Recreation

Fall 2025 Newsletter "Diversity, Harmony, Community - Together 'WE' can make a difference!”

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Fall 2025 Newsletter Inside This Issue: Election of Board Officers Jason Naumann Rockwood Common Tool Library Cathy Keathly Gresham City Councilor Neighborhood News and more!

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¡Descargue nuestro boletín en español aquí!. (incluye enlaces web activos)

Newsletters are a regular publication of the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association. They are hand-delivered to over 1,500 residences and businesses in our area 3 times per year, timed to correspond with our general meetings.

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By Janet Unruh, WENA Board Member

Until recently, several dozen homeless campers were living in a forested area northeast of Troutdale on the Sandy River Delta, a.k.a. Thousand Acres Park. The park is about three miles from Gresham and five miles from the Wilkes East neighborhood. It consists of 50 acres of land owned by the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL), next to 1,500 acres owned by the U.S. Forest Service. The campers have been living on the DSL land[1]. There have been an estimated 35 camps, some of which were in existence for nearly 25 years[2]. DSL states that the land is not suitable for habitation because of wildfire risk, flooding, and environmental degradation[3].

For these reasons, the state attempted a brute-force eviction of the campers in June, but it failed because the campers and their supporters fought back. Another eviction by means of persuasion and facilitation has been underway since then, with a deadline of October 1st to leave voluntarily, after which the remaining campers were to be forced out. There are unanswered questions about where the campers have gone.

THE CAMPS
Campers said they worked to keep their sites clean and used restrooms at nearby parks[4]. They had electricity—the camps had multiple generators and electrical lines that ran from camp to camp[5]. We have meetings—we try to have standards," said Gene, one of the longtime campers. Gene's camp was visibly tidy, complete with decorations and a makeshift fence[1]. However, when the local TV station, KGW, visited the site, most of the camps they saw were not like his[4].

Many living in Thousand Acres describe their community as a family. “This community is a very rare one indeed. It’s a community that’s full of people that come from different walks of life, that in a normal setting would not get along. But one thing that we appreciate the most [about] Thousand Acres is it’s always been a place where we could go and feel like no one is here to judge[4]. Another said, "This is more of a communal existence out here[1].”

The area has multiple memorials for community members who have passed, and gravesites for deceased pets. But in spite of their efforts, trash accumulated and the area became polluted, especially around abandoned camps.

THE INITIAL EVICTION ATTEMPT
Notices were posted in May, stating that campers had to leave by June 2[6]. Campers were to be forced out after the deadline[2]. They hadn’t been offered any help, they said[7].

On June 3, teams from two contract companies hired by DSL, NorthWest HazMat, Inc., and Northwest Enforcement Inc., arrived at Thousand Acres with work crews, trucks, and an excavator. They were blocked at the site by ditches dug across the road to the camps and barriers erected to prevent eviction[1]. A crowd of campers and their supporters had gathered to resist the eviction and cleanup effort. They held up signs that said, “We do not consent” and “Stop the sweep.” As the contractors began attempting to collect the belongings of the campers, a struggle ensued, and witnesses said that four people were maced by the hazmat workers[4]. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek ordered a pause on the eviction due to the repeated clashes[7]. The contractors had been on site for less than a week.

WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW
The Department of State Lands (DSL) reassessed its approach and worked with homeless advocates to determine the best way forward. DSL hired remediation contractor Rapid Response Bio-Clean, which is experienced in trauma-informed engagement and field operations[8].

Multnomah County Homeless Services Department (HSD) contracted with The Salvation Army to conduct outreach to the campers throughout the summer and fall. The outreach team made regular visits to the camps to build trust, share information, and offer connections to shelter and services[3].

"We do anticipate that this current effort will be ongoing for the next several weeks," said DSL spokesperson Alyssa Rash. "Our priority at this time remains voluntary compliance with the people experiencing homelessness or camping overnight at the Delta to relocate. However, we are partnered with law enforcement agencies, and when we have exhausted every avenue toward voluntary compliance, we do have enforcement as a legal backstop option[9]."

The campers responded by submitting a proposal, the “Cooperative Stewardship Proposal for the Sandy River Delta,” which would allow them to continue to live on site and help maintain the space[4].

“This proposal presents a community-driven approach to managing the Sandy River Delta. It emphasizes environmental restoration, responsible habitation, and proactive land management—all aimed at preserving human dignity while safeguarding ecological balance. By integrating sustainable housing solutions with organized land cleanup and long-term cooperative governance, this model stands as a robust alternative to short-term, temporary fixes that have failed many in our community[10].”

The proposal offered solutions for abandoned camps, waste management, hazardous waste, fire safety, enforcement of community rules, unauthorized vehicles, and land restoration. The proposal included a description of the supporting legal and financial framework. The proposal requested modular tiny homes and sustainable infrastructure, with estimated costs of approximately $11,357 – $14,957 per unit. No estimate was given for the number of units. The proposed timeline for phase one called for cleanup and restoration to be completed by August 25. Remaining activities were listed, but without dates.

In conclusion, the proposal offered “a permanent, sustainable solution for the Sandy River Delta. By addressing immediate cleanup needs and combining cost-effective, modular housing with robust community governance, we move beyond the short-term fixes that have repeatedly failed our community. This unified model not only ensures dignified, long-term shelter but also fosters a resilient system of environmental and community stewardship[10].”

The proposal was apparently ignored by DSL. Perhaps the biggest reason would be the risk of flooding. If we ever have another flood like the one in 1996, it would wipe out their village.

THE OCTOBER EVICTION
Some campers had moved out of Thousand Acres by September. On September 15, DSL announced a new, accelerated phase in the eviction and cleanup process. Legal notices were posted at the remaining occupied camps on September 26 informing residents that the area would be closed on October 1st—five days later—and they had to vacate immediately[3].

HSD’s contract with The Salvation Army expires at the end of October, and the outreach team will continue to work with the remaining campers until then. DSL’s contractor, Rapid Response Bio-Clean, will remove personal property and debris from the site, and a (unnamed) security contractor will monitor the area to prevent campers from returning. The area will remain closed for restoration until January 2026[3].

THE OUTCOME FOR CAMPERS
Did East Multnomah County (or the metro area generally) have the capacity to house several dozen homeless people by the October 1st deadline? How many were placed in housing, and how many were forced out to the streets or parts unknown?

I interviewed The Salvation Army Program Manager Phillip Emery about their effort to help the campers transition to shelter. He assured me that they all had access to resources, including the Salvation Army’s own shelters, but he explained that it was out of scope to ensure that everyone was placed. At the end of October, HSD would take that over[11].

The HSD’s data dashboard is a monthly view of data about homelessness in Multnomah County. The most recent demographics as of July, 2025, show 8,278 chronically homeless people in Multnomah County, with 4,467 unsheltered[12].

“I’m on a six-month waiting list for housing, and I don’t know what I’m going to do,” a 20-year Thousand Acres resident known as Grizzly said in the group’s press release. “There’s gotta be some kind of a solution that’s not forcing us out and putting us in jail. That would help nothing[4].”

"There's 40 of us that aren't willing to separate. So as a family, we are going to find a neighborhood somewhere where we can exist at. That may be in somebody's backyard. It may be on their front (expletive) porch," Thousand Acres resident, Countryman said. "I'm not real happy about any of this, but we have to be somewhere[2].

ADDENDUM
I contacted Zach Kearl, Management Analyst at Multnomah County’s Homeless Services Department, to ask him to comment on a draft of the article I wrote on the Thousand Acres homeless camp eviction. He and I have discussed the homeless situation many times over the past months. He kindly wrote back to me in email on October 20, 2025 and told me several interesting things. He gave me his permission to post his response on the WENA newsletter website:

Click "Read more" (below) to view Endnotes

Summer 2021 Newsletter "Diversity, Harmony, Community - Together 'WE' can make a difference!”

Read it now!

Summer 2021 Newsletter Inside This Issue: Trackers, Never Lose Stuff Again New Special Needs Adult Program Wilkes East Land-Use Update Saving 267 Trees; Shaull Woods Meet City Councilor Dina DiNucci

Download your copy here. (includes active web links)

Newsletters are a regular publication of the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association. They are hand-delivered to over 1,500 residences and businesses in our area 3 times per year, timed to correspond with our general meetings.

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Let's Go Walking! When: Wed, Aug 19, 2020 10AM-5PM Where: Meet at trailhead Get Map!

Hiking during COVID-19 pandemic

• All participants must wear facial masks and practice social distancing during Senior Healthy Hikers group events.
• We will no longer carpool to the trailhead. Participants are responsible for their own transportation.
• Driving directions (with the beginning point at Gresham City Hall) will be distributed at least three days prior to the event.

Hike details

• Distance: 3 miles
• Difficulty: Easy/moderate
• Elevation gain: 74 feet, with a few steep hills
• Trail conditions: Packed dirt, some gravel, pavement
• Round-trip travel: 54 miles
• Parking fee: $3 per car

This hike begins at the Ponderosa I-3 parking area at Lewisville Park in Battleground, Wash. We will begin by crossing a bridge onto a river trail that leads to the park entrance and a grassy area to check out the unique birdhouses. Then we will follow a 12- to 15-foot-wide forest trail with rolling hills and many types of edible berries (be careful not to touch any stinging nettle plants). After 1½ miles, we will descend steeply from the forest trail to a paved path that parallels the Lewis River. Along the way, look for pygmy rabbits and Steller's Jays/ We will gather near the river to eat our lunch (restrooms available). Following lunch we will continue on a natural trail to see the rapids and then head back to our cars.

Bring water, snacks, and a sack lunch. Sturdy hiking shoes/boots are needed.

For more information about this hike please contact Ruth Cummings at 503-926-4840 or cummings0465@frontier.com or Ron Janzen at 503-333-8419.

Senior Healthy Hikers asks that participants be 50 or older. A couple wishing to hike is welcome if one member of the couple is 50 or better.

Pets are not permitted on our hikes or walks.

Senior Healthy Hikers member guidelines

When: Sun, Aug 23, 2020 1PM-5PM Where: Coho Picnic Shelter Main City Park 219 South Main Ave. Get Map!

The non-profit organization Bikes for Humanity is offering free basic bike repairs. Outdoor, socially-distanced repairs will happen near the Coho picnic shelter.

You can also donate old bikes to be fixed up for those in need.

For more information about this event, contact Andrew at Bikes for Humanity at 503-496-9641.

Let's Go Walking! When: Tue, Aug 25, 2020 10AM-5PM Where: Meet at trailhead Get Map!

Hiking during COVID-19 pandemic

• All participants must wear facial masks and practice social distancing during Senior Healthy Hikers group events.
• We will no longer carpool to the trailhead. Participants are responsible for their own transportation.
• Driving directions (with the beginning point at Gresham City Hall) will be distributed at least three days prior to the event.

Hike details

• Distance: 2.9 miles
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Elevation gain: 565 feet
• Trail conditions: Packed dirt, rocky in places
• Round-trip travel: Approximately 125 miles

This hike starts at the 6,525-foot level, so there could be snow patches on the trail. The hike climbs through subalpine meadows to the scarp of Lookout Mountain, then follows the shoulder of the peak through stunted forests until reaching open slopes, rock pinnacles, and expansive views of Mount Hood. At the summit, on a clear day, views of Mt. Jefferson and the Three Sisters are visible to the east, and Mt. Rainier to the north.

Plan to bring water and snacks, along with a sack lunch to enjoy at the summit. Wear good hiking shoes and sunscreen or a hat for the sun, since there is no tree cover at the top. Hiking poles could be helpful, but not necessary.

For more information about this hike please contact Mary Ann Buck at 971-344-1946 or buckbanter@gmail.com.

Senior Healthy Hikers asks that participants be 50 or older. A couple wishing to hike is welcome if one member of the couple is 50 or better.

Pets are not permitted on our hikes or walks.

Senior Healthy Hikers member guidelines

2020 Summer Newsletter "Diversity, Harmony, Community - Together 'WE' can make a difference!”

Read it now!

Summer 2020 Newsletter Inside This Issue: An Inclusive Neighborhood Columbia View Park Concept Nature-Deficit Disorder Coping During the Pandemic Importance of Our Parks Albertina Kerr Housing Update

Download your copy here. (includes active web links)

Newsletters are a regular publication of the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association. They are hand-delivered to over 1,500 residences and businesses in our area 3 times per year, timed to correspond with our regular meetings.

View archive   |   Policy & Ad Rates