated area today.
If you haven’t gone that way lately, make it a point to do so, on foot or on two wheels. The more people travel along the path, the better the chances of keeping it free of vandalism and encampments by vagrants.
The northern end of the path, near Pacific Boulevard, has been especially plagued by people settling there and then leaving trash when they eventually move on.
The public’s reaction may be to stay away. The opposite is what should be done instead. Flood the place with regular pedestrians and bike commuters.
In 2014, the city spent about $100,000 in federal antipoverty money to rebuild 1,200 feet of the path between Kinder Park and Queen Avenue.
That section is still in great shape. A homeless encampment by the side of the path has caused nearby residents problems, according to frequent complaints in the comments on this website. But that has nothing to do with the quality of the pavement, or with using the path during the day.
As for the growing cracks elsewhere, let’s hope repairs can be accomplished before “uneven” becomes “don’t go here or you’ll break a leg.” (hh)
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Biked that path several times with the family in the past, especially when we lived in South Albany. The worst thing that would happen back then was having to chase the ducks out of the way.
Perhaps the City ought consider hiring Hasso’s “vagrants” to act as a patrolling force along the path. The down-and-outers could be used to sweep the path on an ongoing basis, rousting the unmotivated from their moral lethargy. This program would create work opportunities and help to develop the people management skills of those less fortunate than the well-heeled bicyclists who ply the path. Drive down the Albany unemployment numbers whilst providing meaningful employment to those currently underemployed. We regularly put politicians in-charge of law-making. Why not put the vagrants in charge of path-patrolling?
Why are people still being allowed to camp there? Weren’t they just given a place to go to solve this problem? Where is the park ranger?
I asked a police officer those same questions yesterday. He shrugged. In fact, that’s the only answer I can get from anybody about this.
People are allowed to camp there because nobody is making them leave. They like the spot, it’s close to 7-11 where they turn in their cans and all their friends know to drop on by whenever they’re bored. Especially in the middle of the night.
According to Chief Harnden, the campers here are on a vacant private lot. APD has been working with the property owner and recently got permission to remove them for trespassing. The process takes time.
It took them two weeks to make a phone call? How many days do they require in order to enforce a law?
All I know is, that tarp house is STILL there. There are still people screaming their heads off in the middle of the night. There is still garbage and shopping carts crammed into Periwinkle Stream.
But the park is getting mowed, so y’all are doing a bang-up job. :/
No doubt, there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation as to why there are homeless people screaming and waking me up right now. Yet again. But that softball field is freshly mowed, so I guess that’s what really matters.
Gee, I wonder why that damn tarp house is STILL there?
City of Albany = Enablers of Lawlessness and Degradation. A job well done. SMH