As a bicyclist and a friend of trees I can't help but be blown away by the negativity and anti tree zealotry here. But I want to respond to two errors of Paul's in comment 28. The ponderosa's planted are a subspecies of Pinus ponderosa called valley pine that is native to the Willamette Valley. Point two is that almost no one on earth is allergic to pine pollen of any type, although many think so. It has nearly non-allergenic pollen, like Doug-fir and several other trees. People often confuse pine pollen for the cause of their allergies. It's a lovely color though.
Cheers,
Erik

Comments:

1. Lots of hard work went into planting several hundred expensive trees: Douglas fir, true fir, several varieties of spruce, plus some broadleaves/hardwoods. Looks like a reforestation project!

2. The plantings are on the path side of a berm, where they can contribute nothing to noise reduction, even when fully grown; the berm itself preempts that function.

3. All plantings are well away from the path, which is the old one along the west tide of I-205, mostly in the form of the neighborhood’s concrete sidewalk.

4. When the trees reach maturity there will be a tall front of dark foliage about 15 feet to the east shading the path; probably the boles of the confers will be clear of branches well above the ground.

The purpose of this is not clear; it seems to accomplish nothing.
What is wrong with open meadows, fields and moors? I like forests, but they need not be everywhere. This planting makes as much sense as downhill singletrack through Hoyt Arboretum.

Multiuse paths are dangerous for all users. They should be evenly illuminated, without shade and shadows, with good sightlines 100 feet ahead, so we can easily see pedestrians, baby strollers, dogs, other cyclists.

I applaud Friends of Trees, but I would rather cycle safely in broad daylight than through artificial forests.