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What is Moreland Woods?

Moreland Woods is a wooded two-acre property located on SE 14th Avenue between SE Duke and SE Claybourne Streets in Portland’s Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood. It is owned by Foundation Partners Group (FPG), a Florida-based company, which purchased Wilhelm’s Portland Memorial Mausoleum and its surrounding properties in 2017.

On the bluff just three blocks west of the Milwaukie-Bybee retail hub, Moreland Woods sits between Wilhelm’s to the south and Llewellyn Elementary to the north. It’s a quiet place, shaded by twenty mature Douglas-fir trees, with a dog exercise area, rustic benches, horseshoe pits, abundant wildlife including owls and bald eagles, and views of Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge to the west.

What’s happening there?

After purchasing Wilhelm’s, FPG expressed an interest in selling the Woods to a developer and hired a broker to market it. Friends of Moreland Woods came together to intervene. Since late 2017, our group has sought to work with FPG to arrange for an alternative outcome — one that would preserve the lot’s public and natural values.

What’s at stake?

For those who live in the neighborhood, where development has been robust, Moreland Woods represents a rare, undeveloped parcel with mature trees, uncommon wildlife, and a peaceful, wooded community space that could be harmed or lost if developed. The Woods also represent a hard-to-find urban connection to the natural world — to the abundant plant, bird, and animal life that live and visit there.

As the effects of human impact are felt across the planet, Moreland Woods represents a rare opportunity to do the right thing: to protect and preserve a small, established grove for everyone — humans and wildlife — to enjoy.

In a quickly developing neighborhood, in an even-more-quickly developing city, Moreland Woods gives neighbors and local businesses the chance to imagine new possibilities and influence the future of this piece of undeveloped land.

Who are we?

Friends of Moreland Woods is a small, neighborhood-based volunteer group and an affiliate of SMILE, the Sellwood Moreland Improvement League. One of Portland’s oldest neighborhood associations, SMILE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and our fiscal sponsor. In November 2017, SMILE formed a sub-committee, Friends of Moreland Woods, to explore all avenues for conservation of Moreland Woods.

Our priorities are conservation of trees and habitat, maintaining open space, providing an educational resource, providing a community gathering space, and enabling public recreation and enjoyment for Sellwood-Moreland and the greater Portland community. We strive to remain loyal to these goals while considering fiscal realities, a wide range of conservation opportunities, and competing demands for land use. We are committed to remaining open to the wishes and concerns of our neighbors in finding a solution for this once-in-a-lifetime moment.

How can you help?

Please join us! Stay informed about Moreland Woods and spread the word by joining our mailing list and by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Become a volunteer and help us connect with supporters, community leaders, experts, and other resources. Attend our meetings. Get involved! We invite you to join us in taking a stand on this important issue that affects you, your family, and your community.

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