So we thought we'd share our story, for those who don't know how this entrance was created...
Our Story
Since Oakbrook was developed, and for decades after, there was no "entrance" to the neighborhood other than an undeveloped, trashy, overgrown, weed- and blackberry-filled little corner, with no entrance sign. When the Klinkhammers & Clark-Nieves' families moved in to Oakbrook (2009-2010), they
were dismayed and embarrassed to drive by every day and to have visitors see this mess. What a first impression! To add to the distress, it was observed over time that this corner at the entrance was being used as a dumping ground! One day there was an old TV dumped on the corner. Old cars were being parked there with for sale signs. The last straw was on the day someone had left an old toilet at the corner with a sign next to it, with letters scrawled, "FREE, WORKS GOOD". As you can imagine, this was a defining moment. The "Friends of Oakbrook" was formed and the four took initiative. Now we all enjoy a beautiful neighborhood entrance of which we can be proud (and we no longer have to pick up the castoff TVs, toilets and other trash and haul it to the dump!). But this change did not happen overnight, and it was a major effort. Lisa Klinkhammer and Chere Clark conceived and shared the vision of creating a beautiful entrance, nurtured it, and gained support for it; and with their husbands, Shane Klinkhammer & Edwin Nieves, worked very hard to make it a reality. The guys also have worked tirelessly at the clean-ups and in any other task that needs doing! Lisa is a brilliant leader and very creative person who has been responsible for web design and all other creative and community outreach and publicity ideas. Chere provides all-around support, coordination with the City, as well as writing for publication, and fund-raising help. A fellow Oakbrook resident, Chad Bickle, was recruited, and he was instrumental, as well-- providing his time, his team, and technical and logistical support with his company, Green Tech Excavation,
http://greentechexcavation.com/
Chad's tremendous contribution to the effort made it possible to even create "sidewalks" (from crushed granite), on 87th leading up to the corner and continuing down Onyx, a few blocks, on each stretch of road. So... The organizing, outreach and fundraising began: The group appealed to the City, civic organizations, and our Oakbrook neighbors, local small businesses (and big ones like Starbucks) for help, donations, and volunteer and material support. Along with Green Tech Excavation, several other local small businesses fueled our success! Of special note, we owe a debt of gratitude to Father Nature Landscapes of Tacoma, http://www.fathernaturelandscapes.com/, for their comprehensive, donated services; Amy Wolfe of ARW Landscape Design, http://www.arwlandscapedesign.com/, University Place, for her custom donated landscape design; and we were the lucky recipients of a beautiful Paperbark Maple tree, donated by Wild Thyme Nursery and Landscaping, https://www.facebook.com/Wild-Thyme-Nursery-and-Landscaping-174868332577731/, in Lakewood. The property owners at the corner allowed the group to excavate, build the rock wall, and erect the gorgeous entrance sign. To this day, they generously provide the electricity for the lights and the water for irrigation. The project continues. Over the years since the original beautification project was completed, this small group organizes and hosts clean-ups and keeps the attention on this ongoing effort, through fundraising and this Page, to maintain the beautiful corner entrance. Oakbrook neighbors are unfailingly generous in donating funds and their time to our clean-ups. At this point, the Friends of Oakbrook would love to have more volunteers take ownership, offer leadership, and join, as the group keeps the commitment made to donors and neighbors at the beginning: to keep this effort going and maintain the entrance. A special note to all who have read this far (and to your neighbors in Oakbrook --please share with them!):
Thank you for your interest in our story, the work we have done, and in this Oakbrook Community page (created and maintained by Friends of Oakbrook, too)! We invite you--and any other Oakbrook resident with time and energy--to join us, the Friends of Oakbrook, if you'd like to help!
