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In January, I was thrilled to become the new Commissioner-in-charge of Portland Parks and Recreation. I believe parks are more than just a place to recreate; they provide meaningful opportunities for people of all ages to stay active, healthy, and connected to their communities.
During the winter months, in addition to reading up on the Olmsted brothers' vision, I convened several roundtables with different stakeholders and user groups. The discussions were dynamic and very constructive. I heard a wide range of concerns and ideas, including the need to restore Portland's treasured natural areas and provide equitable access to our parks and programs. These are two values that will certainly guide my decision-making.
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At the May 11 ParkScan launch in downtown Portland.
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I also heard that Portlanders want to find ways to move beyond a culture of 'no' and into innovative problem-solving solutions that help us get to 'yes.' I've been blown away by the number of citizens who volunteer their time and energy - without you our parks system could not be successful!
You may be surprised to learn that Portland Parks and Recreation is chronically under-funded in comparison to Parks departments in other cities of our size. The economic downturn has not made things any easier. We are faced with many challenges - take the Community Gardens program as an example; there are over 1,200 households on a waiting list for plots. Many of them have been waiting for years.
In addition to the Community Gardens program, there are several exciting trail proposals that I will work to move forward, from expanding off-road biking opportunities to connecting neighborhoods with nearby green spaces and corridors.
Green spaces foster communities by linking neighborhoods to nature and to each other, and working to increase parks and green spaces in historically underserved parts of Portland is one of my top priorities. Toward this end, we recently introduced three Parks Master Plans for East Portland (read more on the Parks Bureau website.)
On these pages you will find updates on Parks initiatives I have identified as top priorities. I look forward to hearing feedback from you on these and other issues that interest you.
With your continued support, we will develop a long-term strategy to advance our common goal of improving Portland's livability for all.
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Dear friends,
During these tough times, when so many families are having trouble finding room for recreation in their budgets, we want to make sure free and affordable opportunities remain available.
This summer, the Parks bureau continues its tradition of offering safe, healthy activities for children and families in parks, pools, and community centers across the city. From the Washington Park Summer Festival and concerts in neighborhood parks to Movies in the Park and summer playground fun there’s truly something for everyone.
To highlight these opportunities, Portland Parks & Recreation has launched “Summer Free for All”, an online portal showcasing the hundreds of free events, classes, and programs the Parks bureau offers. The site will be updated each week through early September to reflect upcoming activities and classes designed to keep youth safe and active this summer, including free swims, game room drop-ins, gardening classes, breakdance and skateboard sessions, and much more.
Portland’s parks and natural areas also support all kinds of unstructured relaxation and recreation. Portlanders can enjoy visiting skateparks and dog parks; playing on basketball and tennis courts; hiking or biking on over 150 miles of trails; or simply packing a picnic and a frisbee and heading to a neighborhood park.
We hope to see you out and about in our parks this summer!
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