Read the spring 2017 issue of Our Big Backyard

Estella Ehelebe in her office in 1978, when she served as Multnomah County parks superintendent.

Meet Estella Ehelebe, the first and only black woman to lead Multnomah County Parks before they were transferred to Metro. She broke barriers her whole life and helped keep intact hte treasured ancient forest at Oxbow Regional Park.

Oregon iris: Best viewed in May and June at Cooper Mountain Nature Park.

Find out when and where to see Oregon iris and other native wildflowers while out ont he trails this spring and summer.

Rudy Rolon-Rivas es una persona apasionada con la naturaleza. En su posicíon como community healing initiative mentor, el trabaja exclusivamente con jóvenes en riesgo del Condado de Multnomah.

Get to know Rudy Rolon-Rivas, who mentors youths and inspires them to explore nature.

Grant Butte Wetlands combines with adjacent wetlands to form the 120-acre Fairview Creek Headwaters, bounded by Southeast Division Street and Southeast Powell Boulevard and adjacent to the Gresham-Fairview Trail.

Learn about the challenges -- and fun -- in restoring Grant Butte Wetlands, a former dairy farm in the heart of urban Gresham.

Explore the Oregon Zoo's new Education Center.

April 4, 2017 3 p.m.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors have trekked through the beloved ancient forest to Oxbow Regional Park, enchanted by the Douglas firs reaching for the sky and the endless hues of green all around. The ancient forest is intact today thanks in part to Estella Ehelebe, a former parks superintendent at Multnomah County, before the parks were transferred to Metro. Ehelebe was also the first and only black woman to lead the parks system, breaking barriers and advancing racial equity in the process.



        Click the image to read the spring 2017 issue of Our Big Backyard in a PDF format.

Read more about Ehelebe's life and legacy by reading the spring issue of Our Big Backyard, Metro's quarterly parks and nature magazine.

Find a copy of the magazine at a local public library branch, the Oregon Zoo, a Metro park, or at various community centers and senior centers. Or read individual stories online on Parks and Nature News or click the image on the right to read a PDF of the magazine.

Also in the spring magazine:

Explore the Oregon Zoo's new Education Center.
Meet Rudy Rolon-Rivas, who mentors and guides youths at Latino Network and inspires them to explore nature. Este artículo se encuentra disponible en español
Check out nine wildflowers to view at regional parks and natural areas this spring and summer.
Learn about the challenges in restoring Grant Butte Wetlands, the site of a former dairy farm in the heart of urban Gresham.
Celebrate the grand opening of the region's latest newest nature park, Orenco Woods Nature Park in Hillsboro.
Learn about an innovative partnership between Metro Parks and Nature and the Oregon Zoo that provides vegetation to elephants, bears and other animals at the zoo.
Get the details about fun nature classes and events, such as Bunny Bonanza on April 15 or Mother's Day birds and blooms walk on May 14.
Mark you calendar for Metro Free Parks Days May 5 and June 21.
And more!

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Read individual stories or view a PDF of the magazine on Parks and Nature News

Next: Part 2

Estella Ehelebe: force of nature