Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry

In honor of Earth Day, Portland and Gresham invite you to a leisurely springtime Tree Walk from Verdell Burdine Rutherford, through Rockwood Central, and on to Vance Park for a meal. These parks are chosen specifically because of their historical, present, and future legacies in the Black community of Portland and Gresham.

This Black Earth Day Stroll brings together community leaders Kalimah Abioto (Studio Abioto), Pamela Slaughter (People of Color Outdoors), and the founding brothers of Leaders Become Legends, who will share their stories about our connectivity to trees and the natural world around us. Meet science experts Portland and Gresham Urban Forestry, and Friends of Trees, who will be there to share their savvy and answer questions about their work with the trees in our lives. We’ll break bread at Vance Park with a healthful meal, before returning to Verdell Burdine Rutherford Park.

Join the experience, share your story, grow our narrative. All ages and abilities are welcome. RSVP below!
Schedule:

10:15am: Check in at Verdell Burdine Rutherford Park

11:00am: Our walk begins

11:40am: Eco-activity identifying trees and tree facts at Rockwood Central Park

12:15pm: Our walk continues

12:45pm: Arrive at Vance Park, break bread, and share stories

1:40pm: Leave Vance Park to return to Verdell Rutherford Park

2:00pm: Event ends, leave Verdell Rutherford Park

The walk is 2.4 miles roundtrip. We will amble down residential side streets, escorted by the Gresham Urban Forestry and Portland Parks rangers. Portland Urban Forestry and our colleagues at the Rosewood Initiative can drive those needing the accommodation from Vance Park back to Verdell Rutherford Park.

-- Learn about Ms. Verdell Burdine Rutherford: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRFZtlfVUQo
-- Learn about Vance Park’s Juneteenth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9yKyuQ8UUI

Plan on coming? Please sign up by April 18th so that we can prepare food for you.
Dietary concerns or questions? Email Brittany Gadbury at brittany.wade@portlandoregon.gov