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New shops in Portland’s historic Chinatown want to honor area’s history and culture

1 week ago

Public notice: Opportunity to comment on proposed changes to Metro's solid waste code

2 weeks ago

Enter Our Big Backyard nature photography contest

3 weeks ago

GLEAN 2019 Exhibition extracts meaning from mess

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Sista Sistah to highlight health and nature in holistic healing event

By Cristle Jose

Aug. 21, 2019 11 a.m.

Mother in plank position while watching her children in a park

The event will highlight communities of color, and numerous partners who are looking to connect with communities of color will offer yoga, sound vibration therapy, kemetic reiki and more.

Why are so many trees dying?

By Kate Holleran

Aug. 15, 2019 4:34 p.m.

Dead Douglas fir trees by thriving Douglas firs at Tonquin Scablands.

Hot, dry summers are killing trees across greater Portland. It's a local effect of climate change.

Enter Our Big Backyard nature photography contest

Aug. 8, 2019 10:55 a.m.

Two children look through spyglasses at Cooper Mountain Nature Park.

Win an annual parks pass, a tennis court session, or a round of golf for four people including cart at Glendoveer Golf and Tennis Center.

Metro Council approves Gabbert Butte master plan

By Cristle Jose

July 31, 2019 3:40 p.m.

Created in partnership with the City of Gresham, the plan includes a parking lot off of Regner Road with restrooms, gathering spaces that can be used for picnics and spiritual practices, and trails for all ages and abilities.

Barbara Walker Crossing to improve safety for park users over West Burnside

By Cristle Jose

July 22, 2019 11:03 a.m.

rendering of elevated bridge with surrounding forest in aerial view

The bridge, scheduled to open this fall, will provide a safe crossing for hikers and runners over a dangerous curve on West Burnside where roughly 20,000 drivers pass each day and 80,000 pedestrians cross each year.

Read the summer 2019 issue of Our Big Backyard

July 15, 2019 2:28 p.m.

photo of red-breasted sapsucker at Graham Oaks Nature Park

Parks and Nature staff members spend a lot of time outdoors, so what are their favorite parks in the region? Find their recommendations in the summer 2019 issue of Our Big Backyard, Metro's quarterly parks and nature magazine.

Best of summer

July 12, 2019 1:02 p.m.

photo of Mount Hood from Broughton Beach

Parks and Nature staff members share their favorite summer destinations.

Enjoy summer fun activities at Blue Lake Regional Park

By Cristle Jose

July 1, 2019 10:35 a.m.

3 kids look on as one kid holds a crayon in hand at table

School's out for the summer. Enjoy activities with your children by taking them to Blue Lake Regional Park for Summer Fun Days every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from June 25 to Aug. 7 (except the Fourth of July).

Share your thoughts on Metro’s parks and nature content; enter to win $100 gift card

June 28, 2019 6:41 p.m.

photo of Our Big Backyard at Metro booth

Your opinion will help shape the way we communicate in the future and help us provide more relevant stories, information, social media and other content.

Metro awards $800k for Nature in Neighborhood grants

By Cristle Jose

June 10, 2019 2:23 p.m.

Metro’s Nature in Neighborhoods go to programs that support community partnerships to improve water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and economic and environmental equity.

New inclusive nature play areas at Oxbow Regional Park to open May 18

By Megan Zabel Holmes

May 9, 2019 10:57 a.m.

photo of new nature play area at Oxbow Regional Park

Over the last decade, Metro has invested in nature-based play areas across the region, with the goal of giving kids opportunities to connect on a deeper level with the natural world around them. Two nature play areas at Oxbow could open as early as mid-May.

Where has the money from Metro’s 2006 natural areas bond measure gone?

May 9, 2019 10:37 a.m.

aerial photo of people walking along the viewpoint at Canemah Bluff

In 2006, voters across greater Portland approved a $227 million bond measure for Metro natural areas. More than a dozen years later, spending from the bond measure is nearly finished. So where did the money go?

Parks and Nature puts Equity Action Plan into action

By Grady Wheeler

April 4, 2019 3:40 p.m.

Attendees representing environmental, community-based and culturally specific organizations gathered in the Metro Council Chambers for an all-day equity training.

With the help of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team and the Center for Diversity and the Environment, the Parks and Nature Department hosted an all-day equity training for more than 60 people from around the region on March 11.

Read the spring 2019 issue of Our Big Backyard

April 1, 2019 4:10 p.m.

photo of Camp ELSO students learning to fish at Blue Lake

Sprinavasa Brown and Dr. Kellianne Richardson – two women of color – founded Camp ELSO in 2015 to provide Black and Brown children in greater Portland with opportunities to explore nature and environmental professions. Brown shares her journey and offers advice to White environmentalists and nature educators in the spring 2019 issue of Our Big Backyard.

Reclaiming spaces: Camp ELSO inspires children of color to explore the outdoors, science careers

By Sprinavasa Brown

April 1, 2019 10:01 a.m.

photo of two Camp ELSO guides and one student at Oxbow Regional Park's ancient forest

The story of Camp ELSO (Experience Life Science Outdoors) started with our vision. We want Black and Brown children to access more and better experiences than we did, experiences that help them see their potential in science, that prepare them for the potentially steep learning curve that comes with declaring a science major.