Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Northeast Portland faced issues with an excessive parking lot that contributed to heat and flooding problems. After nearly two years of collaboration with the nonprofit Depave, the church unveiled a transformed green space featuring garden beds, picnic areas, and accessible play structures. This initiative aims to foster community connections and offer a new way for the church to serve its neighborhood. Associate Pastor Rodney Johnson reflected on the project's vision and efforts to navigate challenging city zoning regulations during its development.
Rodney Johnson, associate pastor at Morning Star, emphasized the project's goal: 'How can we bring the community together? How can the church serve the community beyond the church service?'
It took vision to thoroughly transform what was once a 20,000-square-foot slab of pavement... it also took an extended period of negotiations with the city over arcane and convoluted zoning rules.
#community-development #green-space #urban-transformation #environmental-solutions #church-initiatives
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