Forest Park Conservancy

Spring is here, and with it comes a veritable parade of dogs on the trails! We love to see dogs (and their humans) enjoying the parks and the great spring weather. However, despite it being a requirement in Forest Park and Marquam Nature Park, off-leash dogs continue to be one of the top-reported park issues every spring.

Off-leash dogs can pose a safety hazard to park users and other dogs, causing fights, knocking over park users, and more. Additionally, especially now during ground nesting bird season, off-leash dogs can cause considerable impacts to our local ecosystems.

So please, save yourself the fine, be a respectful park user, and bring a leash (and p**p bags!) with you before you bring your dog on the trails.

It's time: brushing season begins this week! Every year, we hit the trails in Forest Park and Marquam Nature Park to brush the trails, removing excess spring growth in order to open up the trails.

Due to the large number of park users who frequent these parks, this is a necessary part of our stewardship efforts. Without brushing, our parks would become less accessible and park users, without clear trails, would form social trails, which contribute to trail erosion.

Last year, we covered 51.91 miles of trail, and this year, with your help, we can do it again! The first brushing work party is this Thursday, with more events currently scheduled out through June. Use the link in the commets to find our Events Calendar.