Forest Park, Residential neighborhood in Portland, United States.
Forest Park is a residential neighborhood in northwestern Portland, bordered by one of the largest urban forests in the country. Homes here sit along the edge of a heavily wooded hillside that runs through a wide trail network open to the public.
The neighborhood was officially designated in 1893, named after the Douglas fir forests that covered the hillside before European settlers arrived. The designation came as part of a broader effort to protect these woodlands as the city of Portland expanded westward.
Many residents of this neighborhood start their mornings on the forest trails that begin just steps from their front doors. This closeness between homes and woods shapes the daily rhythm of the area in a way that feels rare in a city of this size.
Several bus lines connect the neighborhood to downtown Portland, and street parking is generally available near the main trailheads. The trails are open year-round, but wet weather makes some sections slippery, so footwear with good grip is worth bringing.
Although Forest Park is a neighborhood, it sits next to a city-owned forest of around 5,000 acres (about 2,000 hectares), one of the largest of its kind in any major American city. Some sections of the trail system go so deep into the woods that it is possible to walk for hours without crossing a road.
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