Boosting the health of the Willamette River is a cause we at Swanson, Thomas, Coon & Newton can stand behind. That’s why we jumped at the opportunity to spend a day this summer helping to improve the Oaks Crossing Natural Area.
On July 31, STCN staff and attorneys, along with employees of Portland Parks & Recreation and Willamette Riverkeepers, gathered for a service day to help make needed enhancements to the park, which provides a precious habitat for wildlife along the Willamette River. Members of our staff were there to donate transportation (in the form of partner Ray Thomas’ boat, a 1974 Kenner Sewanee houseboat) as well as their physical efforts in pulling ivy and picking up trash to help Portland Parks & Recreation fulfill its goals.
The parks department relies heavily on volunteer efforts for its City Nature program, which works to preserve and restore Portland’s natural areas. Last year volunteers clocked more than 500,000 hours (valued at more than $1 million) to help keep the city’s natural parks safe and healthy.