For years, we at Forest Park Conservancy (FPC) and the community of Friends of Marquam Nature Park (FMNP) have worked to help steward public parks in Portland. After many discussions around how to better care for Marquam Nature Park, our organizations have decided to join together to better serve both of our communities.
Founded in 1974, FMNP was a non-profit organization entirely led by volunteers. By merging their organization with FPC, we hope to build on the work they have already started by utilizing our resources and staff expertise to continue their important work.
While Friends of Marquam Nature Park will be dissolving as a 501 c3, we do not wish to erase its legacy. We at FPC hope to build new relationships with the neighbors, supporters, and community that loves Marquam Nature Park. In order to help guide our future work in the park, FPC is excited to welcome two former FMNP board members onto the FPC Board of Directors.
As we work through this transition period, we want to assure our supporters that this will not distract from our work in Forest Park. FPC will remain dedicated to doing our work in Forest Park, and donors will be able to designate their donations for either Forest Park or Marquam Nature Park, or both, if they so desire.
We are excited to see what the future holds for our work during this transition, and we hope you will join us in our growing vision to care for communities across the Portland metro area. If you would like to support our work directly during this time, consider becoming an FPC member. To our new friends who were supporters of FMNP, if you become a new FPC member your donation will be doubled by our friends at Bemis as part of a donation match campaign that lasts through May 31st.
Want to learn more? We have a more in-depth explanation of this merger, as well as an FAQ, on this new page. and a letter from our Executive Director, Renée Meyers down below.