Board Member Spotlight
Vicente Harrison
Vicente Harrison has served on the Trailkeepers of Oregon Board of Directors, including his most recent term as Board President. His leadership reflects the care, experience, and values that help guide TKO’s work across Oregon.
As a Park Ranger in Portland, Vicente brings firsthand insight into how trails shape people’s lives. He has seen how access to outdoor spaces creates connection, healing, and a sense of belonging — not just in remote places, but in the heart of the city. Trails, in his view, are essential infrastructure for both people and communities.
Vicente also recognizes that today’s trail stewardship is part of a much deeper story. The lands TKO works to care for were first stewarded by Indigenous ancestors, whose knowledge and respect for place continue to inform how we approach access and responsibility today.
During his time on the board, Vicente helped guide TKO through growth and change while advocating strongly for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. His leadership emphasized making Oregon’s trails more accessible and welcoming to people of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities.
Some of Vicente’s most meaningful moments with TKO have taken place on trail with his son, Vicente II, who goes by Penny. Volunteering together — learning, giving back, and developing a shared love of the outdoors — has reinforced a core belief that trails are more than paths through the landscape. They are bridges across generations, connecting people to one another and to the places they care about.
As Vicente’s term as Board President comes to a close, his commitment to Trailkeepers of Oregon continues. He remains an active volunteer and lifelong supporter of the organization and its mission to care for trails that are open, safe, and welcoming for all.
“The Trail is the most beautiful bridge to what really matters in life.”
Beatriz Mello
Trail Highlights · Steady Progress in Action
Mount Tabor Stairs
TKO staff and volunteers led four days of hands-on training with Portland Parks & Recreation staff, installing new timber box steps to replace ones damaged by erosion. This brand-new curriculum, developed by TKO, trained 17 park staff members and set the stage for future stair replacements where funding allows.
Milo McIver Stairs
Work at Milo McIver focused on improving trail flow and durability in a heavily used park where small fixes make a big difference. These are the kinds of trails people return to again and again — close to home, well loved, and worth taking care of. Supporting this work helps keep everyday access strong and ensures the park remains welcoming for the wide range of users who rely on it year-round.
Bird Alliance of Oregon · Trail Realignment
Over 13 days, TKO staff and volunteers completed a 420-foot trail realignment through steep, eroding terrain. Crews built new tread, constructed rock retaining walls, and planted 75+ native trees and shrubs, while partially decommissioning the old trail to protect habitat and improve sustainability.
Tryon Creek Culvert Project
At Tryon Creek State Natural Area, volunteers helped design and install a culvert solution to divert runoff beneath a heavily used trail — reducing erosion and protecting the tread. One stewardship day included high school students earning graduation credit through our partnership with Aloha High School.
Short Beach (Oregon Coast) · Renewed Beach Access
After months of work, the Short Beach stairs project is complete. Crews rebuilt 121 steps, added a handrail, retaining wall, and seating, and restored safe, reliable access to the beach where a hazardous slope once stood. More than 100 volunteers contributed 1,700+ hours, working alongside local partners to bring this critical coastal access point back into use — a clear example of what sustained stewardship can accomplish.
Each of these projects reflects the same approach: practical design, skilled crews, and collaboration — taking the next right step so trails stay open and resilient.
Week 8 Partners
Nonprofit Partner
Bird Alliance of Oregon is thrilled to be part of Give!Guide again this year, bringing partners and supporters together to protect Oregon’s wildlife and wild places. As longtime conservation allies, Bird Alliance and Trailkeepers of Oregon work side by side to care for the landscapes people and wildlife share—especially in urban natural areas where trail stewardship and habitat protection go hand in hand. From maintaining trails at Bird Alliance sites to supporting broader conservation efforts across the state, this partnership reflects the shared belief that caring for trails is part of caring for healthy ecosystems. Supporting one organization helps strengthen the collective work needed to protect Oregon’s natural communities.
Corporate Partner
We’re especially grateful to Jeremy Long and the team at Daybreak Racing for their continuing sponsorship and partnership. Jeremy’s deep roots in Oregon trail running and community — from directing thoughtful, well-produced events like Gorge Waterfalls and other regional races to showing up year after year on the same trails we care for — make Daybreak a genuine force for good in the Pacific Northwest trail world. Their commitment to these landscapes and the people who use them resonates with our own mission, and it’s incredibly rewarding to help shape up the Gorge trails and then see so many trail runners enjoy and celebrate them on race day.