Neighbors Voices Secure New Bathrooms for Northgate City Park
Written by Tim Buckley, May 2023
Cecilia Ascencion has lived on the edge of Northgate Park for decades. From inside her house you often hear what’s happening in the park next door: the delightful squeals and laughter of children at play, cheers when soccer goals are scored, and, sometimes, the violent interactions of rival groups seeking control of the park for their own purpose.
The Community Business and Education Leaders Collaborative supports the development of Neighborhood Family Councils. Neighborhood Family Councils promote three key Strengthening Families Protective Factors in their neighborhood.
The Protective Factors are:
Positive Social Connections
Tangible Support in Times of Need
Meaningful Opportunities to Develop New Knowledge and Skill
When COVID precautions kept Cecelia from offering her bathroom, a very tangible support in times of need, for kids in the park any longer, she approached the Hallman Neighborhood Family Council and asked them to help her do what she hadn’t been able to do herself – get the City’s attention about the need for bathrooms at North Gate Park.
The Council developed a multi-pronged plan that addressed safety and public health needs at the park. They joined with the CBEL Collaborative’s leadership to contact City Councilor Jose Gonzales, who agreed to meet with the neighbors. “Moms from the Neighborhood Family Council met with Jose,” said Eduardo Angulo, the CBEL staff organizer working with Hallman and Kennedy NFCs. “Among other things, they told him they wanted a restroom facility in the park, and they insisted that he visit the park during one of our Fun Friday events that drew more than 300 people,” added Eduardo.
When Councilor Gonzales visited the park that Friday, last summer, he plainly saw the need. Instead of a row of temporary portable toilets assembled for the event, Cecilia and the other moms pointed out how Northgate’s usage warranted facilities like other big city parks have. By then, with a consistent, positive presence by Salem police officers the park had already become safer for family use.
Gonzales championed the project when the City Council put together its priorities in a Community Infrastructure Bond, which was passed by Salem voters last November.
It wasn’t a slam dunk but, with the neighbors and business leaders supporting the idea, the project found its way onto the final list.
In the $300 million being raised by the bond, almost $1 million will be spent upgrading Northgate Park, and the restroom will be a major part of those funds. “A broad coalition of groups came together to support this opportunity,” said Salem Mayor Chris Hoy. “Over the next ten years, we’ll see better streets, sidewalks and bike lanes, safer playgrounds at our parks (etc.) …and we will see tangible results of the community coming together.”
The Building Community Resilience model relies on volunteers like Cecilia to trust the strength of neighbors coming together with a unified voice. It relies on Neighborhood Family Councils advocating for their children and family’s needs. And, when the business leaders get behind those decisions, as we’ve seen with this project, it demonstrates that trust placed in Neighborhood Family Councils is well placed. In the bigger picture, the Building Community Resilience model also demonstrates that when the quality of life in neighborhoods where families are facing the most adversity improves, the rest of the city thrives too.