Located at SW 29th Ave and SW Maricara St., Portland, OR
Maricara Park, a 15-acre Natural Area managed by the City of Portland Department of Parks and Rec, has been undergoing invasive weed removal since 2003 with a unique collaboration between city staff and the surrounding neighborhood community. Maricara Park benefited from a vegetation survey completed by Parks staff which identified invasive species such as English ivy, Clematis, English holly, Japanese knotweed, European hawthorn, Cherry plum, and English laurel. Using the vegetation survey information, a crew went through and flagged important native species. The color-coded flagging system allowed the neighborhood community to identify areas to either manually pull invasive plants or to avoid areas with natives. Mechanical and chemical methods are also used to treat invasive plants such as Japanese knotweed, English holly, and Himalayan blackberry. (Photo shows: Lower wetland infested with invasive weeds in June of 2003.)
Maricara Park has popular trails and an existing kiosk that could provide a great education and outreach opportunity. The informal but high-function relationship between Parks staff and the neighborhood community has proven to be a successful system. In the most recent vegetation survey, Maricara Park ranked 2 on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being the highest score. Neighborhood volunteers continue to provide on-going maintenance of the natural area. (Photo shows: Areas that were previously covered with invasive plants, and are now recovering. This photo depicts native vegetation re-growing in recent invasive removal area.)
