Westmoreland Park, Casting Pond.

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

The casting pond is an old WPA project from the 1930's.
Similar in all respects to the casting ponds in San Francisco, it has been a
feature of Westmoreland Park since 1936. The only thing we are missing is a
a nice club house.

In 2002 the golf course across the highway did some fairway remodeling, and
crushed the old wood strake pipe that supplied the casting pond with water.
We lost the pond, and among rumors of new ball fields, and skateboard parks,
we fought to return the pond to service for five years. Much of our gratitude goes
to Neil Paddison for all his efforts, and time spent representing the model boat
community, and hounding the park district for those five years.

Last October the pond was once again filled with water.
Today was the first time I had a chance to sail in my old neigborhood, and the old pond. :cool:

When I walked into the park, I carried the new barge in, plopped it in the water and
said, "YEA!!!". As I stood there and looked at it, the regulars looked confused, and
Neil came over and asked if I had brought a boat, as it was the first time he had
seen someone just walk up, drop a barge in to the pond, and nothing else.
We had a good laugh, and I unloaded the rest of the parafinalia from the car.

[u163665]

I like the barge - it looks like it adds a lot of fun to the "sport". Thanks for the pictures - look great.

[Kmot]

Nice pictures!

Okay, what exactly was a "casting pond" and why were they built in the 1930's by the WPA? And what is the WPA?

[MILLERTIME]

Only because you ask Umi


This came from a Rig Manager for Global Marine Drilling
in St. Johns, Newfoundland.
They actually have to divert the path of these things
away from the rig by towing them with ships!
Anyway, in this particular case the water was calm�and
the sun was almost directly overhead
so that the diver was able to get into the water
and click this picture clear water huh?!
They estimated the weight at 300,000,000 tons.

[jeepers1940]

The WPA was the Works Progress Administration, an agency of the federal government during the Roosevelt Administration in the 1930's. It was intended to provide meaningful employment to people who were out of work during the Great Depression. It built a lot of public buildings, bridges, stadiums, etc., a good many of which survive today and are still in service. This is part of the answer to your question, Kmot.
Bill

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Wow, nice Icberg Millertime...
I could use clear casting resin.... :p

Nice pictures!

Okay, what exactly was a "casting pond" and why were they built in the 1930's by the WPA? And what is the WPA?


The Casting pond was built for a fly casting competition scheduled by the
National and Western Association of Fly and Bait Casters, for the late
Summer of 1936 in Portland, Oregon.

Well looks like Jeepers answered your question.
Just a way to provide work and jobs.
Here's a wiki listing...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Works_Progress_Administration

[Kmot]

Thanks for the history lesson! :)

Millertime, are you sure that isn't a Photoshop job?

[green-boat]

The secret to keeping the pond may be in the use of it. If you make it a regular spot to boat at, the powers to be may be a little more on your side at the end of five years. Looks like a nice place to run at.

[smart_racer]

Nice pictures and pond

[Aerominded]

Ooops double post! :o

[Aerominded]

Congratulations to all involved in preserving the pond! :) Every town needs a pond like this! Looks like a great place to run the boats! -- Nice boats they are too! :)

Could this be the site of the "Big West Coast event in '08" I've heard roumors about happening in PDX? :)

[MILLERTIME]

Thanks for the history lesson! :)

Millertime, are you sure that isn't a Photoshop job?

I'm not sure, a friend sent it to me.

Don M.

[LtDoc]

Not that it makes a lot of difference, but the iceberg isn't an un-retouched photograph. The shape is probably typical, so I figure it shows enough 'detail' for duplicating purposes. Any salt water divers on here? Have you ever seen color like that at depth, and from that distance?
- 'Doc

(then again, they don't say how big that thingy is, do they?)

[keith S]

Great place to run boats as our club made a journey to there about 12 years ago to play boats with the Portland club at that time. Received an award for being the only tugboater to sink a gas hydro with a 24 inch tug. :eek: ;) :D

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Great place to run boats as our club made a journey to there about 12 years ago to play boats with the Portland club at that time. Received an award for being the only tugboater to sink a gas hydro with a 24 inch tug. :eek: ;) :D

Wow, back in the days... The city parks department does not allow any
"internal combustion engines" in any of their parks these days.

The most difficult part of running an event at Westmoreland, is the lack of convenient lodgings.
(And the fact that Seattle doesn't want to come down except during the Crawfish festival.) :rolleyes:

Don, sent me a few more pictures for the day.

[Aerominded]

Is that the Revell 1/72 "Gato", Umi? thought that might make a good, 'different' project to do one day... surface only, 'simple'...

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Is that the Revell 1/72 "Gato", Umi? thought that might make a good, 'different' project to do one day... surface only, 'simple'...

Don actually scratch built the hull a few years ago. After the 1/72nd Revell kit was released, he bought one just for the parts.

:)

[Aerominded]

Thanks Umi! Don did a nice job on his Gato! :)