NATURE PARK UPDATE
February 2023

Winter is here and nature is all around us! We're in constant motion at the Nature Park, yet it's a relaxing place to just sit back and enjoy the quiet. Now that the sun is setting after 5:00pm, afternoons in the Nature Park are a wonderful way to enjoy a stop at a picnic table to check out the snowy cover of Mt. Hood.

Visit the Gladstone Nature Park—download a Scavenger Hunt and walk the trails to see how many plants and birds you can identify or how many bunnies you can count. If you look close, you can see "Mr. and Mrs. Towhee" doing their ritual mating dances. See how the Nature Park has transformed now that Winter is here. Take a walk on the chipped trails and see the bright green Licorice Fern coming up for the Winter months.

Check out the signs at the Butterfly/Pollinator Hill to learn more about butterflies and pollinators, and the Mason Bee houses. The Mason Bees are done for the year–after gathering pollen and nectar, they've laid their eggs. We'll harvest the nesting blocks and let them hibernate for the Winter months, and bring the new cocoons out in the Spring to start the entire cycle over again.

Take a walk and enjoy the new StoryWalk® for Fall, "Flutter & Hum" by Julie Paschkis, features poems about animals and is presented in English and Spanish. Thanks to the Gladstone Public Library, the Gladstone Public Library Foundation and the Friends of Gladstone Nature Park for presenting this great offering to the park and community.

Looking ahead, mark your calendars for our Arbor Day Plant Sale on Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 9:00am-2:00pm held at the Gladstone Nature Park. Proceeds will support restoration at the Nature Park.

Visiting our parks is a great way to get outdoors, hike, and viewing the trees and birds are all great activities and can help us feel healthy. Remember that the Nature Park is fragile, so please make sure to obey Park Rules, which includes no smoking, open flames or fireworks.

Be well,
Friends of Gladstone Nature Park

---

A NEW LOOK IN THE PARK

Gladstone Nature Park is getting a new makeover. With approval from the City, the Friends of Gladstone Nature Park (FOGNAP) has contracted a licensed restoration service to help restore three acres of the park to its natural habitat. The project began in January of 2023 to clear some of the most heavily infested areas of Himalayan blackberry and will continue working periodically throughout the year to keep them from returning.

Since 2015, FOGNAP members and community volunteers have been working diligently to clear Himalayan blackberry, English ivy, Scotch broom and other invasive species from the park. We have also been reseeding and planting in these areas with native species. FOGNAP would like to see entire park cleared of invasive blackberry, but is currently unable to contract having the entire park done due to budgetary reasons.

FOGNAP is a nonprofit group highly committed to restoring the park to its natural state. All funds go toward restoration of the park. We are a 100% volunteer organization of only a few people. If you’d like to help by volunteering, becoming a member, or making a donation please contact us at [email protected].

Check out the photos below to see the changes...and read below the photos to find out why it's so important to remove invasive blackberry and ivy.

Why Remove Invasive Blackberry And Ivy?

1. Himalayan blackberry causes trees and plant seedlings to stop growing and die which leaves a forest or meadow with very low bio-diversity and eventually nothing but blackberry in place.
2. It creates large areas of unusable habitat for many creatures. Even though blackberry has berries, the lack of bio-diversity causes a shortage of food for most animals most of the year.
3. It causes a reduction of diverse flowers for pollinators.
4. Older blackberry canes can build up a substantial litter layer which can serve as fuel for wildfires.
5. The root balls of the blackberry make soil unstable for grasses and plants native to the area. Native grasses help the habitat. Not only do grasses bring multiple benefits to insects, birds, and other native wildlife, but also to general urban environments. Grasses have fibrous roots which hold soil in place, helping to build organic matter in the soil and increase water infiltration.
6. Removing invasive blackberry and ivy is a di cult, ongoing battle across the nation, but if left to take over we lose more of our natural areas and the benefits from them.

            Sources: Clackamas Soil & Water Conservation, National Wildlife
            Foundation, USDA Department of Agriculture.

Species in the Park

Gladstone Nature Park is a
class C mixed-oak habitat.
Class C indicates that the habitat
was once disturbed unnaturally.
Learn more...

History of the Park

Pre-1800, this promontory of 40 feet of basalt was a forested area with wetlands. Less than a mile away, the Clackamas Indians
lived in lodges along the Clackamas River.
Learn more...

3 Parks in 1 Day

Tour nearby sister parks in an afternoon. Visit Gladstone Nature Park, Camassia Nature Preserve,
and Canemah Bluff Nature Park—all within 11 minutes of each other.
Learn more...

What Our Neighbors Are Saying...

"My nieces and I come to this park every other Saturday rain or shine and we love it so much. I cannot express how much I appreciate all the love and attention you all pour into the park in its general maintenance and appearance. As an aunt I also appreciate how diligently you track the poison oak. The signs are so helpful. We also love love love the nature items scavenger hunt activities posted by the message board at the main entrance. Thanks again."
– Pam White

"I moved into the area in 2015 and remember thinking “it’s one paved path, it’s not a park, it’s a shortcut” Fast forward a few short years and WOW, it’s an excellent local park. We walk our dog through there multiple times per week and enjoy seeing all the changes and growth each year. Thank you to those who had this vision and the volunteers that keep making it better all the time. We’ll done!!"
– D. Fredericks

"Great park tons of trails to walk on with your dog. Mine loves it here its always shaded on the trails which is nice and always mowed and kept clean. Right now there are tons of bunnies on the trails and wildlife. They label the plants so you see what they are too."
- Mandy Magnuson


"Nice little park. It had a lot more going for it than I expected. We'll be back."
– Dana Little

"So pretty awesome how different this park is. Little trails everywhere. What's great is that they have little stakes next to trees and bushes so u can know what they are."
– Natasia Jones


"Love our park a little more everyday. Thank you!"
– Eric Dobson


"We appreciate all you are doing. We love the trail and walk our dogs there all the time."
– Ellen and John Skofstad

Want to Get Involved?

FOGNAP Business Meetings

Park Clean-Up Days

2nd Thursday of every month
7:00pm
Contact Us for Location // Gladstone

  Last Saturday of every month, unless noted
9:00am to 12:00pm, rain or shine
Meet @ Webster Road entrance (unless noted)