Community Volunteer Efforts Citywide to Remove Invasive Species
(Portland, OR) –
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R)’s City Nature division, the No Ivy League and volunteers across the region are proud to take part in the 11th annual No Ivy Day. Volunteers from around the region will focus on removing this invasive species from Portland’s treasured parks and natural areas on Saturday, October 25.
WHAT: No Ivy Day, a citywide series of work parties to remove invasive ivy from Portland parks and natural areas
WHERE: Citywide, including Forest Park, Marquam Nature Park, Terwilliger Wildlands, Gabriel Park, Baltimore Woods Natural Area, Mt Tabor Park, the Springwater Corridor Trail and many more. Find out more and sign up here.
WHEN: Saturday, October 25, 2014, 9am-12noon. Help rid PP&R parks and natural areas from an invasive species by taking part in city-wide work parties to remove English ivy. A celebration follows at the No Ivy League headquarters in Lower Macleay Park, NW 29th & Upshur, from 12:30-2:00 PM. Food and family fun!
All are welcome to join in on work parties hosted by PP&R and partners citywide, followed by a celebration of community participation.
Click here to learn how to join or host your own ivy removal work party, learn more about invasive English ivy, and become one of our valued sponsors.
“The efforts of volunteers and the No Ivy League are essential to the health of our beautiful parks and natural areas,” says Portland Parks & Recreation Director Mike Abbaté. “As stewards of our parks and natural areas, we appreciate the engagement of our community partners to remove this invasive plant. The grassroots efforts of our neighbors have had a visible, positive effect on our green spaces, and I look forward to these efforts continuing - even bigger and better.”
The non-native English ivy (Hedera hibernica and Hedera helix) is a pervasive and unwelcome guest in our parks and natural areas. The vines overcome native plant species, and mature ivy vines may threaten trees in many of our forests.
Ivy removal work parties run from 9:00 AM to noon, followed by a gathering for food and celebration at Lower Macleay Park, NW 29th & Upshur, from 12:30-2:00 PM. The celebration will feature free T-shirts while they last, words from our civic leaders and a chance to meet with other volunteers
All are welcome to show support for our native ecosystem by joining a work party at one of the many sites throughout the region or by registering to host your own No Ivy Day site. Please check the No Ivy Day link for more information here.
Portland Parks & Recreation City Nature experts say it is important to remove maturing ivy during the fall to reduce the amount of seed produced through the winter, slowing its spread to unaffected areas. Portland Parks & Recreation’s Terwilliger Wildlands, Marquam Nature Park and Forest Park have seen vast improvements in tree health in places where ivy was recently cleared.
During last year’s No Ivy Day, more than 120 volunteers cleared ivy from nearly 200 trees, and pulled over 48,000 square feet of vines. The hope is to accomplish even more this year.
All volunteers are invited to take part in a celebration after the citywide work parties featuring lunch, free T-shirts and inspiring words from City Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz.