May 5, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Maria Sipin
Councilor Mitch Green Proposes "Healthy Parks, Healthy Climate Plan" to Prevent Park Cuts Without Harming PCEF
Portland, OR – Today, Portland City Councilor Mitch Green unveiled the "Healthy Parks, Healthy Climate Plan," a creative proposal to bridge a general fund budget gap threatening deep cuts to City park maintenance programs. The plan would use temporarily unspent funds from the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) as a short-term loan, ensuring parks remain well-maintained while fully repaying PCEF before funds are scheduled for climate projects.
Green’s proposal comes as the City Council grapples with a budget shortfall that could severely reduce park services, leaving green spaces understaffed and deteriorating. At the same time, some councilors have floated diverting PCEF dollars without repayment, which would jeopardize critical climate programs adopted in the City’s first Climate Investment Plan. Green argues that neither outcome is acceptable and that City Council can protect both parks and climate investments with smart financial management.
“Portlanders want us to keep our parks running and invest in a clean future that prioritizes community benefits. We can and should do both, and this plan does exactly that,” said Green. “Unlike other proposals, this doesn’t take a dime from PCEF—every dollar will be repaid in time for another cycle of climate programs. This is just common sense: we can’t cut our way to prosperity.”
The Healthy Parks, Healthy Climate Plan emphasizes good economics, leveraging available financial tools to keep essential services running without permanent cuts or tax increases. “Our parks program is one of the best things Portland has going for it. Letting it deteriorate because we aren’t creative enough to find solutions is unacceptable,” Green added. “This plan proves we can meet our obligations without sacrificing our values.”
Green anticipates that repayment of the loan can be folded into future budgets without issue. “This isn’t just kicking the can down the road. We can reasonably expect expenditures to fall next year as efficiencies from a city-wide reorganization project are realized, and as one-time costs for the Mayor’s expansive shelter-building program begin to wind down,” Green said.
The plan is set to be formally presented on Wednesday at noon to the PCEF Committee, a community-led advisory body established in City Code as stewards of the fund that provides funding recommendations to Council.
Download the Proposal:
Attend the PCEF Meeting:
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