Heritage Tree Walk

Celebrate Arbor Day with a Heritage Tree walk around downtown Bend. The Heritage Tree Walk will begin at the Deschutes Historical Museum located at 129 NW Idaho in Bend. The Heritage Tree Walk will begin at 5:00 pm Friday April 28^th.  The walk is free.

Discover the magnificent Heritage Trees tucked in and around downtown Bend.  The walk weaves together Bend’s history and the value of arboriculture in a growing community. Joining the walk will be a representative from the Deschutes Historical Society.  Hear about Bends colorful past and learn how trees have contributed to the livability of the Bend community over the past 100 years. One stop on the walk will be Oregon’s newest Heritage Tree, the Drake Pine Grove. The Drake grove once surrounded the Alexander Drake homestead that overlooked the Deschutes River.

This Arbor Day event is being organized by Bend 4 Trees in conjunction with the City of Bend. Bend 4 Trees is a volunteer community group with a passion for trees.  The group initially organized to advocate for the recertification of Tree City USA for the City of Bend. Bend was designated a Tree City in 1991 and held the Tree City status until 1995. Bend regained Tree City status in 2004 and maintained it until 2012.  Bend 4 Trees believes Bend can regain the Tree City status and maintain it by changing the culture of the City and embracing the value of trees and treating them as green infrastructure.

One of the four standards for becoming a Tree City USA community is having an annual Arbor Day Proclamation and observance.