PRSRT. STD.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
GRESHAM, OR
PERMIT NO. 32
September 2020 THE CHARBONNEAU VILLAGER 23
Enhancing the urban forest in Wilsonville
Wilsonville’s Natural
Resources Program helps
develop management plan
for trees
By CHRISTOPHER PEIFFER
The urban forest is comprised
of all trees in the
city, both native and
planted, that contribute
to the seasonal beauty and livability
of the community. Whether
it is a majestic 200-year old
Oregon white oak, or a young
flowering cherry, trees greatly
contribute to the sense of place
and quality of life in Wilsonville.
Trees help clean the air, conserve
the soil and water, reduce
heating and cooling costs and
bring nature close to where we
live. Wilsonville’s urban forest is
a valuable asset that, if maintained,
will continue to add to
the health of our community for
generations to come.
The commitment to a healthy urban
forest is evidenced by Wilsonville
receiving the recognition as a
Tree City USA by the Arbor Day
Foundation every year since 1997.
The city has been granted numerous
“Growth Awards” from the Arbor
Day Foundation for outstanding
efforts on urban forest projects.
This status indicates the
city’s long-term dedication to the
care of trees comprising the urban
forest as well as the City’s Heritage
Tree Program,
which seeks to preserve
trees of special
historical significance.
Based on a
2018 inventory, the
city has over 24,000
street trees but no
strategic plan for
maintaining and
growing this urban
forest, until now.
To create a future
vision for Wilsonville’s
urban forest, the City of
Wilsonville has begun the process
of developing the Urban Forest
Management Plan (“Plan”) with
PlanIT Geo’s urban forestry consultants.
This plan will provide an
integrated approach to preserving,
sustaining, diversifying and regenerating
Wilsonville’s urban forest
into the future. While the plan will
We all benefit from
the proper care and
enhancement of the
urban forest in
Wilsonville and
ensuring we’re
growing a
sustainable, healthy
and vibrant city.
cover the entire city, it will have
two special focus areas: Charbonneau
and Town Center. By conducting
an inventory of trees and
gathering input from the community,
the goals, objectives, strategies,
actions and monitoring techniques
will be developed for urban forest
management in these focus
areas and citywide.
Instrumental to the development
of this plan, is
the participation from
the community.
This project, which will
run through spring 2021,
includes a series of virtual
public meetings and
online surveys to provide
information and to gather
feedback by listening
to the viewpoints of the
community. On Sept.1, the first online
survey will be posted on the
Let’s Talk, Wilsonville! website to
gather input from the public relating
to urban forest benefits, treerelated
issues, tree maintenance
and planting needs, and risks to
the urban forest. Following up on
the first public survey, a virtual recorded
community meeting will be
held Sept.15 to raise awareness
and provide background on the
project. It will be an interactive online
meeting to encourage participation
in the planning process.
We all benefit from the proper
care and enhancement of the urban
forest in Wilsonville and ensuring
we’re growing a sustainable,
healthy and vibrant city.
These goals cannot be achieved
without the input of its residents
and a shared commitment and
partnership with the city. Together,
we will develop a strategic plan
that will sustain the city’s character
shaped by the urban forest,
maintain public safety, establish a
sustainable and resilient urban
forest, strengthen and create new
partnerships, and grow a healthy
urban forest to benefit all who live,
work, and play in the City of Wilsonville.
For more information, visit the
Let’s Talk, Wilsonville! website.
For questions and comments
please contact the Kerry Rappold,
natural resources program manager,
at 503-570-1570 or rappold@ci.
wilsonville.or.us.
CHARBONNEAU
VILLAGER
Inside the
Villager
New year, new
management
— Page 2
Thank you,
Cindy! — Page 10
Singles club
goes all
female — Page 15
Changes
for board
nominations
— Page 8
Plus Event Calendar,
all club reports and
more!
Published by
VOL. 42, NO. 2 � FEBRUARY 2019
� CHARBONNEAU, OREGON
With love in
their hearts
— Page 6
PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP PHOTO: JON HOUSE
ADVERTISE IN THE VILLAGER!
Reach every resident in Charbonneau.
Contact Jesse Marichalar
971-204-7774
[email protected]