Hosford School in SE Portland is ‘sporting’ a new green face lift. Two sustinable initiatives met to design and install a number of green improvements at Hosford School. The Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership works in many local schools educating about rainwater pollution and their effect on the Columbia River. Their most recent project included a rain garden and downspout disconnect at the school. Major League Soccer conducted a “How Green Are Your Goals?” fan contest to see which MLS city was the most environmentally involved. By no surprise, the Timbers Fans supported their green team and won a school beautification and solar panel installation for Hosford School in SE Portland.

Hosford School had been focusing on bike safety and encouraging students to bike to school. This project supported their drive to create healthy kids for healthy communities.

The following items were designed and installed as part of the project:

  • Rain Garden and Downspout Disconnect
  • BEF solar panel installation and subsequent Solar4Schools learning materials
  • Student-designed, green-themed mural
  • Custom bike racks, including an art bike rack created by Oregon-based designer Matt Cartwright
  • Helmet and bike lock giveaways to Hosford students and faculty who ride a bike to work
  • Reusable water bottles for every student at Hosford
  • New Elkay drinking fountain, which will reduce the amount of plastic water bottles used at the school and track the number of plastic bottles saved from landfills
  • Tree-planting and beautification of the entrance to the school
  • Permanent directional signage to display the environmental benefits of the project to the Portland community
  • Creation of communal gathering places on the school campus
  • This coupled nicely with the recently completed stormwater swale at the school (Installed by the Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership)

Project Team Includes:

  • Portland Public Schools
  • Major League Soccer/ Portland Timbers
  • Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership
  • Continental Tire
  • Solar 4 Our Schools
  • GreenWorks PC
  • Desantis Landscapes

* Michelle designed and managed this project while working for a previous employer.