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Lake Oswego Today
By the People, for the People
Lake Oswego Resident Advocates for New Fire Station
Chris Durkee, chair of the Palisades Neighborhood Association, leads campaign for $20 million bond measure to build a new fire station on South Shore Boulevard.
Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:51pm
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Chris Durkee, a retired commercial construction worker from California, has become a passionate advocate for his adopted hometown of Lake Oswego, Oregon. After moving to the area to be closer to his son, a local firefighter, Durkee joined the Palisades Neighborhood Association and took on the role of leading the campaign for a $20 million bond measure to build a new fire station on South Shore Boulevard.
Why it matters
Durkee's advocacy highlights the importance of community engagement and the role residents can play in shaping the future of their local neighborhoods. The new fire station would improve emergency response times and provide better support for firefighters' health and safety, benefiting the entire Lake Oswego community.
The details
As the chair of the Palisades Neighborhood Association, Durkee has been a key organizer for the bond measure campaign. He has leveraged his construction expertise to educate residents on the need for the new station, which would be seismically reinforced and feature updated dormitories and decontamination facilities. Durkee believes the main opposition to the measure is a lack of public awareness, and he is committed to spreading the word about the station's importance.
- Durkee joined the Palisades Neighborhood Association in 2020 or 2021.
- The bond measure vote is scheduled for May 20.
The players
Chris Durkee
A retired commercial construction worker from California who moved to Lake Oswego to be closer to his son, a local firefighter. He is the chair of the Palisades Neighborhood Association and the lead organizer for the campaign to pass a $20 million bond measure to build a new fire station on South Shore Boulevard.
Tim Durkee
Chris Durkee's son, who is a paramedic and firefighter stationed at the downtown Lake Oswego Fire Station. He is a member of the dive and rescue team.
What they’re saying
“What blew me away was the civility, in LA, the right turn, exit-only lane on the freeway – that's the acceleration lane. Here, you turn your blinker on, it's 'Come on in.' In LA, that's the signal for the guy behind you to cut you off. There's no horn honking, I mean, you could sit through a whole green light and not hear one horn.”
— Chris Durkee
“Our biggest opposition is lack of knowledge, that's it.”
— Chris Durkee
What’s next
The bond measure vote is scheduled for May 20, and Durkee is committed to continuing his advocacy efforts to ensure the measure passes and the new fire station is built.
The takeaway
Durkee's story highlights the power of community engagement and the difference that passionate residents can make in shaping the future of their local neighborhoods. His advocacy for the new fire station demonstrates how individuals can leverage their skills and experiences to drive positive change and improve public safety.
