Discover how the efforts of neighbors around this small outer East Portland City Park were able to get several trees planted in their green public space – and why …
Although it’s still early on this Valentine’s Day, volunteers are busily planting trees in Cherry Blossom Park.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Unless you live in a particular area of the Hazelwood neighborhood, you’ve likely never heard of Cherry Blossom Park. It’s less than one acre in size, and located well off the busy streets east of the I-205 Freeway – at SE 98th Avenue and Stephens Street.
Nevertheless, that’s where about 35 volunteers were digging holes and planting trees on Valentine’s Day, February 14.
Teaching the art and science of tree planting is Portland Parks & Recreation’s Urban Forestry Community Stewardship Workgroup Supervisor, Nikhilesh Desai.
Leading the effort, for Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) Urban Forestry, was Urban Forestry Community Stewardship Workgroup Supervisor Nikhilesh Desai. “Today, we’re planting eleven trees – either southern Magnolia and Oregon white oaks,” he said.
We pointed out to Desai that, at many tree planting events, holes have already been dug before the event began – yet here, volunteers were busy cutting the sod and digging out the dirt for the new trees.
“That’s true; but the ground is soft enough here that we’re giving the volunteers the ‘full experience’ of tree planting,” Desai explained.
Volunteers get the “complete tree planting experience” by digging the holes for their new trees.
“I actually prefer teaching tree-planting this way, because people get learn how to create the bed for a tree,” Desai continued. “One has to be very careful digging the hole so it isn’t too deep or too wide – this experience gives us the opportunity to get the hole sized ‘just right’ for the tree.”
It’s Portland City Council President and District 1 Councilor Jamie Dunphy, checking the depth of the hole in which this tree is to be planted.
Neighbor spearheads tree planting effort
Neighborhood tree planting advocate Lindsey Oldani pauses for a photo with her neighbor, Sarah Berkemeier while their kids ‘dig in’.
At the tree planting, a neighbor pointed out Lindsey Oldani, acknowledging that she was behind the planting effort that day.
“I’m for more trees in our park, because I’m a neighbor who lives three doors down from the park – and I’m also a volunteer PP&R Neighborhood Tree Steward – who moved here into the Cherry Park area of the Hazelwood neighborhood in 2020,” Oldani said, as she supervised people helping to plant a tree.
Ready to dig another hole in which a new tree will be planted are is neighbor Lydia Bradley, with her young but eager helpers, Dean and Tess.
“I saw a need for tree canopy in our park, because it gets really hot during the summer – so I advocated for trees to be planted here,” Oldani added.
She and other volunteers went door-to-door, inviting participation in the day’s tree-planting, along with the students and staff members of nearby Cherry Park Elementary School and Floyd Light Middle School. “We also put it on our ‘street mural page’ and in our group text message threads to encourage neighbors to come out,” acknowledged Oldani.
Thanks to the efforts of volunteers, in Cherry Blossom Park many new trees now grow.
“Seeing the turnout here, I am genuinely touched; I’ve been brought to tears today, absolutely,” Oldani admitted. “This is like a ‘Valentine for our neighborhood’. I think about all of the kids that are here helping, who will be able to enjoy the canopy and the shade of these trees, as they grow up.”
© 2026 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
