912-2023

Date:    September 28, 2023

To:      Commissioner Rene Gonzalez

Commissioner Mingus Mapps

Commissioner Carmen Rubio

Commissioner Dan Ryan

Mayor Ted Wheeler

From:   Portland Parks & Recreation Advisory Board

Re:        Reporting 2022-2023 Portland Parks & Recreation Advisory Board activities, accomplishments, and upcoming issues

Dear Mayor Wheeler and Commissioners Gonzalez, Mapps, Rubio, and Ryan:

Under its governing statute, the Portland Parks & Recreation Advisory Board (“Board”) is required to deliver to the City Council an annual report summarizing the Board’s activities during the prior fiscal year and identifying the issues facing Portland Parks & Recreation (“PP&R”), including the Board’s recommendation for addressing those issues. This letter constitutes the Board’s 2022-23 fiscal year annual report.

The Portland Parks & Recreation Advisory Board was established in 2001 to, among other things, ensure that the aspirations of the 2020 Vision were at the forefront of discussions about Portland parks and related programs (which requires a wide variety of high-quality parks and recreation services and opportunities for all); ensure that parks, natural areas, open spaces, and recreational facilities are advanced in planning and design; and provide a forum for public discussion on park issues, bringing a city-wide and long-term perspective.

This year, the PP&R Bureau has moved into a new phase after completing the 2020 Vision work, and the Board’s role is also evolving, guided by the Health Parks Healthy Portland (HPHP) Report. This initiative centers underserved communities while being responsive and transparent, allowing PP&R to share decision-making and promoting civic engagement. HPHP comes with an admirable mission “to provide equitable access to welcoming places, programs, and services that improve community health and our environment” and “envisions a parks and recreation system that is responsive to diverse and changing community needs, nurturing health and connection for all.” The Board aims to uphold the mission, vision, and values of HPHP within our advisory role to Portland’s Park & Recreation and City Council and in our work as the public forum for public discussion and decision-making. 

The Board’s work is driven by the values of equity, inclusion, and accessibility in delivering parks and recreation services and the necessity of extending those services to all Portlanders, especially those who are underserved. The Board believes that to be a great city, Portland must have great parks, open spaces, natural areas, and recreational opportunities that are safe, well-maintained, equitably distributed, and accessible to all. In accordance with HPHP, the PP&R Advisory Board’s 2023-2024 priories are as follows: 

• Leading with Belonging, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Increasing Public Engagement with the Board
• Advocacy

It is our commitment to the City of Portland, PP&R, and the Portland community that we uphold and operationalize belonging, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within our advisory capacity, within our work as a Board, and in our Board meetings. These tenets extend to who we serve and represent, and include future colleagues and leadership on the Board.  We will continue dismantling and reducing barriers to accessing and participating in our meetings while creating inclusive and equitable pathways to serve as a Board member regardless of socio-economic status. We believe that leading with belonging, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion will increase public engagement with the Board as we also work to meet communities and residents where they are by volunteering at PP&R events and doing the deep hanging out necessary to serve our city and represent its residents. The Board will advocate for an equitable and sustainable 21st-century urban park and recreation system as permitted by City code and our bylaws to ensure Portland’s park and recreation legacy for future generations. 

The following section of this report is the Board’s activities, participation, and informational reports received during the 2022-23 fiscal year.

The Board’s Participation in Civic & Community Committees:

• HPHP Analysis
• Mission/Vision/Values/Racial Equity Team for Portland Parks & Recreation
• A Park and Wilson Pool Naming Committee
• Title 20 Amendment Committee
• Parks Levy Advisory Committee
• Parks Replacement Bond Oversight Committee
• Darcelle XV (O’Bryant Square) Portland Parks Foundation Community Charrette
• RFI selection/review Committee for the Darcelle XV (O’Bryant Square) temporary activation proposals
• Budget Advisory Committee 
• Mill Park Public Advisory Committee

The Board Informational Presentations and Reports Received:

• Tree Planting 
• Sustainable Futures 
• OMSI Master Plan
• PBEM Shelter Activation Process
• Warming/Cooling Shelter Evaluation
• Financial Assistance Pilot Report
• Sustainable Future Ballot Initiative
• HRAR 2.02 Training
• Stipend Pilot Program
• North Portland Aquatic Center 
• Tree Planting MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between PP&R (Portland Parks & Recreation)/BES (Bureau of Environmental Services)
• HPHP Listening & Learning Wave 2 Report and Mission, Vision, Values 
• Healthy Parks, Healthy Portland – Final Draft of Mission Vision Values and Racial Equity Statement
• PP&R Policy Framework
• Title 20 Proposed Amendments
• Spring BMP Report
• Accessibility Champions
• Elk Statue
• O’Bryant Square Activation
• The Role of the PP&R Advisory Board

Board Working Groups

The work of the Board is conducted by four committees which take on specific projects and topics, by presentations from Bureau staff, which allow us to bring forward information to the public through our Board meetings, and by comments from the public, an area where we are actively increasing engagement to ensure the Board, and by extension the Bureau and your Council, will have better insight into how Portlanders experience interactions with their city parks, recreation centers, and urban nature.

Below, you will find information on the work of each of the Board’s Working Groups, updated goals the Board has set for us, and a new Working Group we are developing. We also summarize the Working Groups’ accomplishments and ongoing concerns.

Board Affairs Working Group (BAWG): Is composed of all Working Group Chairs, the Board Chair and Co-Chair (or Vice Chair), and the BAWG Chair (provided the total number of members does not constitute a quorum of the Board). The BAWG is charged with researching, reviewing, and providing information and recommendations to the Board Chair on issues pertaining to Board governance, policies, and membership.  The group will periodically review, and provide recommendations to the Board Chair about any changes to, the by-laws of the Board, the purpose statement of the Board, the Board webpage, and information on Board members provided to senior management of Parks and City Council. This group will also be responsible for recommending new members to the Board and the procedures for vetting applicants, as well as identifying opportunities on Board and non-board groups for participation by Board members that would strengthen the effectiveness of the Board. The ad-hoc Nominating Committee will be a subgroup of the BAWG (Nominating Committee may include Board members beyond this group.)

Board Affairs Working Group contributions from 2022-2023:

• Developed a standardized format for reporting by Working Groups in order to allow such reports to have greater accessibility to the public.
• Drafted and recommended to the Board revised Board Purpose Statement and Board Duties (which has been forwarded to the Parks Commissioner).
• Worked on setting up new and re-aligning existing working groups so that the following topics could be reviewed on a systematic basis: climate resiliency, habitat equality, environmental justice, ecosystem services, and recreation and environmental programming.
• Conducted discussion with senior Parks staff on improving the benefits that the Board provides Parks.

Community Engagement Working Group (CEWG): Gathering and compiling information for the Board Chair regarding public outreach, education, advocacy, and opportunities for creating a forum for public discussion about parks and recreation issues, including equity in parks and in the delivery of recreation services and outreach to underserved communities, recognized Friends and Partner groups, community organizations, volunteers and other collaborators. This group will gather and compile information for use by the Board in assessing progress by the Parks Bureau in its efforts to implement  Healthy Parks, Health Portland 2023. 

Community Engagement Working Group contributions from 2022-2023:

• Developed internal Portland Parks Board Public Comment Procedure
• Worked on Board visibility by holding the PP&R Advisory Board Meetings in community via in-person meetings at community/recreation centers during the summer months and expanding to attend PP&R events in community.

Financial Sustainability Working Group (FSWG): Serving as the conduit between the Board and Parks’ Finance and Senior staff.  Parks’ Finance staff provides the group with monthly updates on various financial topics on which the group gives feedback and reports back to the Board. These topics include the annual Parks budget, the Spring and Fall BMP adjustments, operations, and maintenance funding. The group also participates in conversations with Parks staff related to System Development Charges, new levy and bond issuances, and other future sustainable financial activities.  The Budget Advisory Committee is integrated into the group with specific group meetings dedicated to the work of the committee.

Financial Sustainability Working Group contributions from 2022-2023:

• Monitoring financial aspects of Parks, including the rollout of the “Access Pass,” annual budget, support of legislation authorizing expanded governance options for Parks District, Fall and Spring amendments to the budget, and integrating the BAC with the WG.

Land Use & Infrastructure Working Group (LUIWG): Gathering and compiling information for the Board Chair regarding any and all of the following that may affect Parks and its operations: significant land use policies and initiatives; capital improvement projects; the creation of new parks, natural areas, trails, open spaces and recreation facilities; proposed major maintenance projects; capital funding; and health, safety, and environmental efforts. This working group also reviews stewardship policies and projects of Parks. One or more members of this group will participate in the annual Capital Improvement Project process (CIP) conducted by Parks.

Land Use & Infrastructure Working Group contributions from 2022-2023:

• LUIWG advised PPR on over 50 projects and had a representative participate in the prioritization/level of service workshops for capital and maintenance projects.  We are tracking 25 other projects to stay involved in. 
•  A few Working Group members participated in the Darcelle XV temp activation RFI / selection committee.

NEW Working Group

The 2022-23 Board made great strides toward forming a new Working Group that focuses on recreation, art, culture, and nature programming. As a conduit between the Bureau and the community, we look forward to working toward an accessible and equitable parks system.

The Programming, Arts, Culture, and Nature Working Group will provide (1) thoughtful advisory support and review, (2) deliver strategic recommendations, and (3) collaborate with Portland Parks and Recreation staff to achieve the goals outlined in Healthy Parks, Healthy Portland. By using Healthy Parks, Healthy Portland as a set of shared goals between the Board and Bureau, the Programming, Arts, Culture, and Nature Working Group will specifically focus on five of the Bureau’s strategic priorities directly relating to programming: (1) accessible, safe, clean, well-maintained public spaces, (2) Learning play and discovery, (3) Mental, emotional and physical wellness, (4) community and civic connection.

Areas of Concern: Parks Services

There are areas of concern the Board has discussed, which we are working to address with the Bureau and would like to bring to your attention. The following are not necessarily parks-specific concerns but, if funded and fully realized, would dramatically improve the accessibility and usability of our parks for community members.

• Free high-speed Wi-Fi services at PP&R recreation centers and other community meeting/gathering areas
• Year-round clean, well-maintained, and available restrooms
• Implementation of ADA and universal design park infrastructures
• Increased pool access and swimming capacity

Areas of Concern: Systemic Issues

Additionally, there are several topics that the Board has discussed that are indicative of more significant concerns about Parks’ role within the City, both narrowly as it relates to City Government and broadly as it relates to the future of the City and communities within Portland.

• Sustainable and adequate funding for parks, facilities, and programs
• Large and ever-growing deferred maintenance backlog
• Climate resilience
• Shelter and cooling/warming center space
• Growth and access to community spaces
• Planning for serving a growing population - pools, community centers, green space, etc.

We will continue this work into the 2023-2024 Board fiscal year, and we ask you for your continued partnership and support. Portland is a great place to live, work, and play, partly because of our historic investments in our parks, community centers, and open spaces.  But we must continue to make these spaces accessible to all residents and park users by investing in communities and their park and recreational needs and desires. We must acknowledge that proximity to more park space does not equate to expanded access. It is essential that we define and understand access as the ability to benefit from resources, including all the environmental goods, healthy natural areas, and recreational programming that PP&R provides. The Board will continue proactively ensuring all Portlanders benefit from the spaces and the programs offered.  The Board will continue working with the Bureau to ensure we receive more community input, identifying areas where we can do more to include all Portlanders in the benefits of accessing parks, community centers, events, natural spaces, programs, and our civic Board meetings. 

We ask for your continued partnership through fully funding our Parks system, partnering with parks to continue to provide more access to our parks, recreation, and programs, and supporting the Portland Parks & Recreation Bureau’s crucial and increasing role as the City’s ecosystem, a vital infrastructure, which serves at the forefront of mitigating climate change and severe weather as a highly recognized urban park system.

Thank you for your support and commitment to our valued parks system.

Respectfully submitted,

Portland Parks Board