Our Story
Learn how our community, mission, partnerships, and supporters come together to keep stewardship thriving at Buford Park and the greater Mt. Pisgah area.
Our Mission
We are here to nurture and restore connection to nature by protecting and stewarding native ecosystems and compatible recreation in the greater Mt Pisgah area.
Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah is a Eugene-based nonprofit caring for the lands, trails, habitats, and native plants of the greater Mt. Pisgah area.
Here are some of the ways we do that,
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Stewarding native ecosystems across 2,000+ acres
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Improving and maintaining nearly 30 miles recreational trails at Buford Park
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Growing native plants and seeds for habitat restoration projects
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Fostering community stewardship by leading volunteer workparties
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Mentoring future stewards through our Academic Internship program
Our Partners
We don't work alone. The Friends collaborate with a network of respected organizations to care for this landscape:
Lane County Parks — The Friends have an extensive partnership with Lane County, owner of the 2,200-acre Howard Buford Recreation Area (aka Buford Park). Buford Park is the largest parcel in the 4,700-acre greater Mt. Pisgah area and the most-visited of Lane County’s 68 parks, receiving 500,000 visits per year. It is also a state Conservation Opportunity Area, recognized for its outstanding botanical and wildlife resources. The Friends raise funds to provide professional services that benefit the park and the public. Examples include designing, building, and maintaining trails, managing exotic weeds and growing native plants.
Mount Pisgah Arboretum — A neighboring 209-acre nature education center on the park's west side. While the Arboretum focuses on education and family-friendly programming on its seven miles of trails, the Friends work across the broader landscape. Together, we cover the full range — from learning about nature to actively stewarding it.
McKenzie River Trust — Conservation advocate and now owner of the 1,300-acre Willamette Confluence Preserve, located next to Buford Park — a protection effort the Friends helped champion.
Oregon State Parks and other area landowners round out a regional network working toward the same goal: keeping this landscape healthy and accessible for generations to come.
Equestrian Friends of Mount Pisgah — Equestrian Friends of Mount Pisgah (EFMP) is a group of equestrians and supporters dedicated to enhancing the visitor experience at the Howard Buford Recreation Area (HBRA). While rooted in an equestrian perspective, EFMP works to ensure the park remains welcoming, safe, and enjoyable for all visitors. We collaborate in the planning, development, and maintenance of trails, infrastructure, and facilities—preserving the park’s natural beauty and historical value.
Lane County Sheriff’s Posse — Founded in 1941, the Lane County Sheriff’s Posse is a community-focused, volunteer equestrian group supporting law enforcement, search and rescue, and public relations. Originally formed to assist during wartime blackouts and flood evacuations, the Posse has evolved into a vital resource for search and rescue operations. Members participate in parades, rodeos, and fundraising events while promoting horsemanship and community service. They maintain an outdoor arena at Mount Pisgah for training and gatherings, continuing a long tradition of public service, family-oriented activities, and excellence in drills and horsemanship.
Our Story
Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah (FBP) is a self-funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has cared for the lands, trails, and native habitats of the greater Mt. Pisgah area since 1989. Today, we steward around 4,700 acres of land, including the 2,000-acre Howard Buford Recreation Area (Mt. Pisgah), Turtle Flats, the Sorenson property, and the Native Plant Nursery.
We believe people and nature are better off together, and we put that belief into practice through hands-on stewardship, trail maintenance, habitat enhancement, and native plant propagation.
Why the Friends Exist
Lane County Parks does what it can — but with limited budgets and staff spread thin across the county, Buford Park needs more. Along with other organizations, the Friends help fill that gap with dedicated volunteers, targeted funding, and on-the-ground expertise.
Without the Friends, trail maintenance falls behind. Exotic species grow unchecked. Native habitat shrinks. Your membership and volunteer hours are what make the difference.
About The Park
Howard Buford Recreation Area, known locally as Mt. Pisgah, is a Lane County park at the confluence of the Coast and Middle Forks of the Willamette River. FBP guest stewards and manages more than 2,000 acres within the park, including our 2.5-acre native plant nursery.
Our work here focuses on stewardship of the park's diverse native ecosystems, trail maintenance, and habitat restoration. Our stewardship work extends beyond Howard Buford Recreation Area to other ecologically significant lands, including Turtle Flats, which is owned and managed by Friends, and the Sorenson property, which we steward under a separate management agreement. Each area is managed according to its own stewardship goals and management plan.
Our Partners
Howard Buford Recreation Area, known locally as Mt. Pisgah, is owned by Lane County Parks and cared for in partnership with local organizations, including Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah and Mt. Pisgah Arboretum.
Because our names are similar, people often confuse the two organizations. While both nonprofits care deeply about Mt. Pisgah, we serve different and complementary roles.
Mt. Pisgah Arboretum focuses on environmental education, family-friendly programs, botanical collections, and visitor experiences within its 209-acre lease area and 7 miles of trails.
Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah focuses on caring for the land, trails, habitats, and native plants of the greater Mt. Pisgah area. We steward more than 2,000 acres, including Howard Buford Recreation Area, Turtle Flats, the Sorenson property, and our Native Plant Nursery. We also maintain the majority of the public trail system, which includes nearly 30 miles of trails throughout the park.
Together, Friends and the Arboretum help make Mt. Pisgah a place where people can learn about nature, enjoy the outdoors, volunteer, and take part in the long-term stewardship of the land.
There are many ways to support Friends and stay involved. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for updates on stewardship projects, volunteer opportunities, and upcoming events.
Join our stewardship team to help maintain trails, participate in native habitat stewardship projects, or volunteer in our Native Plant Nursery.
You can also support this work through a donation, which helps provide the tools, equipment, and resources needed to care for the lands we steward.