Palisades Neighborhood Association

Celebrate Arbor Month in Lake Oswego

Published April 2, 2026


Arbor Day, America’s national tree holiday, is observed on the last Friday of April to celebrate the vital role trees play in our lives and to encourage their planting and care. The City of Lake Oswego has extended the celebration throughout the entire month as Arbor Month.

Learn More Here

For 37 consecutive years, the City of Lake Oswego has been recognized as a Tree City USA (TCUSA) by the Arbor Day Foundation, honoring the City’s strong commitment to urban forest management and stewardship. To earn this designation, cities must meet four standards: maintain a tree board (Lake Oswego’s Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Advisory Board), adopt a tree ordinance, invest at least $2 per capita in urban forestry, and officially proclaim and celebrate Arbor Day each year.

This year, Lake Oswego also received its ninth TCUSA Growth Award from the Arbor Day Foundation, recognizing innovation and excellence in tree care. The award highlights the City’s recent hiring of its first Urban Forester, Courtney Wilson, who joined the team in October 2025. This new role supports the management, maintenance, and long-term health of the City’s urban forest across public spaces, in collaboration with Parks, Public Works, and Planning. The position was a key recommendation from the 2024 Urban and Community Forestry Plan Update.



Urban & Community Forestry Events:

TRILLIUM FESTIVAL
Saturday, April 4, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tryon Creek State Natural Area, 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd.
Join Friends of Tryon Creek for the 46th Annual Trillium Festival, a festive day in the woods to celebrate the return of the Trillium, an early season perennial native to our local forests. In addition to the Native Plant Sale, this family-friendly event includes a Gardening Resources Fair and free interactive nature stations in the classroom and on the trails. More event details are available at www.tryonfriends.org/calendar.

BE A TREE HERO 
Help Oswego Lake Watershed Council restore and enhance treasured woodlands around town this Arbor Month. Come learn about woodland ecology and lend a hand for a healthier habitat by removing invasive English ivy.  Capacity is limited and registration is required. Visit www.oswegowatershed.org/volunteer-calendar/ to learn more or scan this QR code for quick access to register for all upcoming Oswego Lake Watershed Council events:.

  • Westlake HOA Work Party, Saturday, April 4 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Woodside Circle HOA Work Party, Saturday, April 11 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Mountain Park HOA Work Party, Wednesday, April 15 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
  • Mountain Park HOA Work Party, Saturday, April 18 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
  • Beth Ryan Nature Preserve, Saturday, April 25 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Throughout Arbor Month, Parks & Recreation invites you to take part in the Tree of the Week series, featuring Heritage Trees that bring beauty, diversity, and historical significance to our community. Explore our remarkable trees, visit them in person, and discover more ways to celebrate trees all month long.

Learn More Here

WANT TO GET INVOLVED?

VOLUNTEER OR DONATE

Donate
Volunteer
PNA Community
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

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).