POSTED OCTOBER 12, 2016
(Portland, OR) –
Community volunteer efforts citywide to remove invasive species on Saturday, October 29, 2016.
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R)’s No Ivy League volunteers across the region are proud to take part in the 13th annual No Ivy Day. Volunteers will focus on removing this invasive species from Portland’s treasured parks and natural areas on Saturday, October 29, 2016.
Photo: Park Ranger Asa Arden with No Ivy Day youth volunteers in Forest Park.
WHAT: No Ivy Day, a greater Portland area event series of volunteer restoration events focused on removing ivy and other invasive species from Portland’s green spaces!
WHERE: Citywide and across the metro Portland area including Baltimore Woods Natural Area, Forest Park, Hoyt Arboretum, Johnson Lake, Marquam Nature Park, River View Natural Area, Woods Memorial Park and many more sites.Find out more and sign up here.
WHEN:Saturday, October 29, 2016, 9am-12noon. Help rid PP&R parks and natural areas from an invasive species by taking part in citywide volunteer restoration events to remove invasive English ivy.
- Party - Celebrate after you work, from 12pm-1:30pm with raffles, food and family fun at three sites:
- Forest Park (Lower Macleay entrance at 2960 NW Upshur)
- Marquam Nature Park (SW Marquam St & Sam Jackson Park Rd., at the shelter area)
- Mt Tabor Park (across from visitor center)
All are welcome to join in on restoration events hosted by PP&R and partners citywide, followed by a celebration of community participation.
“Protecting and preserving our natural areas and parks is a vital part of community stewardship, and I am grateful to all the volunteers,” says Portland Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz. “The care and hard work of neighbors has lasting and positive effects on our greenspaces, and I look forward to continuing the partnership started by the late Sandra Diedrich, a PP&R employee and community leader.”
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.
“No Ivy League volunteers and our Land Stewardship staff’s efforts are essential to the health of our beautiful parks and natural areas,” says Portland Parks & Recreation Director Mike Abbaté. “We appreciate the continued community engagement and our workers’ efforts to remove this invasive plant.”
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.
Portland Parks & Recreation 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.
No Ivy Day work parties run from 9am to 12pm followed by gatherings for food, raffles and celebration from 12pm-1:30pm atthree sites:
- Forest Park (Lower Macleay entrance at 2960 NW Upshur)
- Marquam Nature Park (SW Marquam St & Sam Jackson Park Rd., at the shelter area)
- Mt Tabor Park (across from visitor center)
All are welcome to show support for our native ecosystem by joining a volunteer restoration event 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.
During No Ivy Day 2015, more than 290 volunteers removed more than three acres of ground ivy and cleared ivy from 150 trees. The hope is to accomplish even more this year.
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