1803

• The first European explorers arrived in the Willamette Valley with the Lewis & Clark expedition.

1850s

• Forest Park is divided into land claims by settlers, with plans to clear the forest and build houses.
• Danford Balch settles 350 acre homestead in the Balch Creek watershed.

1903

• Renown landscape architecture firm, Olmsted Brothers recommends the Forest Park plan.

1914

• Hillside Drive (now Leif Erikson Drive) is built to provide access to planned developments.

1929

• Architect Ernest F. Tucker designs the Macleay Park Shelter (Stone House)

1948

• The City of Portland formally dedicates 4,200 acres of land as Forest park on September 25, 1948.
• Multnomah County turns over 2,000 acres acquired through delinquent taxes.

1951

• Largest fire in Forest Park’s history burns 1,200 acres north of Saltzman Road.

1976 

• Wildwood Trail is designated a national recreation trail.

1989

• Friends of Forest Park is founded as a nonprofit organization to rally volunteers and donations to help care for the park.
• Friends of Forest Park raises funds to purchase 73 acres Keilhorn property, north of Forest Park.

1995

• Comprehensive natural resources management plan is established for how to protect Forest Parks natural habitat.

2008

• Friends of Forest Park officially becomes the Forest Park Conservancy.

2013

• The greater Forest Park conservation initiative (GFPCI) launches, a collaborative effort led by FPC to bring Forest Park back to health.

2015

• First large-scale invasive Ivy treatment is completed in partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation on 217 acres in the Balch Creek Watershed.

2018

• On September 25, 2018, Forest Park Celebrated its 70th Anniversary.