Old Town and City Leaders Collaborate to Tackle Safety and Parking Challenges at George Rogers Park
- Derrith Schmidt
- Aug 12, 2025
- 13 min read
On Friday afternoon August 8th, the Old Town Neighborhood Board and many neighbors were joined by 7 leaders from the City of Lake Oswego who are part of four different departments: Police, Fire, Parks & Rec and City Traffic/Engineering to share our concerns about pedestrian and cyclist safety on our Old Town streets and talk about possible solutions.
PROBLEM: Our neighborhood has become the overflow parking lot for George Rogers Park since there is not enough parking at GRP during hot days from May - September. As one neighbor stated, "The main problem is that the park has inadequate parking spaces for the number of users in the summer." With the surge of visitors to GRP trying to park on our streets, it's not safe for pedestrians and cyclists. And we expect this problem to get worse after the construction of the new riverside path.
GOAL: We want to prevent a tragedy and improve neighborhood livability.
Joining us from the City for the Walk About were:
Kyra Haggart is Park Analyst/Project Manager with the Parks & Recreation Department. She's been to several neighborhood meetings including being a keynote speaker at our Annual Meeting in October. She's also the Project Manager who completed the new picnic structure in Old Town. She invited Rangers Ben and Indira and Parks & Rec Communications Lead Robin Krakauer to join us.
Police Sergeant Earl Hall, who manages the Community Service Officers (CSOs), and leads the traffic safety and the patrol division that handle areas such as code enforcement, traffic crashes, parking enforcement, abandoned vehicles, special events and community livability. One CSO, Cory, drove by patrolling the neighborhood during our Walk About. Cory told me he grew up in Lake Oswego and sees first hand the changes in usage at George Rogers Park.
Kristine Artman, Assistant Fire Chief, was invited and wrote to us, "All three of those folks (who are coming - Sergeant Hall, Kyra and Will) are such talented and creative challenge solvers…I love that you are getting everyone together to discuss traffic and safety." She was on vacation and sent Battalion Chief JT Anoushiravani in her place.
Will Farley, who had done a walk about with us three years ago and led traffic changes to make safety improvements, represented LO traffic/engineering department. Will is the "Chief problem solver" his colleagues told us. His official title is Assistant City Engineer at City of Lake Oswego.
They came to collaborate with us on the letter we sent the City outlining our safety and livability concerns. We posted that on our blog. You'll find that letter here.
A Unified Neighborhood Voice
We started the meeting with introductions and a summary of safety and other issues facing our neighborhood.
Within Old Town, we were joined by Old Town Board members and residents who represented the different streets and shared their experiences and concerns about pedestrian safety and livability for residents.
Dave Kidd who lives on Furnace Street closest to the park, spoke first during our Walk About regarding his concerns and frustrations with safety.
Jim and Barb Perris who live on Furnace at Wilbur and Jill Hall and Brent Chalmers who live in homes along the river on Furnace Street explained what they see happening and changes they would like to see.
An idea was shared by Jill Hall of a best practice from Hawaii where residents who live near the beach are each issued 3 laminated parking passes to use themselves, for their guests or service providers, in residential permit-only neighborhoods. We've learned that this is legal in Oregon and that both Bend and downtown Portland have resident-only parking permit neighborhoods
Old Town should not be the overflow parking lot for GRP
Other towns that have resident only parking permits post signs saying "towed at owners expense" where neighbors call the towing company and release police to other tasks. Some cities hire seasonal ticket takers for high surge areas and make enough money on the ticketing to pay the employees who enforce these laws. Neighbors feel "This would take care of 90% of the other issues as well."
We also have heard that LO families trying to find parking at the playground or to attend their kids games may also feel frustrated that they cannot find convenient parking in our local park because of all the people descending on GRP for "the beach". When I asked Park Ranger Taylor (another LO employee) about best practices for this type of situation he told me about towns that assigned specific parking spaces for local residents. Perhaps this could be done for playground visitor parking only? Residents who want these specific parking permits might be able to get them at the LO Library or City Hall as happens in other cities. LO residents and taxpayers would not be forced to park in the neighborhood or far away from the location of the park they want to use. During the Art Festival, Car Show and Pancake Breakfast, LO residents could reserve special festival passes ahead of time and the event planners could increase their shuttles and market those.
Back to our Walk About: Old Town residents shared concerns for people who park on the long, steep bank above the River Bend Condominiums where there is no curb nor guard rail between Wilbur up to the homes before Leonard Street. Kids and families are getting out of cars and someone could easily fall down that hill.
All of us shared concerns that Furnace Street between Wilbur and Ladd Street is not safe for pedestrians and cyclists. And neighbors with driveways on Furnace and the corner of Wilbur and Furnace also shared they've had many near-miss accidents trying to pull out of their driveways. Why? People walk and ride down the middle of the road while cars are going both ways and with cars parked between Wilbur and Ladd, the street becomes too narrow. Who are we concerned about? Kids, parents with strollers going to the playground and beach, people walking dogs, cyclists and park visitors carrying paddle boards and kayaks. They all use the middle of the street (and sometimes the entire street) while cars are parked and also driving both ways up and down Furnace. As a neighborhood we feel this "pinch point" is a tragedy waiting to happen that is preventable. Neighbors recommended that both sides of Furnace between Wilbur and Ladd should be made no parking zones and that stop signs on both Ladd and Wilbur at Furnace Streets be added to make it more safe for all the people walking and cycling on Furnace.
Jill Hall and Brent Chalmers shared what they see happening on Furnace Street at Wilbur. Their driveways are in the intersection of Wilbur and Furnace. People regularly turn around in this area and it makes it dangerous for them to pull out of their garages.
When neighbors shared that people were driving too fast down Ladd and Furnace while also being distracted and agitated trying to find a parking spot, Sergeant Hall explained that the current speed limit is 25 mph and the cars did seem like they were "zooming" but they were actually driving at or under the speed limit so his officers could not ticket drivers for this behavior. He also explained that the City will be introducing 20 mph speed limits soon. Perhaps Old Town could be "early adopters" for that?
Sergeant Hall explained that he has his CSO team cover GRP, Foothills and lower Millennium Plaza park. Thank you Sergeant Hall!
All the Old Town neighbors appreciate the LO Police showing presence and giving tickets to people not adhering to clearly marked no parking signs. We're also pleased that the City increased parking tickets from $15 to up to $150 or more.
Our neighbor Barb Perris suggested to me that perhaps the City could add signs below no parking signs showing the amount of the fine. Great idea Barb!
As a group we walked up Furnace Street to hear and see the concerns of neighbors living on or near the intersection of Furnace and Leonard Streets. Sarah Halton and Sean Sosnovec, who are parents of three children under 3 years old, shared their concerns about the safety for their children coming out onto Furnace Street because of cars driving fast and the confusing three way intersection at Furnace, the private road from River Bend condos and Leonard Street. Traffic Engineer Will Farley said the stop sign at the top of the hill from the River Bend Condos was a private sign. He said the City could put in a stop sign and line at the top of that hill. He also heard neighbors' suggestions to put in a stop sign and painted a line on Leonard before Furnace.
Old Town Neighborhood Association VP Carrie Kaufman who lives on Leonard Street, shared the concerns of neighbors who live in that section of Old Town. They are also experiencing more traffic and parking challenges because of the popularity of Mann's and Lake Cafe restaurants, and the strictly enforced tow away parking at Oswego Village shopping center and the lot on Leonard across from the physical therapy office. Many neighbors on Leonard need to park in the street in front of their apartments and condos and have parking available for service providers and guests.
Neighbors with young children shared their safety concerns
Our neighbors on Church Street did not raise concerns to the Old Town Board about problems on their street.
We next walked to Wilbur Street where we heard from beloved neighbors Barbara Carter and Jeannie McGuire who told their stories and concerns about parking and safety.
We asked JT Anoushiravani from the Fire Department if the paramedics could get to neighbors during the busy hot days when the streets are narrowed by parked cars, heavy traffic and people walking in the middle of the road. During our debrief session after the walkabout JT offered to bring the large ladder truck through the neighborhood on a hot weekend afternoon. And he did on Sunday afternoon!
Thanks JT and LO Fire! We're looking forward to hearing your report on that.
JT and his crew drove the big ladder fire truck on every street in Old Town and down Furnace Street into the lower GRP packed parking lot and made a 5 point turnaround with help from crew directing them to protect the pedestrians and cyclists.
During our Walk About with City leaders neighbors shared concerns about park visitors inflating their paddle boards in the street and throughout the neighborhood along with carrying the paddle boards in the middle of roads down to the "beach". See photos below of that activity. This is happening on every street in Old Town.
Longtime Board Member Craig Stephens suggested to our Board that Parks & Rec install several high speed air pumps at GRP. That would be a win-win for park visitors and neighbors who would be spared the noise of people inflating boards which can take 10 minutes per board and people usually have 2-3 boards.
Long time Lake Oswego and Old Town resident Nancy Headlee, shared what she sees and her concerns about livability and pedestrian safety at the intersection of Durham and Wilbur Streets. She shared that recently a car was hit by a large delivery truck turning in the intersection headed for the Oswego Village Ace Hardware. See photo below. She said people often are mad they didn't find a parking spot at the park and in the neighborhood so speed down Durham Street. Many neighbors who live on Durham Street need to park their cars on the street and cannot when Old Town is functioning as GRP's overflow parking lot. People throughout the neighborhood are all frustrated that they cannot hold space in front of their homes for service providers.
Traffic Engineer Will Farley explained a 4 way stop cannot be put in at Durham at Wilbur because there is not enough traffic year round to meet State requirements for a 4-way stop. Since our traffic surges in the summer and on hot days/weekends, it doesn't meet Oregon State requirements. Another reason for Old Town to become Resident Only permit parking.
Nancy Headlee shared that the land for the park was given to the City of Lake Oswego as an Old Town neighborhood park and that it's become a popular regional park with not enough parking for visitors. The Old Town Board all believe the new river front path will make the park more popular and parking even more difficult.
Longtime Ladd resident Calleen Glabau shared her concerns for what she sees out of the kitchen window "Kids running ahead of their parents to get to the fields or playground and kids riding bikes while people are frantically trying to find a parking space nearby. It's a coming tragedy we don't want to see happen."
During our debrief after the Walk About Ranger Ben shared what we all suspected: that about 2/3 of the people visiting GRP in the summer are not from LO.
Kyra Haggart from Parks & Rec was very engaged and is well respected by our Board and neighbors for being a collaborative problem-solver. She said, "The ABCs of planning begin with “A”, always visit the site and understand the situation. We've done that today." Kyra had an idea that perhaps the entrance and all the navigational and marketing for the new riverfront path could be directed to Foothills Park where the City has more parking. Yes please!
She also invited Park & Rec communications lead Robin Krakauer to hear first hand neighbors' frustrations and requests to correct misinformation online. The entrance to GRP should be Green Street, not Ladd Street. Neighbors asked for the City to stop marketing GRP on social media and for the City programming teams to limit usage during the summer weekends and Friday nights because there is not enough parking in GRP for all the events planned plus the people visiting "the beach".
A neighbor shared this idea to reduce parking congestion after the meeting, "Kyra said the city has a lot of parking down by Foothills Park. Ali said the school district would be adverse to people parking in their lots. What about a shuttle between Foothills and George Roger’s on hot summer weekends?"
Sergeant Hall reinforced his commitment to increase patrols during hot days and evenings. And everyone thanked him and his CSO team, especially Cory and Drew who we see often in the neighborhood. Sergeant Hall suggested bike patrols and using signs to show people how fast they are driving. Yes please!
JT from the Fire Department shared how the department is focusing on emergency access planning for medical and water rescue calls. He said the South Shore Fire Station is a critical component because of the potential for delayed response from the downtown LO Fire and paramedic teams if there is a train blocking traffic as it crosses highway 43. The South shore team can get to GRP without that obstacle. He thanked our neighborhood for being proactive in planning this Walk About.
Traffic Engineer Will Farley said he sees the issues and will be recommending solutions. Thank you Will!
In the meantime, neighbors will be using cones to protect people blocking their driveways and front walkways and at the intersections.
Neighbors asked if there was a "General Manager" for GRP who could coordinate all the activities and departments and be the liaison with the neighborhood. That's not how the City is organized now. But LORAC may be a good best practice. Or perhaps someone from Parks & Rec could be appointed to be this Leader who would collaborate with police, fire, traffic/engineering, the neighborhood and the programming and scheduling teams at Parks & Rec along with communications?
Could Parks & Rec and the City "diversify traffic" between the four water front parks in LO? Foothills, Rohr, Millenium Plaza lower park and GRP? That's a best practice that the Mount Shasta area apparently uses that I learned about from Ranger Taylor.
Carrie Kaufman asked "Why can't Alder Creek rentals be moved out of GRP to Foothills or Rohr park?" Kyra explained there wasn't water access at those parks. And then neighbors asked "How much money is the City making with the Alder Creek contract? Could it not be renewed to help reduce beach visitors?"
City Councilor and Old Town resident Ali Afghan joined us for the Walk About and shared his thoughts as a City Councilor and as a resident about the situation. After the meeting he talked at length with several neighbors with his ideas. Thank you Ali!
As a neighborhood we want to make a special SHOUT OUT to our wonderful police and fire teams. They're doing a phenomenal job dealing with the surge of people coming into GRP.
Let's not forget to thank the GRP Park Maintenance Crew, especially Josh and Rick, who clean up the MESS at GRP and "the beach" every day. Rick told me, "It's like the crowd for a concert without a band."
With the addition of the new river front pathway that we believe will attract more people and no parking being added at GRP, we feel we need to "take back our neighborhood" with solutions to improve livability for Old Town residents.
We're an 8 block neighborhood. We are friends. We know each other and we are organized and ready to collaborate with the City leaders to fix this situation!
"The Beach" at GRP is maybe 60 feet long and attracts too many people who need parking on a hot day for existing parking resources.
Old Town should NOT be the overflow parking for GRP
We are grateful for all the people at the City and for our neighbors coming out to Walk About Old Town to bring the problems "to life" and to collaborate on solutions. We'll be continuing to brainstorm ideas and researching how other towns handle these situations. And we're looking forward to meeting with you in September to hear your suggestions for how these problems can be solved, what's possible and how it can be implemented before the construction for the new river pathway begins in May 2026.
Thanks for coming out for our neighborhood Walk About on a hot Friday afternoon in August.
We're gathering ideas for potential solutions to safety and parking issues.Please comment on this blog post with your ideas. One neighbor sent me an entire list of ideas!
Resident permit parking would solve 90% of the problems
No parking on narrow streets such as Durham between Ladd and Wilbur and Furnace between Wilbur and Ladd
If the City can't act quickly on resident parking by permit, then:
No parking signs 6/1 through 8/31
No parking signs either side of the alley entrance between Ladd and Wilbur so delivery trucks coming down the alley can make the turn.
Move or eliminate activities at park that attract crowds eg. plays, kayak rentals.
Allow residents to paint curbs near driveways to direct people not to block.
Paint parking guidelines on the street so people recognize what is a space and do not block each other in.
City to explore if there is any way to add more parking to the park.
"Residents want to preserve our neighborhood character which includes narrow streets and limited curbs and sidewalks. Each year park use increases and the parking in our neighborhood is limited by our small size so eventually it will be maxed out."
Thanks for collaborating with us!
Next Step
We propose a meeting in September 2025 with City leaders and Old Town representatives to:
Hear your ideas and recommendations
Discuss feedback on neighborhood-generated solutions
Begin drafting an action plan with clear deadlines and accountability
Our shared goal: by May 2026, we want Old Town to be a safer and more livable neighborhood for residents and visitors alike.
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