Oregon Public Broadcasting

Portland Parks and Recreation has agreed to collaborate with a private non-profit to increase efforts to protect Forest Park.

OPB

Forest Park

The Forest Park Conservancy has helped with trail maintenance and habitat restoration for a long time. Now the group's role will be more formal.

Forest Park is home to elk and pygmy owls. But almost half the park's acres have been invaded by non-native weeds.

Michelle Bussard directs the Forest Park Conservancy. She says the park needs new sources of funding.

Michelle Bussard: "Will it be easy to find the money? I think in this economy, we have to face the fact that no, it is going to be very difficult. We're going to have to look to our corporate leaders to step up to the plate."

Bussard is hoping Nike and local banks and law firms will be interested. The agreement between the Conservancy and Portland Parks and Recreation doesn't address the debate over new mountain bike trails.

The Portland City Council will take up the bike issue in September.