Metro grant secures I-205 trees

Recently planted trees from an I-205 corridor planting in January. (FOT file) — New trees from an I-205 corridor planting in January. (FOT file)

It’s official, Friends of Trees is coming to I-205!

With their unanimous council vote, Metro awarded Friends of Trees the largest capital grant in its history yesterday to plant trees along the interstate, between the Columbia River and Gladstone. Partnering in the three-year, $415,436 grant is the Oregon Department of Transportation, which owns and maintains the land along the interstate.

This grant represents the linking of two programs, Metro’s Nature in Neighborhoods and Friends of Trees’ Green Space Initiative. Together they intend to plant 1,300 native trees and 16,000 native shrubs.

Friends of Trees will involve an estimated 2,400 volunteers giving 9,600 hours of time and will also continue its partnership with Verde, placing disadvantaged communities in the forefront of environmental job creation.

The funding for the Metro grant stems from the 2006 voter-approved measure 26-80, the Natural Areas Bond Measure.

Plantings begin this fall and will conclude in spring of 2011.

The packet agenda and audio from the Aug. 13 council meeting are available online.

–TS