Portland Parks & Recreation and the Bureau of Environmental Services in partnership with Metro and with assistance from the Trust for Public Land, will purchase the 146-acre River View Cemetery property this summer. This purchase will protect the forest from development, which would have negative impacts on watershed health and will also mark the start of an extensive project to remove invasive vegetation and restore native plants. The site - as a key link in the Westside Wildlife Corridor - will be managed in the future as a natural area by PP&R, which will work with the community to develop a trail and habitat management plan.
The River View property is a high priority investment in natural area protection and restoration. This critical piece of green infrastructure will provide cooler water to the Willamette River, protect watershed health and address issues related to maintaining biodiversity in the urban core. The site features intact headwaters and a densely forested area with 2.2 miles of perennial and intermittent streams. The property provides access to the Willamette River for people and wildlife and helps knit together a wildlife corridor along the west hills. Thanks to the foresight of the board of River View Cemetery and agency partners, one of the last large tracts of forested habitat in Portland will be preserved for future generations to enjoy and experience.