What do 500 native plants, a sunny fall morning, and a bunch of mountain bikers in Halloween costumes have in common? They were all part of a community effort to make Gateway Green an even greener place.
On Saturday, October 31, volunteers gathered at Gateway Green in Northeast Portland for a native planting event organized by Friends of Trees in partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation, with support from Northwest Trail Alliance (NWTA).
The goal was simple: plant hundreds of native trees and shrubs to enhance the natural landscape and wildlife habitat surrounding Portland’s first urban mountain bike park.
Despite a foggy start to the morning, the skies cleared, giving volunteers a beautiful fall day to work together.
By the end of the planting, volunteers had added 500 native plants to Gateway Green, including five species:
- Common Snowberry
- Osoberry
- Sword Fern
- Beaked Hazelnut
- Nootka Rose
These native plants will help improve soil health, support wildlife habitat, and contribute to the long-term ecological health of this unique urban green space.
Gateway Green is an important natural area in East Portland, providing green space and opportunities for outdoor recreation in the middle of an urban environment.
Gateway Green exists because of years of community investment, collaboration, and volunteer effort. The park continues to demonstrate what’s possible when organizations and community members work together.
A big thank-you to Friends of Trees for organizing the planting, Portland Parks & Recreation for its partnership, and evo Portland for sponsoring the event. The planting was also made possible through a grant from the Oregon Department of Forestry.
And, of course, thank you to everyone who showed up, planted, and joined the Halloween ride.