Community Celebration with Kids’ Activities, Nature Walk and More
(Portland,OR) –
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) will hold a free, public celebration to enjoy the newly revitalized Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge Bluff Trail. All are invited to attend for refreshments, kids’ activities, the ribbon cutting, bird watching with experts, guided nature walks and a photo display.
Trail construction in the popular urban wildlife sanctuary was completed on December 2012, with native plant re-vegetation, the final phase of the project, finished in early 2013. The project includes 500 feet of slip-resistant boardwalk on the existing path, with a safety railing, rock walls at the north and south trail entry areas, and an observation deck for wildlife and bird viewing. Oaks Bottom is a significant bird watching area and this observation deck is a wonderful improvement for that activity.
WHAT: Let’s Celebrate Oaks Bottom! PP&R’s Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge Bluff Trail Restoration Celebration
WHEN: Saturday, March 9,10am-1pm
WHERE: Bluff Trail trailhead in the South Meadow of Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge (look for the tents, and see map below for more details)
Schedule of Events:
10am Refreshments served
10:15am Speakers –Portland Parks & Recreation Director Mike Abbaté, Metro Councilor Bob Stacey, and Mike Houck of the Urban Greenspaces Institute.
10:30am Ribbon cutting
10:45am-1pm Activities, both guided and open-house style
Tables/Tents for: refreshments, children's activities, photo exhibit, SMILE/Friends of Oaks Bottom information
Guided bird watching at overlook on Bluff Trail (Binoculars, field guides provided)
10:45am 1-hour guided walk of the refuge and restoration sites
11:45am 1-hour guided walk of the refuge and restoration sites
Spring will have sprung in wetland and riparian habitat and springtime birds will be in full song as well.
Mike Houck, Director of the Urban Greenspaces Institute and Oaks Bottom advocate for more than forty years, will lead the two-mile guided walk. He’ll be joined by Portland Parks & Recreation ecologist Mark Wilson. Wilsonwill share his observations regarding ecological changes in the refuge, some intentional and some serendipitous, over the many years he has been an ecologist for PP&R.
The walks are suitable for families with children. Bring binoculars if you like. Wear clothes suited to the day's weather as we will go rain or shine. Meet Mike in the parking lot at the north end of Sellwood Park,SE 7th Avenue and SE Sellwood Boulevard at 10:45 sharp.
Directions:
From Sellwood Park (~10 Minutes): Walk down the trail located just west of the parking lot in Sellwood Park. Turn right after the stone stairs at the bottom of the hill and continue on the graveled path through the south meadow. Look for the tents in the meadow near the trailhead of the Bluff Trail.
From South Refuge entrance (~5 minutes): Use South Refuge Access underpass and follow graveled path east through the South Meadow. Look for the tents in the meadow near the southern trailhead of the Bluff Trail.
Funding:
This project was funded by Metro’s 2006 voter-approved Natural Areas Bond measure.