Terminal Park trees and vegetation

Original homesteaders found a valley floor full of trees, shrubs and numerous other types of vegetation. The area that eventually became Terminal Park neighborhood was no exception. For instance, in 1874, David Hart, one of Terminal Park's early pioneers, moved his logging operation from Minnesota to Auburn. He found Auburn attractive because of all the trees surrounding it.

Several types of conifer and deciduous trees naturally grow in the area. Dominant conifer species include Douglas fir, western hemlock and red cedar. The deciduous tree species include black cottonwood, red alder, Oregon ash, bitter cherry, and big-leaf maple. Pacific willows and Sitka willows are found in wetter sites. Understory shrubs include salal, salmon-berry, blackberries, ocean spray, Oregon grape, Indian plum, snowberry, Nootka rose, red elderberry, and vine maple.

At the turn of the century, Hart operated a fruit tree nursery. A few blocks away at the corner of 14th Street SE and A Street SE, the Boyd family operated another nursery. They planted several walnut and other hard wood trees. Several of these trees still stand today. They can be seen along on the eastern side of A Street SE between 12th Street SE and 17th Street SE.

Numerous other families planted trees and other types of shrubs over the years. Today a typical block has between twelve to twenty trees on it. Roughly one tree for every 5,000 – 6,000 square feet or roughly one tree per lot. An estimated 800 trees are located in the Terminal Park neighborhood.

The Terminal Park neighborhood, along with the adjacent Les Gove Park Neighborhood, may be a good site for designation as an urban forest. An urban forest is woodland managed by a municipality. It involves maintaining an inventory of significant trees and planting trees for the enjoyment of future generations.

Many communities across the country are developing urban forestry programs. Studies conducted by the USDA Urban Forest Institute confirm that trees add real value to communities. Urban forests improve air quality by reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and absorbing air pollutants. Trees also reduce noise. They improve the walkability of a neighborhood.