Friends Groups

What is a Friends Group?

Friends groups are made up volunteers, neighbors, coworkers, and park lovers who come to a natural area or park on a regular basis (sometimes monthly, sometimes quarterly) to do hands-on restoration with the support of Portland Parks & Recreation staff. While activities vary with the seasons, friends groups are regularly involved in removing invasive weeds, planting native plants, building fences and maintaining trails, picking up litter, monitoring plants and wildlife, and more! PP&R supplies the gloves, tools, training, plants, and snacks and the friends group provides the people, smiles, laughs, energy, and advocacy for the long-term health and beauty of Portland's parks and natural areas.

Get to know some of our existing friends groups below. You can see where they work, what their goals are, who is involved, and what the schedules are for restoration events and meetings.

Don't see a friends group for your favorite natural area? Interested in starting one with a group of your neighbors? Contact us and we will help you make it happen!

Friends Groups in Portland

North and Northeast Friends Groups

Columbia Slough Watershed Council

• The Columbia Slough Watershed Council partners with Portland Parks & Recreation on multiple events each year throughout North and NE Portland. 
• Check out their events calendar on the website for dates, times, and locations of CSWC-supported events in PP&R-managed parks and natural areas.

Friends of Baltimore Woods

• Friends of Baltimore Woods partners with PP&R and other community groups to enhance Baltimore Woods, an upland deciduous habitat corridor that connects Willamette Cove, Smith and Bybee Lakes, and Kelley Point Park. FOBW hosts regular work parties to remove invasive plants, plant native plants, and much more to restore this important remnant Oregon White Oak habitat. 
• Check out their events calendar to get involved!

Friends of Columbia Children's Arboretum

• Friends of Columbia Children's Arboretum is a group of dedicated community members whose mission is to protect, enhance and restore the Columbia Children's Arboretum as an educational and recreational resource for all generations. There are multiple volunteer opportunities at the Arboretum throughout the year. 
• Contact columbiachildrensarboretum@gmail.com, or Yoko Silk (yoko.silk@portlandoregon.gov; 503-278-1341) if you are interested in volunteering or learning more about joining the Friends group.

Southeast Friends Groups 

Friends of Errol Heights

• Friends of Errol Heights partners with Portland Parks & Recreation and occasionally also the Johnson Creek Watershed Council to complete important ecological enhancement projects at this little gem of a Park. The group generally meets on the third Saturday of the month, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. 
• See or Volunteer Stewardship Events Calendar for confirmed upcoming events

Friends of Gateway Green

• Friends of Gateway Green promotes the transformation of a once neglected and publicly-owned property into Portland's first and only dedicated off-road cycling parks. This park also offers trails for hiking, nature play areas, picnic tables, a space to observe birds and other wildlife, and learn about habitat restoration and preservation
• Visit the Friends of Gateway Green website for more information for about upcoming events and how to get involved

Friends of Mt. Tabor Park Weed Warriors

• Join Friends of Mt. Tabor Park Weed Warriors and PP&R to remove invasive plant species, plant native plants, or mulch on the Last Saturday of the month from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
• Learn more about the event and registration

Friends of Oaks Bottom 

• Friends of Oaks Bottom is dedicated to the preservation of the largest natural area in the Willamette River's lower floodplain. They engage the surrounding communities and the city of Portland at large in conserving this unique natural area through education, invasive plant removal, native plantings, litter pick-ups, and more
• To learn more about ways to get involved check out their events calendar
• Contact friendsofoaksbottom@gmail.com if you have any questions

Friends of Powell Butte

• Friends of Powell Butte meets monthly to discuss issues related to the Butte
• Check the Friends of Powell Butte Calendar for information about Powell Butte Nature Park, as well as meeting times and locations

Friends of Tideman Johnson

• Friends of Tideman Johnson partners with Portland Parks & Recreation and the Johnson Creek Watershed Council to maintain plantings, plant native plants, mulch, pick up litter, or remove nuisance species. The group generally meets the first Saturday of the month, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm (except January and July-September)
• See Volunteer Stewardship Events Calendar for confirmed upcoming events

Johnson Creek Watershed Council

• Johnson Creek Watershed Council partners with Portland Parks & Recreation on multiple events each year throughout southeast Portland
• Check out their volunteer event calendar for dates, times and locations of JCWC-supported events in PP&R-managed parks and natural areas

West Side and Trails Friends Groups

The Forest Park Conservancy

• Every Thursday, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm join the Forest Park Conservancy to improve Forest Park's trails and native vegetation by removing invasive plants, maintaining trails, and planting native plants. 
• Contact Zachary Peal at zachary@forestparkconservancy.org or at 503-223-5449 x106 for meeting locations 
• More information is available at forestparkconservancy.org

Friends of Gabriel Park

• Friends of Gabriel Park partners with PP&R to improve and maintain the park's natural areas, hosting work parties to remove invasive plants and to plant native plants
• Visit the Friends of Gabriel Park website for more information, and to be added to the email list for notification of upcoming events

Friends of Marquam Nature Park

• Volunteer events occur on the second Wednesday and last Saturday of each month from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Join PP&R, the Friends of Marquam Nature Park, and the West Willamette Restoration Partnership in removing English ivy and other invasive species from the park. Trail maintenance and plantings are done on a seasonal basis
• For more information, contact Monica Walker at monica.walker@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-8367. 

Friends of Terwilliger Parkway

• Third Saturday of the month, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm (except June, July, and August). Join PP&R, the Friends of Terwilliger, and the West Willamette Restoration Partnership in removing non-native species, including English ivy, Himalayan blackberry, and clematis and plant native plants on a seasonal basis
• For more info, contact Monica at monica.walker@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-8367. 

Friends of Woods Park

• Fourth Saturday of the month, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm (except December). Join the Friends of Woods Park in removing invasive species, including English ivy and Himalayan blackberry, and replacing them with native plants. Trail work is done on a seasonal basis
• For more information, contact Monica at monica.walker@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-8367.

Hoyt Arboretum Friends

• Hoyt Arboretum Friends (HAF) is a nonprofit organization working in partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation to manage Hoyt Arboretum. HAF's mission is to maintain and improve Hoyt Arboretum and its collections for all people through advocacy, resources, awareness, and education. HAF manages Hoyt Arboretum's education programs, visitor services, and volunteer resources as well as providing financial support for Hoyt Arboretum operations, maintenance, and capital improvements
•  Learn more about their volunteer opportunities or call 503-823-1649 for more information. 

SW Trails

• SW Trails is a community group which promotes walking and biking in southwest Portland, Oregon. In partnership with PP&R, SW Trails host volunteer trail maintenance events monthly at different natural area parks in SW Portland
• Learn more about SW Trails volunteer event details

Tryon Creek Watershed Council

• Tryon Creek Watershed Council (TCWC) works to restore, protect and enhance the ecological health and function of our unique urban watershed. TCWC partners with PP&R to host volunteer events in the Tryon Creek watershed. 
• Learn more about TCWC events

Court-ordered community service 

If you are looking for community service to fulfill court requirements, please call (503) 823-5121. You must be registered with our program before undertaking any community service.