One City's Wilderness: Forest Park
This is an important message to all of you who care about Forest Park. To those who love it now and want to see it pass in good stead to future generations.
I have a great favor to ask of you. I would love to hear your thoughts.
As you may know, I am the author of a book, "One City's Wilderness: Portland's Forest Park." This book has been continuously in print for twenty years, with many reprints and two editions. I am now in the process of writing a new, third edition of the book. This one will include descriptions every trail in the park (the "all trail's challenge"!) new information on the birds, plants, history of the Park, and also include completely new, beautiful maps. Besides including updated bird, mammal, plants and lichens lists, the third edition will also highlight the thirty most common birds and thirty most visible plants with full color photographs - acting as a field guide. I have always believed that the more one understands about this glorious Park, the more he or she will be convinced it needs our protection and help.
What would you like to see in a new edition of "One City's Wilderness?" More importantly, why is Forest Park important to you? Why do you love it, use it, think about it, and keep returning to it? If you could wave a wand and make your vision come true for its future, what future would that be?
We are at a pivotal point in Forest Park's history. We have a wonderful past that has brought us here, giving Portland one of the most significant natural places in any city in the world. Now we must look to the future… a future where a million more people will be moving to live in our City in the next few decades. The Park, for better or worse, will change.
In the Third Edition of my book, I envision a section devoted to thoughts about the Park, its value and its future. These would include your thoughts. What your vision would be for the park … what it means to you now … why you use it … what you would like to see it become … or not become? I hope to incorporate some of your words into my book, with, of course, credit to you.
For me, compiling "One City's Wilderness: Portland's Forest Park" has always been a labor of love. I grew up living near the Park. I became a wildlife biologist and returned as a biological consultant to study the park. Later, I wrote a book about it, and then a second edition. My goal has always been to help people realize what a truly amazing place Forest Park is.
Forest Park is a true gift to all of us. I thank you very much in advance for your time and thoughtful reflections. I also want thank my publisher, Oregon State University Press, for giving me the creative opportunity to add what I believe will be an important chapter to my new book.
Please send any relevant thoughts or comments to fpnotes@forestparkconservancy.org.
Sincerely yours,
Marcy Cottrell Houle
