Heritage Tree Program
NEW! Heritage Tree Preservation Grants
To support the long‐term preservation of designated Heritage Trees, the City is offering grants to assist property owners with costs of Heritage Tree care and maintenance services performed by qualified tree care specialists. Heritage Tree Preservation Grant funding may be used to diagnose, treat, manage and care for designated Heritage Trees. Download the application form for more information.
2021 Heritage Tree Designations
A 55-foot tall Japanese zelkova measuring nearly 7-feet in circumference with a 60-foot crown spread is the first of its species to be designated a Lake Oswego Heritage Tree. The Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Advisory Board voted unanimously to approve the nomination during its March 2021 meeting. The tree is located at 3209 Lake Grove Avenue on private property, but is easy to see from the street near the intersection of Lake Grove Avenue and Upper Drive. A Heritage Tree plaque will be installed soon and the tree will be added to the list of 40 other Heritage Trees that have been designated since 1998.
Heritage Tree Story Map
Explore the new Heritage Trees of Lake Oswego: A Story Map, scroll through the pages to learn about the City's Heritage Tree Program, use the custom web map to search for Heritage Trees by common name or street address, click on trees in the map; for photographs and additional information, or download a nomination form and learn about the designation criteria and process. The Story map also includes recommended routes to visit the City’s Heritage trees on foot or bicycle.
Heritage Tree Program
The City of Lake Oswego’s Heritage Tree Program was established in 1997 to foster appreciation and increase awareness about the contribution of trees to the City’s history and heritage. The goals of Lake Oswego’s Heritage Tree Program are to recognize and designate individual trees or groves of significance, to educate the public about the value and history of these trees, to promote appreciation of the trees, and to retain and protect these trees as part of the City’s heritage.
Heritage Trees have been designated as a landmark on the basis of their importance in the historical, cultural, environmental, and physical landscape. Anyone can nominate a tree on either public or private property for Heritage Tree status. If a tree is located on private property, the permission of the property owner is necessary.
For a tree to be considered for Heritage Tree status, it must satisfy at least one of the following criteria:
- The tree, or group of trees, is of historic importance and is associated with the life of a person or group or has made a significant contribution to the broad pattern of the City’s history.
- The tree, of group of trees, has age, size, or species significance that contributes to its heritage status.
- The tree, or group of trees, represents a significant and distinguishable entity within the community or a specific location.
How to Nominate a Heritage Tree
To nominate a tree or a grove of trees, complete a Heritage Tree application form available from the Lake Oswego Planning Department, or print the online form. Once submitted, a certified arborist will examine the health and condition of the tree(s). Applications are then reviewed by the Parks and Natural Resources Advisory Board (PNAB) for approval. Property owners and nominators will then be notified and a plaque will be installed near the tree.
For additional information or a Heritage Tree Application:
Department of Planning and Building Services
Attention: Heritage Trees
380 A Avenue
PO Box 369
Lake Oswego, OR 97034
Phone: 503-635-0290
Email: planning@lakeoswego.city
Heritage Tree Story Map
