The Metro Council has approved spending $70 million in federal transportation money, applauding a two-year effort by the agency to collaborate with cities and counties and give a more thorough consideration of low income and minority communities.

Across the Portland metropolitan area this month, efforts to protect nature in neighborhoods are taking root

Salmon habitat is being restored along Johnson Creek. A park will be dedicated in Cedar Mill. The new Cornelius Wellness Center, which will transform a concrete alley into a green parkway, is breaking ground. A dinner concert will raise money to expand and restore West Linn's White Oak Savanna. The Equity Bike Ride will highlight a partnership to green the Interstate 205 path for cyclists and pedestrians. And West Linn will celebrate new nature trails, playgrounds and more.

The common denominator: support from Metro’s voter-approved Natural Areas Program.

About one-quarter of the region's 2006 natural areas bond measure goes toward community nature projects, in the form of money distributed to cities, counties and local park providers and Nature in Neighborhoods grants. After several years of planning, many efforts to protect nature close to home are unfolding on the ground.

"When you first start out, there are a few isolated projects," said Metro Councilor Carl Hosticka, who has served on the Nature in Neighborhoods grant committee since it launched. "When you add them up, it starts to amount to something over the years."

The Metro Council has awarded nearly $4.7 million in Nature in Neighborhoods grants, supporting 18 projects. And local jurisdictions have spent more than $22 million in their communities – about half the money available through the bond measure.

A month of kickoffs and celebrations got under way Thursday night, when the Johnson Creek Watershed Council and its partners commemorated starting construction on a project to restore salmon habitat at the confluence of Johnson Creek and the Willamette River. The project, which recently received a Metro grant, is expected to be complete this fall.

Projects such as the salmon restoration provide concrete examples of the impact that neighborhood-scale efforts can have, said Mary Rose Navarro, Metro's natural areas grants coordinator.

"Voters should feel excited about the wide variety of efforts envisioned and initiated by local communities," Navarro said. "The projects that will be highlighted this month are examples of how organizations are pulling together to provide a wide variety of experiences throughout the region."

This month's array of milestones also shows why the Metro Council shifted away from hard-and-fast environmental regulations in the early 2000s, Hosticka said, instead focusing on incentives and investment.

"The Council agreed that, if we could somehow foster a larger public consciousness of the need and opportunities to do these things, that would be the best role Metro could play," Hosticka said. "All these projects move in that direction. At some point, you get synergy."

You can see projects first-hand by attending an event this month:

Jackie Husen Park dedication
6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10
10955 NW Reeves St., Cedar Mill area, Washington County

The Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation District will celebrate its new Jackie Husen Park, which was protected and upgraded with funds from Metro’s voter-approved Natural Areas Program. Festivities include prizes, information, a ribbon cutting, hot dogs, chips and soft drinks. To RSVP, contact Anne Bookless at 503-645-6433 or abookless@thprd.org.

Cornelius Wellness Center groundbreaking
8 to 9:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 12
85 N. 12th St., Cornelius

Celebrate the groundbreaking for the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center's new Cornelius Wellness Center. A Metro Nature in Neighborhoods grant is helping transform a concrete alley outside the building into a public greenway where people can connect with nature. To RSVP, contact Michele Horn at mhorn@vgmhc.org or 503-352-8617.

Concert for the White Oak Savanna
6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12
Adult Community Center, 1180 Rosemont Road, West Linn
Casual dinner and performance by John Nilsen, $15 per person

Help raise money to expand and restore the 14-acre White Oak Savanna natural park and wildlife habitat, which was protected with support from a Metro Nature in Neighborhoods grant. Supporters hope to protect an additional six acres and continue restoring the property. No RSVP required.

Equity Bike Ride along the I-205 path
6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25
Meet at Lents Park, Southeast 92nd Avenue and Southeast Steele Street, Portland

Join a guided ride along neighborhood streets and the I-205 cycling and walking path, where thousands of trees and shrubs are being planted with help from a Metro Nature in Neighborhoods grant. The ride will highlight equity efforts by a variety of community groups. No RSVP required.

West Linn parks celebration
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27
Robinwood Park, 3600 Fairview Way, West Linn

West Linn recently completed improvements ranging from nature trails, spray features and playgrounds to rain gardens and bank angling access at multiple locations, including Robinwood, Midhill and Marylhurst parks. All improvements were funded through West Linn's share of Metro's 2006 bond measure. Following a brief ceremony, children can enjoy juggling entertainer "Mag" Hughes, face painting, balloons and family lawn games. Bring your picnic or "relish" a hotdog lunch.

Explore community nature projects and regional natural areas on an interactive map
Learn more about Metro’s voter-approved Natural Areas Program
Learn more about Metro Nature in Neighborhoods grants