Overview:

It could be in a park. It could be in your front yard. Wherever it is, we want to build a map of our region’s best trees.

My favorite tree around here is in Springfield’s Island Park. It’s a tall, leafy tree, a natural boundary between the park itself and the river.

Isn’t that just lovely?

I spent a perfect sunny day there last July, covering the Noche Cultural celebration and stealing away for riverside moments in the downtime between interviews.

It’s perfect to sit against, while looking out at the water and appreciating how absurdly beautiful the place we live is. 

Our photographer Isaac Wasserman’s favorite tree is the willow in Washburne Park, which he said always feels grounding to sit underneath. “It can encompass you,” he said. “If a tree could give a hug, that tree would give a hug.”

Part of what makes life in Lane County so special is our bounty of green space, but it can be easy to lose the individual trees while looking at gorgeous forests constantly. 

So we want to know: What’s your favorite tree in Eugene and Springfield? It could be in a park. It could be in your front yard. It could be on a street corner you always take an extra detour to pass. Wherever it is, we want to build a map of our region’s best trees and fill it with your memories and pictures. 

Here’s how you can weigh in:

What’s your favorite tree in Eugene and Springfield?

We’re asking Lookout readers to tell us their favorite trees in and around Eugene and Springfield.

Any additional tree information, suggestions or questions can go to annie@Lookoutlocal.com and isaac@lookoutlocal.com. We’re looking forward to seeing your trees. 

Annie Aguiar is the Arts and Culture Correspondent. She has reported arts news and features for national and local newsrooms, including at the Seattle Times, the Washington Post and most recently as a reporting fellow for the New York Times’ Culture desk covering arts and entertainment.