Last month, we announced an event in conjunction with Portland Parks & Recreation to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Forest Park. And now, we are excited to announce the full event lineup! Join us on September 23rd to join us for a day of volunteering, group hikes, and spending time with our wonderful community!
Please register in advance for any activities you want to participate in using the links in the event descriptions below. Note that some activities are uniquely tailored to specific communities or affinity groups; activities open to all are clearly noted below. The information fair is open to the public, and we invite registered participants to join the afterparty at Lower Macleay trailhead at 12:30 pm for food and a celebration of the park and community! Bring along your friends and family. The more the merrier!
8:30 am to 12 pm: Volunteer in the park! (Open to all)
Join Forest Park Conservancy in caring for the park’s ecosystem by volunteering to pull ivy and do restoration work at multiple sites in the park. All training, tools, and materials will be provided by Forest Park Conservancy, along with snacks and coffee. Sign up on the Forest Park Conservancy website.
9 am to 1 pm: Community Partners Info Fair! (Open to all)
Community organizations will be tabling at the Lower Macleay trailhead to share information about their programs. Partners include Forest Park Conservancy, Outdoor Afro, PDX People of Color Outdoors, Portland Fire & Rescue, PP&R Rangers and PP&R environmental education staff, Vive NW, and more. Come by and chat with some awesome organizations!
9:15 am: Event opening (Open to all)
Join us at the Lower Macleay trailhead for an event welcome featuring Dave Barrios, longtime PP&R Ranger in Forest Park.
9:30 to 11 am: Basket weaving with Wisdom of the Elders (Open to all)
Join Celeste Whitewolf, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation elder, and Lise Gervais, a basket weaving instructor, for a basket weaving workshop at the Lower Macleay trailhead. Elder Whitewolf and Lise will be teaching participants to use natural materials to weave baskets and other crafts in a workshop designed for everyone. This workshop is presented in collaboration with Wisdom of the Elders. Sign up for the basket weaving workshop.
9:30 am to 12:30 pm: Group hike with Vive NW
- Join Vive NW for an incredible day as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the dedication of Forest Park and the fantastic wonders it brings right into our city. On Saturday, September 23rd, immerse yourself in the wonders of our local ecosystems for a day of recreation, conservation, and community. This event will be spearheaded by Portland Parks & Recreation and Forest Park Conservancy, who will provide valuable insights into this breathtaking location, enriching our understanding of its rich ecological value and functions. All participants are welcome at a celebration of community in Forest Park after the hike. Register to participate.
- Únete a Vive NW y pasemos un día increíble celebrando el 75.º aniversario de la dedicación de Forest Park y las fantásticas maravillas que tiene nuestra ciudad. El sábado 23 de septiembre, sumérgete en esta aventura durante un día de recreación, conservación, celebración, y comunidad. Este evento es una oportunidad ideal para pasar tiempo de calidad con tus seres queridos, crear nuevas amistades e interactuar con personas amantes de la naturaleza. Este evento estará encabezado por Portland Parks & Recreation y Forest Park Conservancy, proporcionarán datos valiosos sobre este impresionante lugar. Todos los participantes son bienvenidos en una celebración de la communidad en Forest Park después de la caminata. Celebra el 75th aniversario de la dedicación de Forest Park.
9:30 am to 12:30 pm: Group hike with Outdoor Afro
Join Outdoor Afro, which celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature, for a hike from the Leif Erikson Drive trailhead at 9:30am. All participants are welcome at a nearby celebration of community in Forest Park after the hike. Sign up for the group hike with Outdoor Afro.
10 am to 12 pm: Group hike with People of Color Outdoors (Open to all)
Join Pamela Slaughter, founder of PDX People of Color Outdoors, for a family-friendly hike on the Lower Macleay trail. This will be a slow-moving hike with frequent stops to share about plants, birds, and other things of interest along the way. We will walk to the Stone House and then stop for photos and fun, meeting new friends, and then returning. This activity is open to everyone; this is not a BIPOC-only activity. Your well-behaved dog on a leash is welcome to join the hike. Please ensure they can be safe around children and please pick up after them. All participants are welcome at a celebration of community in Forest Park after the hike. Sign up for the PDX People of Color Outdoors hike.
10:30 am to 12:30 pm: BIPOC birding walk with Portland Audubon
Join PP&R and Portland Audubon for a BIPOC birding walk in Forest Park celebrating diversity! This birding walk will start at Forest Park’s Holman Lane trailhead at 9:15am. All participants are welcome at a nearby celebration of community in Forest Park after the walk. We encourage you to come out to Forest Park, a community treasure, to learn, recreate, and celebrate with your community. Sign up for the birding walk.
12:30 pm: Afterparty! (Open to all)
Join the afterparty at Lower Macleay trailhead featuring delicious food from Bison Coffeehouse and Salsas Locas for all registered participants, as well as a short speaking presentation.
Accessibility and Accommodations
American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, a shuttle service, and potentially other accessibility accommodations are available for this event. For more details and to request the use of these services, please check out Portland Parks & Recreation’s webpage for this event.
Thanks to Portland Parks & Recreation and our fellow community partners Outdoor Afro, Portland Audubon, Portland Frontrunners, PDX People of Color Outdoors, Ride Connection, Vive NW, Wisdom of the Elders, and others for their partnership in making this event happen.