Monthly Work Party Thursday Nov 7th 2024
9am-Noon at Marshall Nature Park

Join SWTrails and Portland Parks and Recreation as we continue our regular 1st Thursday of each month work parties in one of the SW Portland Parks. This month on Thursday Nov 7th, 2024, between 9AM and Noon we will be working in Marshall Nature Park.  We will park and meet at: 9451 SW 18th Pl, Portland, OR 97219 Google Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RVxoxbebgHkFzrto7. This is the small parking lot at the north and west end of Marshall Park.  There is additional parking on SW Collins Ct a bit south and turn right to park on the side street.

There are lots of tasks to do out in Marshall Park this month as we try and stay ahead of winter weather and make the trail the best it can be for winter walkers and hikers. That includes working on clearing and adding trail drains so the water gets off and stays off the trail, possibly some split rail fence repair, raking leaves off the trail, leveling, “benching” the trail (making the trail a bit wider by removing excess soil that has sluffed onto the trail at the “hinge”).  It is really fun work and all the trail users appreciate this continuous improvement and maintenance. Keep in mind also that Portland Parks does this work day in and day out and SWTrails only on occasion. We will be walking up to 1 mile on the trails. The tools we use will be a fire break grubber tool we call the Green Grubber, loppers, pick mattocks, Pulaski, Mcleods, shovels, hand saws, and rakes. It is great fun to see and use some of these time-honored trail and fire tools and put them to work on the trails for all of us to enjoy.  There are restrooms on this work party down at the Marshall Park playground entrance area.

Please join us out working on the trails with Portland Parks this season.  We really need new volunteers. These work parties are designed to support a wide range of worker capabilities and build community in our neighborhoods. We welcome all with all abilities. So, give some thought to joining us or just stop by and say hi.

If you do plan to join in the fun, give me a heads-up on email, or text (503-753-8186 with your name), and I can then pass a head count to our Parks leaders. It is OK to just show up on the workday, also. Please be about 10-15 minutes early to the work party (8:45 am) to sign in and we always start with a safety and tools talk describing and demonstrating the work ahead.

As always, our work is guided by the Portland Parks Lands Stewardship folks. Parks will bring all the tools, gloves, and materials we need, and also coffee, snacks and water. On these work parties it is not necessary to stay for the whole event and you can work at whatever level your skill and energy allows. It is just great to meet the neighbors and get in a little trail work exercise.

When you join us, please wear work clothing, closed toe shoes and weather-appropriate layers.  It is the Pacific Northwest so who knows what weather we will get, but several layers are always a good idea. No experience is necessary! Youth participants must be at least age 14.