Forest park officially began in 1947 when 3,000 acres of land were acquired and dedicated to the city by the City Club and Ding Cannon, then CEO of The Standard. But interest in preserving the heavily forested west hills of Portland dates back as early as 1899 when city planners and landscapers were brought in from across the country to design a majestic city park like no other.

Forest Park holds more than 80 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, about 62 species of mammals, over 100 species of birds, and trees as old as 250 years. The park continues to grow in size, thanks to new acquisitions and donations heralded by the tireless work of the Forest Park Conservancy (formerly Friends of Forest Park) and Portland Parks & Recreation.