Gresham neighbors and tree lovers are once again coming together to save nature that is under threat from development.
The recent effort is to protect a stand of 50 Douglas firs in Rockwood. That greenspace is being eyeballed by a developer who wants to construct 20 townhouses onto the 1.22 acre space, located at 270 N.E. 188th Ave. That would transform a dead-end street by punching an extension to Northeast 188th, increasing traffic and density, while removing all that greenery.
Advocates, operating as Rockwood Greenspace Now!, are pushing back because, “Rockwood needs more, not fewer trees.” Rather than the development, the hope is for the city of Gresham to step in to purchase the land and maintain it as a park. The ask is for the city to purchase the property for $495,900.
An online petition is being circulated to make it happen. Learn more and sign at change.org/p/save-the-trees-in-rockwood.
This whole matter may give some déjà vu. The developer, SGS Development LLC, is the same that attempted to build atop a 260-acre forest and wetland in Gresham in 2021. That led to neighbors fighting back to save “Shaull Woods” by convincing the city to spend more than $2.5 million in Metro Regional Government parks and nature bond money, with financial support from East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District and state dollars, to save the forest, protecting the property at 3535 W. Powell Boulevard.