It was raining before we even got to the trailhead.
Not the kind of Portland rain that makes you reconsider your plans. The kind that makes you zip up tighter, pull your hood down a little lower, and keep moving forward. Last Thursday morning, that’s exactly what seven of us from Bennett/Porter did. We laced up our work boots, grabbed our waterproof Columbia jackets, and headed a mile into Portland’s Forest Park to get to work.
Why Fire Trail 7A?
We partnered with the Forest Park Conservancy, the nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring Portland’s Forest Park, for a trail maintenance project on Fire Trail 7A.
The problem with Fire Trail 7A wasn’t immediately obvious to those of us unseasoned in trail work. It didn’t look broken. But underneath the surface of the path, a thick layer of decomposed leaves and pine needles (or “muck” as it’s otherwise known) had built up over time, creating a slippery, biomass-like layer that made the trail inhospitable for anyone trying to traverse it. Add a Pacific Northwest winter’s worth of rainfall and no proper drainage, and you’ve got water sheeting across the path rather than channeling safely downhill.
The fix? Clear the muck. Dig shallow drainage ridges along the edges of the trail to redirect water runoff. And do it in the rain, because this is Portland, Oregon, and waiting for a dry day isn’t really an option.
Shovels Out, Sleeves Up
The Forest Park Conservancy team met us at the trailhead, loaded us up with tools like shovels, trailbreakers, wheelbarrows, and rakes. They walked us through what needed to happen. Then we hiked a full mile into the park before the work even started.
By the time we reached Fire Trail 7A, the rain had settled into that steady, committed drizzle that tells you it’s not going anywhere. Not a problem. We got to work.
For three hours, the BP volunteers cleared muck, moved debris, and carefully dug the shallow ridges that would keep the trail draining properly going forward. It was physical, satisfying, and if we’re being honest, a lot of fun. There’s something about doing work you can actually see and point to at the end of the day that hits differently. It’s the same feeling we get after a successful implementation.
Three hours later, Fire Trail 7A looked noticeably better. Safer. More like what it should be for every Portland-area hiker, runner, and dog walker who uses it year-round.
Meet BP Cares
This trip was the first official outing for BP Cares — Bennett/Porter’s new volunteer initiative, and a program that’s been a long time coming.
Starting this year, every Bennett/Porter team member has 8 paid hours per year to spend volunteering in our community. Not on their own time. Not unpaid. During the workday, on company time, because we believe that investing in the community that supports us isn’t separate from the work we do. It’s part of that work.
Our company hes been talking about doing something like this for a while: formalizing it, giving it a name, giving it actual structure, and even creating HR policies around it. Walking out of Forest Park on Thursday, our founder and President Sue Bennett, said, “Honestly, we’ve wanted to do something like this for a long time. It feels really good to finally just go do it.”
The People Who Showed Up
Seven people representing our various teams made the trip. Some are outdoorsy types. Some had never touched a trailbreaker in their life. All of them hiked a mile in the rain, put in three solid hours of physical labor, and hiked back out again without a single complaint.
That says something about the people at this company. The work we do is made better by the people we do it with; that includes our clients and our community.
What’s Next
This was our first outing. It won’t be our last.
Next quarter, BP Cares will be partnering with a new organization for our second volunteer event in the Portland metro area. We’ll keep showing up, keep putting in the hours, and keep looking for the places in our community where a few willing people with the right tools can actually make a difference.
If you use Forest Park, give Fire Trail 7A a walk sometime. It’s looking pretty good.
Thank you to the team at Forest Park Conservancy for having us, guiding us, and doing the ongoing work of protecting one of Portland’s greatest treasures.
Interested in learning more about BP Cares or getting involved? Follow along on LinkedIn and Instagram as we document our community journey — or reach out to us directly. We’d love to hear from you.
Bennett/Porter provides ERP software (Acumatica and Sage 100), HCM solutions (People Savvy HCM powered by UKG Ready), and Managed IT Services for businesses in the Pacific Northwest. We’re based in Portland, OR and proud of it.
