Black History Month Spotlight, Jobs, and More!
Black History Month Spotlight, Jobs, and More!
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Tree Bark, News From Urban Forestry - All Trees, No Pulp
URBAN FORESTRY
February 2020, published twice a month
Black History Month Celebration Spotlight: The History of Trees in Albina
Albina Neighborhood Improvement Project Block Leaders in March 1964. Over 500 flowering cherries were planted in March 1964 as part of the Albina Neighborhood Improvement Project.
Albina Neighborhood Improvement Project Block Leaders, March 1964. City of Portland Archives, A2010-003.2405. The Albina Neighborhood Improvement Project planted over 500 flowering cherries in March 1964, especially along N Kerby and N Height streets. City of Portland Archives, A2010-003.2402.
The Albina District (map) is home to cherry trees that are almost 60 years old! Did you know that these street trees were planted because of neighborhood improvement efforts by many leaders in Portland's African American community?

According to the website BlackPast, "Albina [was] a neighborhood [ . . . ] that for most of the 20th century was home to the majority of the city’s African American population." 

The Albina Neighborhood Improvement Project (ANIP) was formed in part due to a lack of City investment in the area. This community organization called attention to much-needed improvements like parks, streetlights and sidewalks.

Street trees were also part of this important work. In 1964, over 500 flowering trees were planted in North Portland neighborhoods by the ANIP Tree Program. Read more about the project and see historical photographs on Historian Dave Hedberg’s blog post here

Volunteer efforts in the Albina community continue today! Sadly, some of the cherry trees planted long ago have died. In 2017, the Albina Neighborhood Tree Team organized a removal and replanting effort to bring new life to the neighborhoods that they love. Read here about the new trees that were planted and how everyday people can get things done!

To see even more old photographs of Portland history, check out the Office of Civic and Community Life's latest newsletter here. They will be highlighting photos from the archives over the next few months.

Upcoming Events

Opportunities to learn and volunteer!

www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/workshops

An example of what trees could look like one day at East Holladay Park.

East Holladay Park Public Gathering
Saturday, March 7, 2020, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm East Portland Community Office, 1017 NE 117th Ave. (map)

Have you seen some new trees at East Holladay Park?
PP&R Urban Forestry celebrated Arbor Day last fall by planting a grove of trees near the playground with community members.

This fall, we will be seeing many more trees planted at East Holladay Park – and we want to share this upcoming project with you! Join Urban Forestry staff to learn more about which trees will be moving in. View the calendar event here.

More Upcoming Events


2/15/2020, Buckman Tree Pruning Kickoff: Join the Buckman Tree Team to kick off tree pruning and care for 2020! Meet at Colonel Summers Park. Registration opens at 8:30 am. The workshop will run from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Register here.

2/29/2020, Leap Year Tree Walk: Spend your extra day this February with trees that break the rules! Meet at the parking lot at Knott Park, NE Russell St. and NE 112th Ave. The walk will be from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Register here.

Ongoing:
Sign up for a Pop-Up: An arboretum is a collection of trees that have a purpose – and our purpose is to share the trees in Portland’s parks with everyone who passes by. If your Tree Team is interested in having a Pop-Up Arboretum in your local park, please complete an interest form, available here. Interest forms are due by March 31, 2020.

Events Highlights

See photos from recent events!

www.flickr.com/photos/urbanforestry

The rain did not stop this popular tree walk workshop in the Irvington neighborhood.

Irvington Tree Walk: On the Streets, and In the News!

Rain and cold weather did not stop more than 30 neighbors from enjoying the Irvington Tree Walk.


KATU News joined in too! See the news clip here.

This Urban Forestry Workshop was a partnership between the Irvington Tree Team and Trees for Life. The walk was led by Concordia Tree Team member Jim Gersbach.


While exploring the neighborhood, workshop goers learned why Portland needs large form and evergreen trees. They were also impressed by a row of bamboo-leaf oak trees along Knott St. that still had all of their leaves, even in winter!

Now Hiring! Urban Forestry Seasonal Positions, Apply Today
At Urban Forestry, you work with people and trees! Bianca helps move trees at a Yard Tree Giveaway event!
We stay busy and have fun too! If this sounds like your kind of workplace, then check out the jobs and join us!

We all have a lot of reasons why we work. But the chance to really love what you do, and make a difference doing it, does not come along every day. Apply now to work with Urban Forestry!


Available positions include:
  • Urban Forestry Outreach and Science Assistant (one position available) Apply here!
  • Tree Giveaway Assistant (two positions available) Apply here!
  • Tree Establisher (multiple positions available) Apply here!
  • Youth Conservation Crew Tree Crew Leader (two positions available) Apply here!
Read more about the positions to find the job that is the right fit. We cannot wait to work with you!

In Other News


Tree Planting Performance Report: Ever wonder how all those trees Urban Forestry plants or gives away are doing? We do too, which is why we go back and visit them every summer to check on their health and survival. See what we found by reading the online interactive report here.

Bigleaf Maple Syrup?! Boutique Syrup Business is Tapping the Common West Coast Tree: There are syrup makers, chefs, and researchers interested in tapping the tree's potential. But if you think this is a sugary sweet article, think again! There are scientists concerned that with hotter and drier conditions, it is not exactly the time to drain away the bigleaf maple's resources. Read the OPB article here.

Remembering Amy Grotta: Our sincere condolences go out to the family, friends, and colleagues of Amy Grotta. Many in our Tree Bark audience may have met Amy when they attended an Oregon Forest Pest Detector class. Amy's colleague has written a remembrance, which includes details for a celebration of life this June. Amy was a remarkable person, and she will be missed.
Urban Forestry
1900 SW 4th Ave., Portland, OR 97201503-823-8733
Portland Parks & Recreationwww.PortlandParks.org
Commissioner Nick Fish • Director Adena Long

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