Friends of Forest Park

Grant writing skills are critical to the survival of many non-profit environmental organizations.  In this Capstone students learn grant writing skills by developing real proposals for the Friends of Forest Park.  The Friends of Forest Park is a non-profit organization working in partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation and the Ivy Removal Project to protect and enhance Portland's Forest Park. The rich history of citizen-based environmental advocacy in the US will play a central role in class discussions and reflective writing assignments throughout the term.

Friends of Forest Park has a long history of stewardship and advocacy in Portland. As the scope of their work expands, and the threats to Forest Park grow in number, the organization is taking on even greater responsibility. In the fall of 2007, the organization will officially become the Forest Park Conservancy. The goal of the Conservancy will be to inspire and foster deep community involvement and broad financial support for Forest Park.

The Forest Park Conservancy will work in collaboration with Portland Parks and Recreation and other partners to benefit Forest Park and the greater community. Their work takes many forms including: advocacy and land acquisition; educational programs, including guided natural and cultural history hikes; restoration projects including removal of invasive plants and planting of native trees and shrubs; sustainable trail maintenance; improvement of public access and existing trailheads; and numerous volunteer projects/opportunities.

The mission of The Forest Park Conservancy is to maintain, preserve, protect, and improve the City of Portland's Forest Park so as to enhance its value as an irreplaceable asset for wildlife habitat and for the use and enjoyment of the public. We provide vital support to the Portland Parks and Recreation Natural Resources Division, which manages this city-owned Park on a limited budget. Our primary areas of focus include land acquisition, habitat preservation, trail and trailhead projects, and public outreach.