The Intertwine

The Intertwine Vision-Building a World Class System of Parks- Trails- and Natural Areas in the Portland-Vancouver region.

The Institute has been engaged in regional growth management- parks- trails- and natural areas planning since its founding in 1999. Our current involvement at the regional scale is to help implement the region's The Intertwine Vision of creating the world's greatest regional parks- trails and natural areas system. The Institute's Director- Mike Houck- was a member on Metro's Greenspaces Policy Advisory Committee and was an active participant in drafting a vision for a bi-state- regional system of parks- trails- and natural areas: Greenspaces Policy Advisory Committee- Vision- outcomes- objectives and means which was adopted by the Metro Council in March- 2005.  Houck now serves on The Intertwine Alliance's Core Group and Board of Directors. 

The adopted vision states: "We envision an exceptional- multi-jurisdictional- interconnected system of neighborhood- community- and regional parks- natural areas- trails- open spaces- and recreation opportunities distributed equitably throughout the region. This region-wide system is acknowledged and valued here and around the world as an essential element of the greater Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area's economic success- ecological health- civic vitality- and overall quality of life.

As the region grows and develops- this region-wide system also expands- diversifies- and matures to meet the needs of a growing and changing population. All residents live and work near and have access - regardless of income - to nature- areas for recreation and leisure- and public spaces that bring people together and connect them to their community.

This region-wide system of parks- natural areas- trails- open spaces- and recreation opportunities:

  • Drives the region's economy and tourist trade
  • Preserves significant natural areas for wildlife habitat and public use
  • Enhances the region's air and water quality
  • Promotes citizens' health- fitness- and personal well-being
  • Connects the region's communities with trails and greenways
  • Provides sense of place and community throughout the region
  • Supports an ecologically sustainable metropolitan area

The Institute's Director Mike Houck chaired the Greenspaces Policy Advisory Committee natural landscape features working group that developed the natural landscape features map that depicts the regional natural areas system from Clark County's North Fork Lewis River in the North- south to Salem in the Willamette Valley and from the crest of the coast range to the crest of the Cascades.

The Intertwine Alliance

The Institute is a founding member of The Intertwine Alliance a coalition of government- business- and nonprofit groups dedicated to ensuring the vision for the world's greatest parks- trails- and natural areas system for the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan region is realized.

Core members of the Alliance include the Urban Greenspaces Institute- Trust for Public Land- Audubon Society of Portland- Metro-Kainser Permanente-Keen Footwear-Portland Parks and Recreation-Portland's Bureau of Environmental Services-Clean Water Services-National Parks Service-U S Fish and Wildlife-Columbia Sportswear and Vancouver-Clark Parks.  The Alliance's mission is to:

  • Network: The Alliance is a fertile ground for collaboration.
  • Communicate: Develop an identity package that creates a consistent and compelling message and brand.
  • Advocate: identify and support key issues and projects.
  • Mobilize: issue calls to action and organize supporters.