North Portland Parks Group

Protecting and Supporting North Portland Natural Areas, Parks, Sports Facilities, and Trails

Cynthia Sulaski

You’re Invited to Peninsula Park Heritage Tree Ceremony-April 30

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Heritage tree at Peninsula Park, Silver Linden

Celebrate Arbor Day on Friday, April 30, in the Peninsula Park Rose Garden at 10 a.m. Heritage Tree Committee Member Ginger Edwards will honor the most recently designated heritage tree in the Piedmont Neighborhood, a Silver Linden, on the west side of the Rose Garden. Everyone is invited to attend. Meet at the top of the west staircase in the Rose Garden. COVID-19 safety protocols are in place, so please wear a mask and socially distance. We hope to see you there!

Heritage Trees have been formally recognized by Portland City Council for their unique size, age, historical or horticultural significance. Once accepted by City Council, they are designated with a small plaque and listed in the Heritage Tree database. The Heritage Tree program is part of Portland Parks and Recreation Urban Forestry.

To learn about the history of the Arbor Day Foundation, visit www.arborday.org.

Help Celebrate Peninsula Park Rose Garden’s Birthday with a Scavenger Hunt

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Peninsula Park Rose Garden is celebrating its 107th Birthday this year with a unique family activity! Due to current health and safety requirements, you’re invited to visit the Rose Garden for a“virtual” scavenger hunt. You can download the scavenger hunt sheet here and print it at home.

While on the hunt, you might learn a few things about the Rose Garden that will surprise you! Bring a snack, bag lunch, or a picnic to enjoy afterwards. Please be sure to wear a mask and safely distance from other groups as you enjoy your treats in the shade of the many lovely trees in Peninsula Park.

Climbing roses blooming at Peninsula Park
Blooming rose at Peninsula Park

Although the activity is designed for 3-8 year olds, any child or adult can have fun with this activity. So, print out several copies, one for each family member to find their own answers and compare at the end. Enjoy!

Grant Opportunity for Kenton, Piedmont, and Portsmouth Neighborhoods – Raingardens, Native Plants and More

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Do you have an idea for a project that would improve your community and the environment? Then check out this opportunity! The City of Portland’s Environmental Services can help fund your ideas for planting trees and native plants on private property owned by individuals, businesses, nonprofits, schools, and places of worship within the Kenton, Piedmont, and Portsmouth Neighborhoods.

Project ideas may include: 

• Planting trees and plants in your yard and encouraging neighbors to join you.

• Installing a rain garden or native plants at a place of worship, business, non-profit, or school.

• Removing pavement and replacing it with trees or plants.

• Engaging your community group in watershed education opportunities.

To learn more about how Environmental Services can fund your project, write 2theriver@portlandoregon.gov or call 503-823-8209. Here’s the application you would need to complete.

Apply to Parks Levy Oversight Committee – Deadline 4/22

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Do you live, play, worship, go to school, work, or do business in the City of Portland? Do you want to serve your community and to help government make better choices? Then consider applying as a member of the soon to be formed Parks Levy Oversight Committee. Your participation would be greatly appreciated.

For further information go to https://www.portland.gov/parks/events/2021/2/11/apply-parks-levy-oversight-committee.

Take a Discovery Walk

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Looking for a fun walk in a park?  Check out the new Discovery Walk in Arbor Lodge Park.  This 10-item walk shares some history, tree identification, and fun.  Check out this Arbor Lodge Park page to find the Discovery Walk.  Then to to the park, take a walk, learn some cool stuff and have some fun!  Good for ages 2 to 92.

Commissioner Carmen Rubio Assigned PP&R

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As of January 1, 2021, newly elected Commissioner Carmen Rubio began overseeing Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) as one of her bureau assignments. Nick Fish was responsible for PP&R until his death last year.

This is what Commissioner Rubio wrote about her first term’s priorities concerning parks and natural resources:

As a longtime nonprofit executive director, I have seen firsthand how parks programming enriches the lives of Portlanders and makes an important contribution to the health of this community. Especially now, we can see how people are turning to our parks and natural spaces for their physical and emotional well-being. My goal is to expand our parks resources to increase access to Black, Indigenous, other communities of color, working families and East Portland communities.

In fact, 33% of youth in Portland live east of I-205 and 59% of those youth do not have access to a playground. Knowing this matters and taking action matters more – especially in the midst of these challenging times where we have no choice but to stay home or find spacious outdoor places – in order to stay safe. Even more, for people and families with little or no direct access greenspaces, like in more urban or apartment settings, access to city parks has been a lifeline. Parks and open spaces are providing an opportunity for youth and adults to go outside, get exercise, breathe fresh air and mentally and physically recharge. For these reasons, I’ll work hard to ensure we hold onto, and expand, this precious resource.

We welcome Commissioner Rubio and look forward to working with her and her staff!