Backyard Habitat Certification Program Offers Free Enrollment to the Palisades Neighborhood

Published February 3, 2026

The Backyard Habitat Certification Program has reached out to the Palisades Neighborhood with an exciting opportunity: free enrollment for residents interested in transforming their yards into vibrant, ecologically supportive spaces.

Enroll — > Click here.

Backyard Habitat helps people create landscapes that support native wildlife, pollinators, and birds, while also contributing to broader community goals like stormwater management and climate resilience. With more than 14,000 participants across Clackamas, Clark, Multnomah, and Washington counties, the program has become a vital resource for neighbors who want to make a meaningful environmental impact right at home.

Through accessible education and hands-on guidance, Backyard Habitat empowers residents to replace problematic introduced plants with native species, reduce the use of toxic chemicals, and build healthier outdoor spaces that benefit both people and wildlife. The organization believes that creative, inspiring education turns everyday gardeners into key contributors to regional ecological stewardship.

Beyond environmental benefits, engaging with outdoor spaces supports personal health, wellbeing, and a sense of joy and play. Backyard Habitat is also deeply committed to expanding access to nature for marginalized communities and offers community-based programming and inclusive frameworks designed to make participation welcoming and equitable for all.

If you’ve ever thought about making your yard work harder for wildlife—and for your community—this is a great place to start.

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Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP) Project Coordinator

Primary Role:

  • Handles NEP grant applications, grant approvals, reviews receipts for reimbursement and is the single point of contact between the entire Palisades Neighborhood Association (PNA) and the City.
  • To be successfull in this role you should be organized, communicative.
  • Time commitment: From 8-12 hrs. throughout the year

Process:

  • Accepting NEP proposals: Anyone living in the Palisades Neighborhood Association can submit proposal(s) to the NEP Coordinator along with estimated costs throughout the year. They should follow the application guidelines and answer the questions related to their proposal.
  • PNA Board will Vote on Which Items To Include in our NEP Proposal: During the month of March PNA board meeting the NEP Coordinator asks the board to vote on the proposed item(s). NEP Coordinator encourages person(s) proposing the item(s) to attend the meeting to answer questions that might come up. The PNA board then votes on which items should be included in the NEP grant proposal.
  • Developing and Submitting the NEP Grant Proposalt: During the NEP grant proposal period (usually the month of May) the NEP Project Coordinator:
    • Fills out the NEP grant proposal application based on items approved by the PNA Board;
    • Gets sign offs from the PNA Chair
    • Submits the proposal form to the city in early May for the initial review process
    • Provides additional information requested by the city
    • Revises and submits the final application to the City by the deadline (typically May 31).

What Happens Next:

  • Iris McCaleb from the City forwards the NEP grant proposals to the grant review committee and then to the City Council who review it and awards certain grants.The NEP Coordinator will receive a letter of award from the City and will share it with the PNA Leadership Team.
  • As items are purchased from the approved grant list, the project close-out form is filled out by the person requesting reimbursement. They will attach digital copies of receipts and photos and then submit all to both the NEP Project Coordinator and the PNA Chair. The NEP Project Coordinator submits the reimbursement request to Iris at the City for reimbursement.
  • Reimbursement checks are then sent directly to the person who purchased the item(s).