PORTLAND PARKS & RECREATION CELEBRATES ARBOR WEEK: APRIL 1-7
Posted: March 27th, 2012 11:58 AM
(Portland, OR) ---
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) celebrates our 35th year as a Tree City, USA. This prestigious honor bestowed on only a handful of cities nationwide. PP&R is accredited by the Arbor Day Foundation: http://www.arborday.org/
Arbor Week activities take place all week from April 1-7. Media and public are welcome to all, including the showcase event on Thursday, April 5:
What: In the Shadow of the Elm, PP&R's Arbor Day Celebration
When: Thursday, April 5, 11:00 am-1:00 pm
Where: South Park Blocks (SW Clay & Park)
PP&R City Nature will host informational booths on the benefits of trees, what the City and partners are doing to help manage and maintain the urban forest, and ways for citizens to become involved. Refreshments --- including coffee, tea & cookies --- will be provided and the Urban Forestry Crew will offer bucket truck rides to get a squirrel's-eye-view of the urban forest!
Kids Activities: PP&R Environmental Education will have a "Tree's Life" interactive display. Children of all ages can learn about the life cycle of a tree from exploring the germination of a seed and discovering the structure of a mature tree, to dissecting a rotten log. Children will have fun figuring out the age of a tree by counting tree rings, imagining what the roots look like on a full grown tree, and digging into the living community of a rotten log habitat. Also, the bucket truck rides (see above)!
The Portland Urban Forestry Commission selected three Bill Naito Community Tree Award winners. These awards will be presented by Bob Naito to the recipients at noon. We will also have a reading of the Arbor Week Proclamation, and Portland will be recognized as a Tree City USA for the 35th consecutive year!
Contributing Partners:
Bureau of Environmental Services, Friends of Trees, Portland State University, Verde, Portland Fruit Tree Project, PP&R Hoyt Arboretum, PP&R Environmental Education, PP&R Urban Forestry
2012 Bill Naito Community Trees Award
On Thursday, March 15 the Urban Forestry Commission moved to accept the Education & Outreach Committee's recommendations for the three awards. The motion passed unanimously. The three awards will be given to Phyllis Reynolds (individual), Concordia Tree Team (group), and David Odom (posthumous). The following includes the nomination letters for each of the candidates.
The Urban Forestry Commission created this annual award in honor of the builder and community leader who did so much to beautify Portland with trees. Bill Naito rarely missed an Urban Forestry Commission meeting, which he founded in 1974 and chaired until his death. No one in Portland had been more tenacious than Bill at encouraging the planting of trees. Through his humor, persistence, and imaginative approach to projects, he inspired many individuals to recognize the beauty trees bring to our city. The Bill Naito Community Trees Award is presented to individuals, organizations or projects that have continued Bill's work and reflect his dedication. (From portlandparks.org).
Arbor Week Activities: April 1-7, 2012
No advance registration required
Willamette Bluff Heritage Tree Bike Ride
Sunday, April 1, 10:00 am-noon
Peninsula Park Rose Garden, 700 N. Ainsworth
Join City Arborists and Neighborhood Tree Stewards for this 6-mile bike ride to Overlook Neighborhood's unique heritage trees. Learn their history, tree identification, and pedal through north Portland's smaller parks.
Magnolia Tour
Monday, April 2, 12:00-1:00 pm
Hoyt Arboretum Visitor Center, 4000 SW Fairview Blvd
Walk along with Hoyt Arboretum's Curator Martin Nicholson. See and smell this season's magnolia blooms and learn amazing facts about the magnolia species located at Hoyt Arboretum.
Mature Tree Tour
Tuesday, April 3, 12:00-1:00 pm
Holladay Park, 1101 NE Holladay
Join a City arborist for a fun lunch time tour of Holladay Park's mature trees. Learn about tree care techniques, pruning equipment, best practices, and information to know when hiring arborists.
Drought-Tolerant Trees for Portland's 21st Century
Wednesday, April 4, 12:00-1:00 pm
Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Ave. 2nd Floor
Join Neighborhood Tree Steward Jim Gersbach for a talk on hardy, drought-tolerant trees for Portland's future urban forest.
Local Tree Care Providers Workshop
Wednesday, April 4
Arborist & tree care companies are encouraged to learn more about Portland's tree permitting requirements and street tree maintenance standards. To register, contact Urban Forestry at 503-823-4489.
In the Shadow of the Elm, Arbor Day
Thursday, April 5, 11:00 am-1:00 pm
South Park Block, SW Market & Clay
Learn about the benefits of trees with activities and booths from members of the Tree Steward Coalition. Get a squirrel's-eye-
view of the urban forest in Urban Forestry's bucket truck! Celebrate Portland's 35th year as a Tree City USA with the Arbor Day Proclamation and Bill Naito Community Trees Awards. Food & drinks provided.
Evening Social
Thursday, April 5, 6:00-9:00 pm
Lucky Lab Public House, 7675 SW Capitol Hwy
Celebrate Portland's trees and our amazing Tree Stewards. Hear about new Tree Steward projects and mingle with fellow tree enthusiasts. Snacks provided & no host bar. Families welcome.
Ladybug Walk
Friday, April 6, 10:00-11:30 am
Laurelhurst Park, SE Cesar Chavez Blvd & Ankeny
Take your youngster on a guided nature walk. Touch slimy slugs, smell tree bark, feel crinkly and soft leaves, and hear musical bird songs. $3 per preschooler; no charge for adults.
Portland State University Community Orchard Planting
Friday, April 6, 10:00 am-noon
SW 12th & Montgomery
Learn about the newest student garden on PSU's campus where plans to plant a diversity of fruit tree species are in the works. The PSU Community Garden is a partnership between ODOT & PSU Sustainability program.
Laurelhurst Park Tree Walk
Friday, April 6, 12:00-1:00 pm
Laurelhurst Park, SE Cesar Chavez Blvd & Ankeny
Take a historical walk through one of Portland's oldest parks with Phyllis Reynolds, author of Trees of Greater Portland and
expert taxonomist.
Neighborhood Greenway Planting
Saturday, April 7, 9:00 am-noon
SE 86th Ave --- SE 87th Ave
Help Friends of Trees "Green the Greenways" by assisting in planting trees along the bike boulevard running from NE Hassalo to SE Bush. For more information, visit www.friendsoftrees.org.
No Ivy League - Forest Park Natural Area Restoration
Saturday, April 7, 8:45 am-noon
Lower Macleay Trailhead, 2960 NW Upshur
Help remove English ivy and other invasive plant species from our jewel of a natural oasis, Forest Park. No registration needed! Hope you'll show up and have fun while benefitting the environment.
For more information, call 503-823-5300 or visit portlandparks.org
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Mark Ross Public Information Officer
Portland Parks & Recreation
503-823-5300 (office); 503-823-6634 (cell)
Mark.ross@portlandoregon.gov
Healthy Parks, Healthy Portland
portlandparks.org
Nick Fish, Commissioner | Mike Abbaté, Director
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