Rooted in equity: How Friends of Tryon Creek is reimagining urban nature

If you've ever visited Tryon Creek State Natural Area, you've seen firsthand how lucky Portland is to have such a beautiful urban forest. What you may not know is it's also a place where community, culture, and conversation come together. At the heart of this is Friends of Tryon Creek - a community-driven nonprofit dedicated to helping people build or reclaim their relationship with nature. Through their Cultural Restoration Plan, funded by the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF), Friends of Tryon Creek has been able to expand their efforts, deepen their commitment to equity, and cultivate meaningful connections with diverse communities across Portland.

Founded in 1970 by dedicated neighbors passionate about preserving Tryon Canyon, Friends of Tryon Creek has evolved significantly over the decades. In 2021, the organization took an intentional step forward by adopting a new mission and vision rooted in equity, inclusion, and genuine community engagement. Recognizing the historical barriers many communities - especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color - have faced in accessing natural spaces, the nonprofit is committed to helping dismantle these barriers and reshaping how we interact with and care for the land.

Recently, Friends of Tryon Creek hosted a volunteer event which really showcased the ways that PCEF support empowers action. Volunteers planted culturally significant native plants like currants, roses, deer fern, and maidenhair fern. These species of plants are traditionally used for medicine, basketry, and community healing. But their approach isn't limited to planting new species; the organization thoughtfully balances restoration with honoring the existing plants, including non-native species introduced over generations. Their philosophy centers around working with the forest, understanding its history, and creating harmony.

Friends of Tryon Creek also focuses on restoring habitat critical for salmon, lamprey, and cutthroat trout. Through efforts like creek-bank stabilization and expanding floodplain habitats, they aim to welcome back these important native species. As community volunteers gather regularly, they learn and share skills that empower them to nurture nature wherever life takes them.

Executive Director Gabe Sheoships emphasizes that Tryon Creek is more accessible now than it's ever been. Community members and Friends of Tryon Creek advocated for a bus stop right in front of the park's entrance. Once accessible mainly by car, visitors can catch bus line 35 to this urban nature space.

The organization's programs create spaces for diverse groups of Portlanders to engage, connect, and care for the forest collectively. Friends of Tryon Creek sees this community network as similar to the interconnected roots of trees - stronger together and able to weather storms as one. Through its partnership with PCEF, Friends of Tryon Creek is building a healthier forest and a stronger, more inclusive community deeply connected to the natural world.

To learn more about Tryon Creek State Natural Area or to get involved with Friends of Tryon Creek, please visit their website: Friends of Tryon Creek.