Page 9 - Georgia Forestry - Winter 2018
P. 9
Oregon
Blazes
ATrail
Story by Matt Hestad
Georgia’s Timber Counterpart in the West Sets a Compelling Example
Nestled in the forests of the Southern Willamette Valley, along the I-5 corridor in Oregon, is the small town of Springfield. Like much of rural Oregon, for more than 100 years, timber has reigned as the top industry for the region. Despite the recent economic downturn and the
negative effects of overregulation, forestry remains a large part of the community’s heritage.
For Springfield, forests and forest products represent generations of hard work and a connection with the land that defines the culture of its 60,000 citizens. It only makes sense that Mayor Christine Lundberg would explore opportunities to use wood in public places to showcase the identity of the city and to reignite the citizens’ passion for using wood.
“We are a community that has lived and breathed forestry and forest products for generations,” Mayor Lundberg said. “Even though we’ve diversified and gone through a major recession, the wood products industry remains highly significant to our community.”
In 2008, the City of Springfield initiated a 20-year redevelopment plan for a former industrial area along the Willamette River referred to
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