David Bragdon wins Arbor Day Foundation award

david-bragdon-planting-with-Friends-of-Trees-along-i-205-corridor-3-20-10 — Metro Council President David Bragdon, right, planted with Friends of Trees at the I-205 Multi-Use Path planting on March 20, 2010. (FOT file)

Congratulations to Metro Council President David Bragdon, who received the 2010 Excellence in Urban Forest Leadership Award from The Arbor Day Foundation. Bragdon received the award for his role in preserving and restoring forest and park land in the Portland-metro region.

Metro is a key partner in two Friends of Trees projects initiated this year–a three-year project with the Oregon Department of Transportation to green the I-205 Multi-Use Path and a partnership with the Audubon Society of Portland to restore the Collins Sanctuary, 84-acres of natural area adjacent to Forest Park, which Metro purchased and designated for restoration.

Friends of Trees’ Gift Trees were planted in the Collins Sanctuary during the 2009-10 planting season and will be planted in the sanctuary in the coming years as well.

The project to green the I-205 Multi-Use Path is supported by a $410,000 Metro Nature in Neighborhoods capital grant made possible through voter-approved funding in 2006 to purchase and restore natural areas in the Portland metro area. As a result of the project, thousands of trees will be planted along the 16.5-mile path used by pedestrians, bicyclers, and transit users.

Read more about the award on OregonLive.

–Teri Ruch