A truly creative person can take something that is meant for one purpose and give it a new one.
Villa Road in Newberg is home to a bioswale: an area where rainwater is gathered and controlled. Ditches hold check dams, which collect rainwater between concrete walls, preventing heavy rain from ruining landscapes and water drainage systems. Perhaps not the most pleasant sight in your neighborhood, especially when they’re filled with clay and yellow grass, but they do their jobs well in the rainy season.
What possible other purpose could they serve?
This was the question for Corinne Tate when she moved into her standalone home on Villa Road—a home frequently rejected by prospective residents due to, not only many stairs, but a field of dirt and debris for a lawn and overgrown check dams for a view.
Corinne and her husband, Tom, are frequent travelers. At the time we reached out to them for an interview, they were on their way out the door for a trip to France. When they had previously scouted Friendsview for a place to live, they had come to the conclusion that apartment life just wasn’t for them, and that Springbrook Meadows did not meet their needs.
Then they found their current home, which they took with enthusiasm. Corinne, a creative person, was up to the challenge to develop it into their dream home. She had told Friendsview Facilities to clear the landscape of debris, and that she would handle the rest.
And she did, which she shared by opening the blinds of her sliding glass doors in a big reveal. Within a couple years’ time, she had completely transformed this once previously-rejected piece of land into a lush paradise, complete with a variety of plants, water features, décor, and more.
But, it wasn’t enough.
Standing in her living room, with a view of both her yard and beyond, Corinne could plainly see the stark contrast between her paradise, and the check dams full of clay and yellow grass—areas that the City of Newberg were supposed to maintain.
“We can’t,” they said when she inquired. At the time, they had lost six workers and did not have the time or resources to stop by and tidy them up.
However, Corinne, a creative person, told them not to worry about it.
First came the prep work. Lots of sand, and yards of bark chips. A church friend offered hazelnut shells from their farms, which Corinne graciously accepted.
Then came the plants—those that would thrive well in their new living space. They had to be drought-friendly, especially for the summer months, as well as pollinator-friendly.
And then came the rest: Large bouncy balls from Fred Meyer. Umbrellas of many colors and sizes. Gnomes. Flags. A comically small red fire hydrant.
One by one, Corinne tailored each space in these check dams into little biomes of art. Once one was complete, it only made sense to move right along to the next one.
“Tom would ask me, “when are you going to stop?’” Corinne recalled fondly.
These check dams became what the community has dubbed “The Umbrella Garden,” or “The Villa Garden.” Places where gnomes come together to fish at a pond. Stuffed animals relax in perfectly-sized lawn chairs under the shade of an umbrella. At the time of our interview, colorful flags and a parade of tiny busses celebrated Back to School. Corinne’s work quickly became a beloved part of Newberg—not just Friendsview.
“It’s not just my garden. It’s Villa’s garden,” said Corinne. “I consider it giving back to the community—everyone who walks by.”
Of course, raising these landscapes from the ground up didn’t come without difficulty. As recent as March, several check dams flooded with water. Then the train trestles, so close to the garden, caught fire in June. Corinne diligently recorded videos of each, documenting the damages and posting updates on Newberg’s Facebook group.
Even if her social media posts weren’t about the Villa Garden, people in the community would always ask about it. “How’s your garden?” “Is your garden okay?”
Thanks to Corrine’s dedication and perseverance, the Villa Garden stands strong as a staple part of Newberg to this day.
Corinne somewhat regrets not being closer to the Friendsview campus, participating in community there. But in a year’s time, she’s created community right outside her home. Many people on walks stop by for a chat, while others roll down their car windows to call out their appreciation for her work.
As it turns out, rainwater isn’t the only thing check dams can gather.
“I hope the next person to move in here would love it as much as I do,” said Corinne. “But I know not everyone is as crazy as I am.”
