They say love is a many-splendored thing, and that’s especially true for Portland’s Forest Park, one of the largest forested urban parks in the nation. Beloved for its 80 miles of trails, native habitat, streams and recreational opportunities all within a protected 5,200 acre parcel, Forest Park holds a special place in the heart of not only Portlanders, but the entire state.
Now, a bold new advertising campaign tugs at your heartstrings and inspires action. With headlines such as “I MY TREADMILL” and “I MY SPIN CLASS,” the campaign highlights the diverse needs that Forest Park fulfills for many and how many can fulfill the needs of Forest Park.
Thanks to its creator BPN and to the pro-bono efforts of several media partners and agency vendors, the campaign will launch this June in print, radio, and online medias. Forest Park Conservancy’s executive director Renee Myers says,
“Forest Park provides a unique experience for each user that has shaped their love for Forest Park. This campaign celebrates and showcases how fortunate we are to live in a city where having an incredible natural resource like this is prioritized.”
Yet amid the peace and serenity of Forest Park, an urgent need stirs. For years, The Forest Park Conservancy has worked alongside Portland Parks & Recreation to combat both trail and ecological degradation in Forest Park. Today, we have the Greater Forest Park Conservation Initiative (GFPCI), a roadmap for the long-term protection and restoration of the Greater Forest Park Ecosystem. While the GFPCI is the first step in meeting Forest Park’s challenges and opportunities, its implementation depends on the financial support of many.
The campaign asks all who feel passionately about Forest Park to invest in its health. For BPN President Lori Gaffney, a Forest Park Conservancy board member, the campaign itself is a labor of love. Gaffney says,
“Our goal is to rally people to realize that this amazing place, this natural jewel that Portland has, needs to be restored and protected. Everyone who loves, uses and appreciates how much Forest Park contributes to our city’s livability, can do their part to support it.”