Past Land Acquisition Projects

Old Growth Grove (Ancient Forest Preserve):
This 38 acre parcel of land, which holds a number of  trees estimated to be over 400 years old, has never been logged and was saved from clear-cutting through a fund-raising drive in the early 1990's. The parcel lies just a few miles north of the northern border of Forest Park in a narrow area of the Park's wildlife corridor, and it also forms part of the Oaks Bottom wetlands watershed. In addition to providing important habitat and watershed protections, the existence of this old growth grove just a few miles from downtown Portland provides a wealth of educational opportunities. Click here for more information on the Ancient Forest Preserve.

Fix-the-Hole Acquisition:
In 1999, a 73 acre in-holding in the Park's habitat-rich northern section was added to Forest Park. The land is between Germantown and Newberry Roads, not far off the Wildwood Trail. It is bisected by the BPA road that follows Firelane 12, making it accessible to hikers, mountain bikers, and runners. This acquisition was the culmination years of work by Friends of Forest Park, the city of Portland, and Metro. Plaques are being placed on boulders at the site during the fall of 2001 to commemorate the hundreds of major donors who helped us acquire this land.

Ramsey II Acquisition:
In December 2002, 31 acres of land adjacent to the Newton Road Park entrance were added to Forest Park. The Ramsey family had originally planned to develop this land. The wooded area was already surrounded on three sides by Forest Park, and adding it eliminated a "pinch point," an area of the park less than 3/4 mile wide. Pinch points can restrict wildlife migration and, if developed, are at risk of becoming edge habitat. Edge habitat, found on the boundary zones of the park, is characterized by fewer native species, more introduced species, and lower quality habitat. Friends of Forest Park, Portland Parks and Recreation, and Metro were all integral to the purchase of this land.