Troutdale, OR
Located in the restored forest ecosystem at Sandy River Delta, Oregon, this new bird blind and interpretive art installation combines two unique market niches, structural engineering for parklands and artwork. Designed by Maya Lin, this 1.2 mile trail leads to a gently curving 150-foot ramp that ends at the new elliptical bird blind structure. The wood used to build the bird blind comes from the black locust tree, a long-lasting, sustainable hardwood that is considered invasive in the Northwest. Using locally harvested black locust for this project supports efforts to eradicate the tree from native forests and reinforces the Confluence Project’s goal of promoting sustainability. The vertical wooden slats of the bird blind are inscribed with the name and current status of each of the 134 species Lewis and Clark noted on their westward journey.