Rigler Elementary Vison Plan Becomes Reality
Over the past five months, the implementation of the Rigler Schoolyard Vision has helped transform the campus of the Northeast Portland elementary school. The vision plan, developed by Juncus Studio with students, parents, and educators in 2022, reimagined the schoolyard to better serve students and the community. Their design helped shape a more than $500,000 construction project that includes green stormwater infrastructure, thousands of plants, more than 24 new trees, pervious pavement, and a new swing set and seating areas.
Construction was led by the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, in close collaboration with Portland Public Schools (PPS), Padres Unidos De Rigler, Juncus Studios, Depave, and Urban Forestry’s Learning Landscapes Program, and the project’s construction contractor Grasstains.
Construction wraps up on October 31, and project partners are hosting a celebration on November 4, 2025, from 1-2:00 p.m. at the Rigler Elementary schoolyard. The Rigler green stormwater team will stay on-site until 4 p.m. to offer informational tours and answer questions from the school community.
Speakers at the celebration include Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong, PPS Superintendent; Cinnamon Bancroft, Rigler Elementary Principal; Rigler student representatives; Chris Hathaway, Estuary Partnership Community Programs Director; Dave Elkin, Juncus Studio Owner; and more.
The Riger Elementary School green stormwater infrastructure project is one of more than 10 schoolyard stormwater infrastructure projects being implemented by the Estuary Partnership that is funded by a $4.2 million EPA Columbia River Basin Restoration Program award. Additional funding for the Rigler Elementary School green stormwater project comes from a City of Portland Percent for Green Grant; a Rose Foundation Columbia River Fund (a grantmaking fund created by Columbia Riverkeeper and administered by the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment); and an East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District grant awarded to the Rigler PTA, Padres Unidos de Rigler.
