Bill Naito Community Trees Award

Congratulations to our 2025 Naito Community Tree Award recipients: 

Dr. Vivek Shandas (Individual Award), for his service on the Urban Forestry Commission from 2015 to 2023, increasing community and scientific awareness around the connection between heat, urban canopy, and public health.

Morning Star Baptist Church (Group Award), for their two-year long endeavor to increase greenspace and contribute to growing the urban canopy in the Cully Neighborhood, creating healthy space for community and future generations.

About the Bill Naito Community Trees Award

The Bill Naito Award was created to honor the stories of individuals, organizations or projects that have continued Bill's work and reflect his dedication. Together, these stories weave a picture of our community's dedication to Portland's urban forest heritage.

The recipients of the Bill Naito award should be an individual or group whose volunteer work in planting, preservation, or stewardship is recognized by the community as extraordinary. Volunteer work is done without pay and not as part of any employment.

Eligibility for the Bill Naito Award

This award recognizes those whose work, like Bill's, has enhanced Portland's urban forest and inspired others to recognize the beauty and benefits of trees. Specific projects that have creatively addressed the opportunities for tree planting or tree preservation are also eligible to receive an award.

Two awards are dedicated annually:

• Individual
• Groups or Institutions 

Work must be completed within the City of Portland.

Past Bill Naito Community Trees Award Recipients

History of the Bill Naito Award

Portland's Urban Forestry Commission created the annual Bill Naito award in honor of the late builder and community leader who did so much to beautify Portland with trees. He rarely missed an Urban Forestry Commission meeting, which he founded in 1974 and chaired until his death.

Bill was especially devoted to Portland's trees. Through his humor, persistence and imaginative approach to projects, he inspired many individuals to recognize the beauty trees bring to our city.

Did you know? The sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) was UFC founder and commissioner Bill Naito's favorite tree!