After the many years of use since it was created in the early 1970s, the mile-long Oaks Bottom Bluff Trail is getting a makeover, starting in September.

Looking down on it from Sellwood Park, Portland Parks & Recreation Capital Project Manager Travis Ruybal told THE BEE about the project.

“This is the trail that follows around the base of the bluff’s slope, adjacent to the Oaks Bottom bluff wetland,” Ruybal said. “It’s what we call a ‘primitive earth trail’. The trail itself has been ‘loved to death’ over the years, being regularly used by individual,s and a variety of different groups.”

The restoration effort along the 6,900-lineal-foot trail will include resurfacing degraded trail segments, adding about 500 feet of boardwalks in areas that tend to flood, improve rockery walls, and add a scenic overlook, Ruybal explained.

“Our goal is to improve accessibility, increase wildlife access, as well as taking on an aggressive re-vegetation plan.”

The trail will be closed, Ruybal added, when the construction begins in September. “We hope it to be complete near the end of November.”

The project timeline, detour and closure information, and other info can be found online at: HYPERLINK "http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=59036" www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=59036