In the past owners of land adjacent to trails in Portland have objected to trails fearing that they would be liable for maintaining these trails, and if anyone was injured on the trail. SW Trails lobbied the Oregon Legislature and eventually saw the liability law changed.
The gist of the current law is that Portland land owners are now immune from liability for injuries to pedestrians on trails adjacent to their property. Nonprofit volunteer organizations like SW Trails who build the trails are also immune.
SW Trails worked on this issue for several years as the progress log shows below. This work eventually led to House Bill 2865 in the 2011 legislature and thus to the current state law.
Click here to read more about the history of this effort