Neighborhood News is a monthly Salem Reporter feature to highlight news or issues of concern to each Salem neighborhood association. Read previous editions here.

Salem is divided into 17 neighborhood associations that meet monthly. They serve as a conduit to city officials for things like park improvements, road projects and planning and building. Learn more and find your association here.

Leaders of each association are invited to submit a brief news item or report highlighting the association’s work, neighborhood concerns, upcoming activities or anything else of interest. Submissions are lightly edited for style and clarity.

Grant Neighborhood Association

As we glide from May into June, Grant neighborhood is cleaning up! It’s time to purge that hoard of stuff and to beautify our neighborhood park.

Northeast Neighbors/Grant Clean-Up

Saturday, May 31, 9a.m. -12p.m. 

For Grant and NEN residents only. Bring your large residential trash that won’t fit in a garbage can.

Salem First Church of the Nazarene, 1550 Market St. N.E.

East Parking Lot on 16th Street. 

See poster on website for more info.

Grant Park Clean-Up Party

Saturday, May 31, 1-3 p.m.

Meet at Grant Park gazebo for weeding, trimming, washing tables, and general park clean up.

Bring: gardening gloves, gardening tools, brooms, buckets, wheelbarrow, cleaning supplies, water for washing tables and water for drinking. (No water/restrooms available in park.)

Snacks and social time afterward.

Community Garage Sale

Saturday, June 7

Thanks to our Highland neighbors for organizing this annual event. Run your own yard sale along with other neighbors on the same day.

Register to list your sale on the map.

May 1 general meeting highlights: Full 15 member board was unanimously re-elected. Three flowering planters were presented to beautification award winners for notable improvements to their properties.

June 5 meeting preview: Learn from a master recycler about the Recycling Modernization Act that goes into effect on July 1. 

The minutes from the May meeting will be posted before the June 5 meeting. Find the location and link to our hybrid meetings on the GNA website and in the GNA newsletter. Follow GNA on Instagram and Facebook. Contact us at [email protected]

-Submitted by Susan Napack, vice chair

Highland Neighborhood Association

On May 10, the Highland Neighborhood Association hosted our second annual Spring Kids Clothing Swap in partnership with Center 50+ and the South Central Association of Neighbors.

With the help of a dedicated crew of volunteers, we sorted mountains of donated clothing and welcomed dozens of families to take what they needed—no limits. Thanks to our community’s generosity, we were also able to donate leftover items to the nonprofit Helping Hands.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to bring Make Music Day to Highland! Join us on Saturday, June 21, from 4–10 p.m. at f/Stop Fitzgerald’s Public House for an evening of live music and celebration. Are you a musician—or know someone who is? We’re looking for performers to take the stage at this vibrant, 21+ event. Sign up here.

We also invite you to walk with us at the Highland Peace Walk on Saturday, May 24, at 4:30 p.m., starting at Highland Park (2025 Broadway St. N.E.). This event brings neighbors together to raise awareness about community violence and celebrate unity. Bring your family, friends, and furry companions—everyone is welcome!

Finally, mark your calendars for the Highland Neighbors Garage Sale on June 7, 2025. It’s a citywide opportunity to clear out your closets, hunt for treasures, and meet new neighbors. To get your sale on the map, complete this form.

We hope to see you out there!

–Submitted by Ryan Erickson-Kulas, secretary and Holly Schiefelbein, outreach chair

Northeast Neighbors

NEN Meeting 

Please join us for our May 13 meeting Center 50+, Koz Development made a presentation about their proposed 194 unit 4-story affordable multifamily apartment at 14th and State. Zoom link: SalemNEN.org

Celebrating Arbor and Poetry Month

Englewood Elementary School 2nd graders listened to a presentation by Jane Goodall Environmental Middle School students about native plants in the new Englewood Park meadow.

Camas, yampah and other bulbs were historically cultivated as food by the Kalapuya. JGEMS students grew bulbs donated by the Grand Ronde.

Students asked city arborist Don Gunther questions about the Willamette Valley ponderosa pine tree.

They planted the tree, a new species in the park.

Planting wildflowers to take home.

Poems by second graders:

Cinquain Poem – By Alexa

Ponderosa

Tall​​Huge

Shaking​Falling​Waving

It Makes Me Calm

Quatrain – By Santanna

I am walking in the park.

In the park, it’s very dark.

I have found a tall tree.

I hope it doesn’t fall on me.

I’m in love with this tree,

The one that is right above me.

-Submitted by Lynn Takata, parks chair

Northgate Neighborhood Association

April was the beginning of big bloomy days of a variety of flowers. The streets were lined with vivacious pink dogwood, lilac with hues of purple and white, camelias with their big, colorful faces popping up everywhere, and it goes on and on. We are in May now but sweet smelling flowers are in the air. Spring is now in full spring (pun intended) with hope and joy. It was also the time to do some tree planting to get those saplings into the ground. 

Students were captivated by Peggy Shippen of American Association of University Women (AAUW) at the Tree Planting event on Friday, April 18, morning at Stephens Yoshikai Park. This was a special event organized by Peggy, who talked to the authorities at Stephens Yoshikai School in advance to enable their students to participate in the planting of trees to commemorate Earth Day dated April 22. Although this was the second annual event, it was the first to get students involved. Yay, Peggy!

Then Kaethe recited a poetry called “I am Tree” which tells from the point of view of a tree, encouraging people to plant more of  “us” to help make this world a better place.

West Salem’s City Councilor, Micki Varney, animatedly spoke to all of us about her experiences on trees.  

Celebration of Earth Day was a very special event at Stephens Yoshikai Park. Now this park is being improved gradually. After going door to door and hearing what the surrounding residents wanted and getting their signatures submitted for a grant request to the city, and then approved, we were happy to be able to get a 4 foot wide walking path with bark chips for the surrounding residents. 

Being park chair, I was able to convey to the city a special message from one of the residents who frequents this park with her dog. When informed about a path to be set with wood chips, she was all smiles. She complained it gets so muddy with the continuous winter rain and said she dreamed about a wood chipped path at this park and visualized in her mind how it could be for about five years. She was just the right person to bump into. We both felt fortunate to be able to connect with each other. It was meant to be. 

She requested if it’s possible for it to be a certain way within the park. I said I’m listening and duly noted all she asked for. The chair was there with me and thought they were great ideas too. Later, I made a rough sketch to send to her before submitting it to the manager of the park. I also sent the sketch to the board members and they agreed it looked good .

It was a lovely plan, to start off from north of the elementary school where there is a parking area for the park. Then to have this path go around the planted young trees and back to the main path between young trees along the path, and so on. Funny that when this plan was submitted to the manager, who asked for one beforehand, he said we were all on the same page. 

So the involved resident, the park chair and city parks maintenance manager all worked together to make a great path for Stephen Yoshikai Park which is expected to complete sometime in June of this year.

–Submitted by Kaethe Mentrum, secretary and park chair

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