Share your thoughts on Portland’s Urban Forest Plan at open house

Published 9:31 am Thursday, February 20, 2025

By Hannah Seibold

From 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 5, Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry is hosting its 2025 Tree Summit called all about "Tree Stories," at the St. Johns Community Center Auditorium, 8427 N. Central. St., Portland. 

If you’re looking to make your voice heard on the city of Portland’s Draft Urban Forest Plan, there’s an opportunity coming soon. 

From 5:30-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at the June Key Delta Community Center, 5940 N. Albina Ave., Portland Parks & Recreation is hosting a drop-in open house to share the draft plan, vision, goals and more. 

“We’re focusing on what we’ve heard from Portlanders,” PP&R Director Adena Long said in a release. “Trees are vital for public health, and we want the best strategy based on what we’ve heard and studied. And that includes reducing tree care costs for community members.”

The Portland Urban Forest Plan is a guiding document for the city’s tree management, which set the urban forest vision, goals and tree canopy targets. The city uses it as a roadmap for protecting, preserving, restoring and expanding the urban forest equitably and sustainability. 

Just more than 20 years ago, in 2004, was the last time the plan was updated.

Once the plan is approved by city council it will serve as Portland’s blueprint for a greener city. It will aim to focus on equitable, sustainable tree care and expansion of the city’s tree canopy. 

The draft plan includes recommendations, strategies and annual progress tracking. It will guide efforts to preserve existing trees, maintain them better, reduce tree care costs, create more tree-friendly spaces, spread tree care knowledge and update city codes. 

“The Portland Urban Forest Plan will help the City respond to community concerns in a comprehensive and meaningful way,” City Forester Jenn Cairo said in a release. “It will help us fight climate change, cool down the city, and improve air quality through expanding our urban forest.”

For those who can’t make an open house, comments can be submitted virtually. Public comment will be open for about two months. 

For more information, or to sign up for updates, visit the Portland Urban Forest Plan webpage. 

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