Explore from home
Experience Metro natural areas through photography, video and writing on an interactive storytelling map. From Forest Grove to Troutdale and North Portland to Wilsonville, the region is filled with tales of the land. Go
Natural areas, parks and trails
Planning and conservation › Natural areas, parks and trails
Metro works with partners to protect natural areas, restore sensitive habitat for fish and wildlife, and plan the region’s parks and trails.
Voters will consider 5-year levy
This May, voters will decide whether to increase their property taxes by 9.6 cents per $1,000 of assessed value to restore natural areas, protect water quality and provide people with more opportunities to enjoy nature.The Metro Council referred the five-year local option levy to voters in December.
Lights, camera, nature!
Hit the "play" button, and you'll be transported to a few of the forests and trails, clearings and creeks protected by Metro's voter-approved Natural Areas Program. The "It's Our Nature" film makes you a virtual tourist on a handful of the 12,000 acres that voters have protected over the course of 17 years and two bond measures.
Opportunities, challenges ahead
Get acquainted with Metro's 16,000 acres of natural areas, parks and trails. A report details Metro's portfolio of land today and outlines possibilities for restoring, maintaining and publicly opening them in the future.
Bond passes financial audit
Every year, an independent firm audits Metro's financial reporting on the 2006 natural areas bond measure.
Oregonians want to take a hike without leaving town, drink sparkling clean water and coexist with nature, from wild salmon to wildflowers. Find out how Metro's voter-approved Natural Areas Program makes this vision a reality by protecting land, restoring it and giving you opportunities to explore.
Protecting natural areas
Voters asked Metro to buy the region's most special land, before it's too late. Habitat is protected across the Portland metropolitan area, ensuring that nature is always close to home. Learn how two bond measures have preserved 12,000 acres and 90 miles of river and stream banks, and supported hundreds of community projects. Learn more
Restoring the landscape
Restoring the landscape is good for fish, other critters – and people. That's why Metro's science and stewardship team works with partners to improve water quality and wildlife habitat. As a volunteer, you can help oust invasive plants and replace them with native trees and shrubs. Learn more
Planning parks and trails
Metro plans future parks and stitches them together with trails. As a founding member of The Intertwine Alliance, Metro also works with community groups, businesses, local governments and everyday nature lovers to create a world-class outdoor recreation network. Learn more
Natural areas interactive map
Experience Metro natural areas through photography, video and writing on an interactive storytelling map. From Forest Grove to Troutdale and North Portland to Wilsonville, the region is filled with tales of the land. Go
Metropolitan Greenspaces Master Plan
The Metropolitan Greenspaces Master Plan (1992) details the vision, goals and organizational framework of a regional system of natural areas, trails and greenways for wildlife and people in our region. This aspirational plan set the foundation for subsequent bond measures and trail plans. Download the plan
To view PDF files, download free Adobe Reader. To translate PDF files into text to assist visually-impaired users, visit Access.Adobe.com.
To view MOV files, download free QuickTime.
Related documents
- Metropolitan Greenspaces Master Plan (1992) 10.1M Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published July 15, 2011
- Metro's portfolio of natural areas, parks and trails: Opportunities and challenges 5.9M Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published December 1, 2011
- Parks can be Key to Economic Development 6.1M Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published September 10, 2012
- Parks can be key to economic development report 5.6M Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published October 1, 2012
- Parks can be key to economic development executive summary 3.9M Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published October 1, 2012
- Moss Adams 2012 audit 872K Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published February 6, 2013
