News of interest to the Maplewood neighborhood will appear here
Yard Tree Giveaway
Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry is in the midst giving away 4,000 free trees to Portlanders this fall! With only around 1,000 trees left, they are making another push to get the last trees out the door. Trees provide essential services like cleaning the air we breathe, keeping us cool during the hot summer months, blocking noise, and improving our mental and physical health.
Folks can REGISTER NOW for up to three trees.
Eligibility Reminder: Trees must be planted within City of Portland limits and they are for planting on private property, not as street trees.
Check out the species they are giving away this year!
Support kids walking and biking to school
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is launching a new project to increase safety and comfort on neighborhood greenways being used by children biking and walking to school in the Maplewood area and they want your input.
In recent years, groups of parents and kids walking or biking to school together—known as “walk buses” or “bike buses”—have grown in popularity. To support these “buses,” PBOT will work with the communities around four Portland elementary schools (Abernethy, James John, Lent, and Maplewood) to identify improvements along their routes. You can provide input on what improvements are needed through an online survey that’s open right now. While folks can provide feedback on any neighborhood greenway or street with the survey, PBOT is most interested in feedback on the bike bus routes, which are marked on the survey map. The survey is open now through the end of November 2025.
Over the next year, PBOT will gather input and develop projects to improve safety and comfort on neighborhood greenways used by bike & walk buses. In the second year of the project, PBOT will build an initial set of improvements. Learn more at the project website, Portland.gov/BetterGreenways, and take the online survey.
Gas leaf blower ban coming on January 1st
Starting next year, the only time gas leaf blowers will be allowed to be used in the city of Portland will be during the wet season of Oct – Dec of 2026 and 2027. Starting in 2028, gas blowers will be banned for good. Start looking now for an electric or battery operated one and be sure to tell any contractors or property managers that you hire. The property owner is responsible for any violations, not the contractor or property manager. More information here.
Oregon Invasive Species Online Hotline
Have you seen something suspicious in your backyard or neighborhood? Are you having trouble identifying something you’ve found? Report potential invasive species you’ve found to the Online Hotline. Your submission will provide vital early detection information to the experts working to stop the next invasion before it starts!
Firewise Community Program
The Firewise Community Program is all about helping neighborhoods work together to prepare for wildfires—because wildfires can affect everyone, whether you’re near forests, parks, or even in the suburbs. It’s a team effort supported by Portland Fire & Rescue and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to make homes and neighborhoods more wildfire-resilient. The idea is to take proactive steps to reduce risks now so you’re ready if a wildfire ever comes your way. More information here.