Search the site

Fanno Creek Linkages and Trail

Planning and conservation  ›  Natural areas, parks and trails  ›  Protecting natural areas  ›  Acquiring natural areas  ›  Fanno Creek

Learn about the goals and objectives for Fanno Creek Linkages and Trail. View maps illustrating the Metro Council's priorities for this regional trail and greenway corridor and learn more about what parts of the trail are already complete.

The Metro Council's goal and objectives for the Fanno Creek Linkages target area are:

Goal

• Complete a continuous greenway trail from the Tualatin River into a highly urbanized, “walker-challenged” area of Portland, and further protect water quality along Fanno Creek and its tributaries.

Objectives

Tier I Objective

• Connect publicly-owned land along the mainstem of Fanno Creek between Cook Park and Woodard Park to complete the corridor and enhance habitat and water quality protection in this area.

Tier II Objective

• Acquire key trail linkages along the Red Electric Corridor to connect the Garden Home Recreation Center and the Willamette River.

Partnership Objectives

• Pursue partnership opportunities with the City of Portland (Parks and Recreation and Bureau of Environmental Services), City of Tigard, City of Durham, Friends of Fanno Creek and Clean Water Services to leverage the regional investment in the Fanno Creek Linkages target area with local share funds and for management of purchased properties.
• Work with private landowners to explore opportunities for conservation easements.

About the area

Fanno Creek originates on the west side of the Tualatin Mountains and meanders through the cities of Portland, Beaverton, Tigard, Durham and Tualatin to its confluence with the Tualatin River. Along its route, small but significant natural areas have been protected and additional opportunities remain to secure lands along the main stem of the Fanno Creek and its tributaries for the benefit of water quality and wildlife.

The Fanno Creek Greenway Trail corridor mimics the creek's weaving path through five cities and two counties, stretching 15 miles from Willamette Park on the Willamette River Greenway, (just south of downtown Portland) through highly urbanized neighborhoods in Beaverton and Tigard and ending at the Tualatin River within the city of Tualatin. A new bridge was recently opened to the public this year that allows bikes and pedestrians to cross the Tualatin River at Cook Park and connects Tualatin to Tigard and Durham.

A completed Fanno Creek Greenway Trail will provide safe access connecting neighborhoods, parks, schools, community centers and other trails, such as the Willamette River Greenway at the northern end and the Tualatin River Greenway at the south. Within the city of Portland, several trail alignments have been proposed for bicycle commuters, walkers and hikers including the conversion to a trail of the former Red Electric Railroad corridor. With approximately half of the trail finished, the Fanno Creek Greenway Trail is on its way to becoming one of the premier urban greenway trails in the Portland metropolitan region.

2006 Natural Areas Program bond description

Additions to this existing west side greenway will extend the corridor from the Tualatin River into a highly urbanized, "walker challenged" area of the city, and further protect water quality in one of our critical regional rivers.

1995 Natural Areas Program goals and accomplishments

• Protect 12 miles of greenway along Fanno Creek and its tributaries in order to protect water quality, fish, wildlife and recreational values.
• Complete a continuous greenway along the main stem of Fanno Creek between the Tualatin River and Vista Brook Park.

To date 39.08 acres have been protected by the Metro program.

New focus for Metro's 2006 Natural Areas Program

Focus on wetlands in the Garden Home area along with continuing efforts to secure remaining trail corridor gap.

Field research and scientific data findings

• A number of efforts at the regional and local level are focused on completing the gaps in the trail. These include plans adopted by the cities of Portland and Tigard as well as the work of a regional group to create and implement the Fanno Creek Greenway Trail Action Plan.
• Channel length is being increased in places to reduce water speed throughout Fanno Creek.

Public input helps Metro Council set priorities

In September 2007 the Metro Council approved acquisition plans for each of the 27 regional target areas. The Metro Council established these priorities with the input of natural resource and land use experts, scientists, citizens and local land managers. More than 500 people attended eight community open houses to share their ideas with Metro Councilors. Nearly 1,000 people filled out questionnaires ranking their priorities and offering ideas for partnerships and other ways to stretch the public's investment. The acquisition plans include a map, goals and objectives for each target area.

Need assistance?

Natural Areas Program
503-797-1545
naturalareas@oregonmetro.gov

Related Documents

• Fanno Creek Linkages and Trail map, goals, and objectives 1.1M Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published October 4, 2007