Picture Perfect Preservation

Oregon is a place with great natural beauty.  From the mountains to the coast, and the forests down to the Willamette Valley, there are so many areas with beautiful scenic views.  Here in McMinnville, we are lucky enough to live in a place where you can drive around and see some of these great natural features.  The rooftop bar at Hotel Oregon probably provides some of the best views in town, but there are also other scenic views from places easily accessible to everyone.

While I definitely enjoy the places in and around town where you can view Mt. Hood’s iconic peak, I also appreciate the more simple views of the hills surrounding our town.  When walking along the Westside Greenway trail – which runs from Baker Creek Road to West 2nd Street – the views to the foothills west of town always provide a peaceful and interesting backdrop.  I always enjoy seeing the snow in the hilltops from the lookout at the top of Wallace Road on a morning run, or just simply watching the clouds and fog settle in the valleys when I’m walking my dogs along the trail.

As we design our neighborhoods, is it important to preserve some of these scenic views so that they are accessible for everyone?