Summer. The sun climbs higher in the sky, plants boom out of the ground, and birds are making breathtaking migrations from wintering grounds thousands of miles to the south. Millions of these intrepid travelers follow the great Pacific flyway, and our fair city—indeed, our fair neighborhood—sits smack in the middle of the flow.
Viewed from above, Wilshire Park must look like an avian McDonalds—the green tops of its Douglas firs akin to golden arches advertising a full menu of fruits, nuts, and bugs in the understory beneath—a veritable fast food feast for our feathered friends! How disappointed these hungry visitors must be to find little more than 14 acres of wood chips and mown grass beneath those majestic evergreens. Squawk! But it wouldn’t take much to alleviate this avian disappointment, make the park more beautiful, contribute to carbon sequestration, and even provide a few more places for our neighborhood dogs to post their olfactory messages. Some thoughtfully spaced native shrubs and small trees would certainly enhance the look of the area and provide the many birds that frequent the understory a place to rest and hunt for that tasty Caterpillar McNugget or Big McBeetleburger!
The key player in making this all fall into place is Portland Parks and Recreation (PP & R). PP & R decision-makers need to be persuaded of the worthiness and efficacy of judicious plantings of shrubs and small trees in the understory of at least a half dozen underused areas in the park (e.g., the edge along Shaver St.) that could benefit from well-spaced mid-level greenery. Jogging trails, off-leash areas, playgrounds, and playing fields would not be adversely affected, and plantings could be spaced far enough apart to avoid creating lurking places for skullduggery.
With the support of neighbors and advocacy of the BWNA Board, we just might be able to pull this off. Please contact me at Mogsaway@yahoo.com with ideas and suggestions.