This piece comes courtesy of Sellwood’s own Julie Kramer:

On a very soggy Saturday in late March, about 15 good Portland citizen volunteers descended upon River View Natural Area, Portland Parks and Recreation’s newly acquired property. A few of us from the bike shop took the time to get our hands dirty, installing native plants deep in the heart of the woods, in an effort to curb erosion and restore balance to the area. Rachel Felice was our fearless leader, starting the day with a grand spread of coffee and other treats, foul-weather ponchos, jackets and rain pants, gloves and hand warmers. She answered questions tirelessly and enthusiastically, while directing our eager shovels with an impressive variety of native plants. We’re excited to see the possibilities of great new trails in Southwest Portland, just a hop, skip and a bridge away from the bike shop.
Here is the link to another great community event on the EAST side of the Sellwood Bridge this coming Saturday

Park (your bike or car) at Sellwood Riverfront Park parking lot (SE Spokane & SE Oaks Park Way) and meet the group at the picnic tables by the river.

Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge & Oaks Crossing Natural Area

Saturday, April 21st, 9:00 AM-noon

Spend your Earth Day helping to protect and preserve one of Portland’s most important wildlife areas!  Help remove invasive weeds, pick up trash, and more.  Please dress for the weather and wear close-toed shoes. Tools, gloves, and snacks will be provided. Park in the Sellwood Riverfront Park parking lot (SE Spokane & SE Oaks Park Way) and meet the group at the picnic tables by the river. This is a family-friendly event with tasks for all ages (children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult). For more information or to RSVP, contact Marissa at Marissa.Dorais@PortlandOregon.gov or 503-823-7016.

To register, go to: http://www.solv.org/programs/solv_it.asp