PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Some local groups hope the sale of Alpenrose Dairy in Southwest Portland doesn’t affect community traditions the dairy has historically supported.
Some members of the family that started the dairy and family entertainment complex are attempting to sell the business again, this time to a Seattle-area company.
Other family members are fighting the potential sale in court.
Meanwhile, the uncertainty of the dairy’s future — and thus of the activities it supports — has many people on edge.
Alpenrose supports a number of activities, including bicycle racing at its velodrome and Little League games on its ball fields.
The activities and community spaces Alpenrose provides are extremely important to many people in the area, including Kimberly Cross and her family.
Cross describes Alpenrose as “a magical little bubble that exists in Portland.”
“My kids specifically love Christmas in Dairyville becaause they go get to see the animals and eat ice cream and get hot cocoa.”
Her 7-year-old son, Mason, especially likes the petting zoo, the train along with the ball fields and velodrome race track.
“I just don’t want the dairy to go away, that’s all,” Mason said.
One of the dairy’s most cherished facilities is its velodrome track, which is an arena for track cycling.
Members of the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association race at the Alpenrose velodrome nearly every day. Executive Director Chuck Kenlan said if the track were to disappear with a potential sale, it would devastate the cycling community.
“It’s huge, for one thing, it’s one of only 18 velodromes in the country and it’s the only one in the state of Oregon that has such a rich history,” said the organization’s executive director, Chuck Kenlan. “We’ve introduced so many new people to the sport of bike racing through that velodrome.”
Cross and another friend teamed up to start a GoFundMe to financially support the members of the Cadonau family who are fighting to stop the sale of the company and keep it local.
“The land itself is such a special place to the city for the history of Portland,” Cross told KOIN 6 News. “We really hope the community steps up and helps.”
The next court hearing in the potential sale will take place on Sept. 18.