For one tense week in September 2015 Portland citizens were gripped in a battle to save three 150 year-old giant sequoia trees from destruction by developer Everett Custom Homes. These massive trees became a flashpoint for much of what people objected to about the nature of new development in our city. Did these Giants really need to be cut down? Can’t trees and new construction co-exist?
Citizens from all over came together in this effort. Some stood under the trees, defying arrest, to hold off crews with chainsaws, others made signs or wrote city commissioners about the broken tree code. One man, Lorax Dave, set up camp high in the branches of the sequoias and stayed there for over three days. Families in the neighborhood brought him hot meals and handmade cards of support.
And believe it or not, by the time Lorax Dave came down, a deal had been put in place to Save The Giants. A coalition of neighbors and concerned citizens banded together to buy the land and make a public park. But the work is not done yet, and now they need your help.
Save The Giants Park is now a wonderful space where everyone can enjoy Giant Trees within the urban boundary, a place of contemplation, education, and beauty. In July 2019 our coalition completed its efforts to raise enough money to pay off the loans on the property and it is now free and clear from debt. This is a major step and we are grateful to the hundreds of individuals and businesses who donated to make this happen. We can now begin the process of registering the Giants as heritage trees which receive the highest level of protection possible. We will also continue to hold events under the trees, now with a new goal of giving back to the community which helped save them. We will seek to partner with local non-profits to raise funds for their efforts in conjunction with our mission of raising awareness of all the benefits of preserving mature trees. These trees now stand as living monuments to the fact that citizens action can make a difference. It really is true what that Lorax said, "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing's going to get better. It's not." Please visit these trees and consider making a tax deductible donation to our efforts. Your gift will ensure that generations to come will enjoy this remarkable sight and learn about the time a community came together and cared enough to Save The Giants.
Visit the proposed Save The Giants Park:
3656 SE Martins St.
1 blk south of Woodstock, off 36th ave
Portland, OR 97202
Checks can be mailed to:
SAVE THE GIANTS
3666 SE Martins Street
Portland, OR 97202
Citizens from all over came together in this effort. Some stood under the trees, defying arrest, to hold off crews with chainsaws, others made signs or wrote city commissioners about the broken tree code. One man, Lorax Dave, set up camp high in the branches of the sequoias and stayed there for over three days. Families in the neighborhood brought him hot meals and handmade cards of support.
And believe it or not, by the time Lorax Dave came down, a deal had been put in place to Save The Giants. A coalition of neighbors and concerned citizens banded together to buy the land and make a public park. But the work is not done yet, and now they need your help.
Save The Giants Park is now a wonderful space where everyone can enjoy Giant Trees within the urban boundary, a place of contemplation, education, and beauty. In July 2019 our coalition completed its efforts to raise enough money to pay off the loans on the property and it is now free and clear from debt. This is a major step and we are grateful to the hundreds of individuals and businesses who donated to make this happen. We can now begin the process of registering the Giants as heritage trees which receive the highest level of protection possible. We will also continue to hold events under the trees, now with a new goal of giving back to the community which helped save them. We will seek to partner with local non-profits to raise funds for their efforts in conjunction with our mission of raising awareness of all the benefits of preserving mature trees. These trees now stand as living monuments to the fact that citizens action can make a difference. It really is true what that Lorax said, "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing's going to get better. It's not." Please visit these trees and consider making a tax deductible donation to our efforts. Your gift will ensure that generations to come will enjoy this remarkable sight and learn about the time a community came together and cared enough to Save The Giants.
Visit the proposed Save The Giants Park:
3656 SE Martins St.
1 blk south of Woodstock, off 36th ave
Portland, OR 97202
Checks can be mailed to:
SAVE THE GIANTS
3666 SE Martins Street
Portland, OR 97202