Share-it Square

At Sherrett and 9th in Sellwood, Portland, neighbors took the initiative to transform an ordinary intersection into a meeting place for the community. Some ten years ago, the residents created several structures made from wood and branches on each of the corners: one a children's playhouse with toys ready to play, set against a vegetable garden; one a community message board where people scribble local news and events on a chalkboard or leave paper announcements; a place to donate used clothes, books or anything else; a place to bring and exchange your locally grown produce; a friendly tea stand with mugs hanging from branches and hot water ready in a thermos, to welcome you to the neighborhood. It's an incredible neighborhood in many ways, with children playing freely on the street - on pogo sticks and unicycles, feels as if you've been thrown back in time several decades. Unique houses expressing the individuality of their owners, very little traffic, several parks nearby, beautiful, beautiful trees. I would be delighted to call this area my home.