Down to Earth Forest School Update Part 2

Greetings, 

We can’t thank you enough for the outpouring of love and support for the work we do. It has been a hard couple of days but all of your texts and emails have kept us highly motivated. 

Overall, we believe last night’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting, which you can watch here, was successful. Many of the concerns the board shared should be easily satisfied thanks to the help and insights of the private City Planner we hired to help us navigate the nuances that these sort of issues require in regards to zoning, codes and permits. 

Many of you wrote such heartfelt letters, thank you. If you have not written a letter yet, there is still time (please see below for contacts). For those of you who wrote a letter and received a response from the City Manager similar to the below quote, please know that we have yet to have an opportunity to speak with him. We’ve been trying to meet with him for over a month.

“Unfortunately, our city codes (written by the community and approved by Planning Commission and City Council) don’t seem to make any allowance for us to permit organizations using parks to house a business or nonprofit. We think West Linn’s codes would need to change, which is a complicated and lengthy process….and there’s also the issue of gaining approval from Oregon State Parks.

So, it’s challenging! I really do understand the passion and enthusiasm for this use, so there may be a solution that Council and community would support but it may take some time to figure out what that is. For now, we don’t see an “easy solution.” I have been wondering if there are other cities that have this figured out that could be an option for your community right now. Does your group know of any cities nearby that permit businesses to be housed in public parks?” 

Our response to his thoughts: 

Which code is he talking about exactly? He should be able to cite a specific code or policy that says this kind of activity or uses are prohibited. We have looked into all the codes, none of which say a school can not operate in a R-10 zone. 

What about Willamette United Football Club, AWOL Aerial Arts, Coil Camps etc.? He says they can’t allow “parks to house a business or nonprofit.” However, several programs currently operate out of the park very similar to the programming we offer.  We have been there three years and have not changed the use of nor have we made significant impacts on the land. We are not out of alignment with the deed or significantly different from any other program that uses the park to recreate, play and educate children in various capacities. 

Other ways we have been continuing our efforts:

  • We have been in communication with State Representative Jules Walters 

  • We have been in communication with State Representative Courtney Neron 

  • We have been in communication with West Linn Mayor Rory Bialostosky

  • We have been in communication with several City Commissioners 

  • We have contacted OPB, the Oregonian and The West Linn Tidings

Way you can help save our school and precious community:

  • Have faith in us and hold off in un-enrolling your child.

  • Continue to talk positively about our school is social settings rather than the doom and gloom of our situation. 

  • Write a letter (template) to the West Linn representatives who have influence over this decision. Including information about the positive benefits of forest school for mental health, the current lack of affordable childcare and/or the importance of place based education. 

  • Parks Director, Megan Big John - mbigjohn@westlinnoregon.gov 

  • Parks Advisory Committee - twiencken@westlinnoregon.gov 

  • West Linn Mayor, Rory Biolostosky - rbialostosky@westlinnoregon.gov

  • West Linn City Manager, John Williams - jwilliams@westlinnoregon.gov

  • West Linn City Council - citycouncil@westlinnoregon.gov 

  • Have your parents, friends and anyone who believes in our program write a letter, please send them to downtoearthheidi@gmail.com so we have a record of all of the support. 

  • Join a small group of us at the West Linn Old Time Fair where we will be asking people to sign our petition and sharing information about the school. Text Heidi for details 503-544-4455. 

More than anything, if you are available to come to the West Linn City Council Meeting on Monday July 15th at 6 p.m. - this is the time to activate our community! 

Email citycouncil@westlinnoregon.gov to request your three minutes of public comment. If your child feels comfortable speaking it could be highly impactful. 

Here is our updated “one pager” which you can freely share with others about our program or use to learn more about our efforts.  

We are still looking for a plan B location and hope to have a concrete back up location secured by the end of July. 

Together with the Down to Earth Steering Committee and Board of Directors we are doing everything in our power to activate and resource ourselves in support of staying at Mary S. Young. If you have solutions based feedback or resources please email Heidi McKay directly at downtoearthheidi@gmail.com. We will send an update when we have new information.

Love and gratitude,

Heidi and Audra

Heidi Mckay