Why can’t you just direct the money you have to the places its needed?
PP&R needs more funding than it has at present to deliver all the parks and recreation services Portlanders have said they want and need. Some funding is flexible on how it can be used, other funding sources are collected for and need to be used for specific purposes. Learn more about major PP&R funding sources.
You keep using system development charges to build or expand new parks and facilities. Why would you do that when there is already a large and growing major maintenance and capital projects backlog?
Today’s parks and recreation system doesn’t provide equitable access to all Portlanders. Since 2000, Portlanders have continued to share that they value equitable access, and PP&R has been working towards that through our level of service goals. While 85% of Portlanders overall have local access to a park or natural area, in East Portland only 69% of households enjoy that service level. System development charges are revenue collected from building permits and can only be used to pay for expansions of the parks and recreation system to meet the needs of our growing city. If we stopped collecting and spending system development charges, we would perpetuate inequitable access and lower park service levels.
Learn more about system development charges.
I voted for the 2020 Parks Local Option Levy (Parks Levy). It’s supposed bring in about $50 million per year for five years. Why don’t you just use those funds to fix the issues you’ve identified?
PP&R is only allowed to use Parks Levy funds on operating costs based on the ballot measure voters approved. The bureau is not allowed to use Parks Levy funds on capital maintenance or capital growth.
Learn more about the Parks Levy, including how funds are generated, what they can be spent on, and how we're being held accountable by the Parks Levy Oversight Committee.
Hundreds of thousands of Portlanders pay taxes every year, but you say there is a huge maintenance backlog. Why would that be?
Portlanders’ share of City taxes support a wide variety of services, and park maintenance is one of them. Funding for park maintenance is balanced with funding to operate community centers and fire stations, address homelessness, fix roads, and more. Historically, City taxes alone have not been sufficient to meet the needs of the parks and recreation system Portlanders have wanted. Through the decades, Portland voters have approved bonds and levies that have created the parks and recreation system we have today.
What's the Sustainable Future Initiative?
Portland’s parks and recreation system requires additional, sustained funding to deliver the services Portlanders have said they need and value. These include things like equitable access to clean, well maintained neighborhood parks, healthy natural areas and trees, and affordable programs, classes, and events.
Since 2019, through its Sustainable Future program, PP&R has been working to align its service levels with appropriate funding levels, including looking at potential funding sources to support delivering critical community park services.
Learn more about the Sustainable Future Initiative.
What kinds of grants and donations does PP&R get, and how are they used?
Grants do not represent a significant portion of overall resources for PP&R. This is because grants are typically specific in nature of use and limited in duration. However, as opportunities arise the bureau has pursued and continues to pursue grants as a way to enhance services. Examples of grant utilization include American Rescue Plan funding, support for environmental education programs and after school meals for students.
While PP&R has been the beneficiary of many donations over the years, that funding will only ever represent a small portion of our overall resources and address a small portion of our overall need. Moreover, those donations – while extraordinarily generous – don’t always align with the highest priority needs for delivering core services to the community.
What do the fees I pay for services go toward?
PP&R receives a variety of fees for services, like revenue from recreation programs, property use, and for urban forestry services provided to the public and other City bureaus.
Generally, these fees are used to support operations to provide the service the fee is for. Some charges, fees or permit revenue are discretionary, meaning they can be used to support any activity at the discretion of City. Other revenue may be limited by City Charter, City Code, City Ordinance, or other law in the manner in which it can be spent. For example, systems development charges are restricted, and can only be spent on expanding the capacity of the parks and recreation system, and so cannot be used to address the backlog of major maintenance requirements.
What is a Non-Park Use Permit, and how do they impact the money PP&R has to spend?
Non-Park Use Permits are for impacts from non-park uses in parks, like construction staging on City property. While this revenue is technically discretionary, funds are mostly used to support permitting staff and project management associated with managing the direct impact non-park uses have on PP&R properties.
Learn more about Non-Park Use Permits.
What does the money in “trust funds” go toward?
Technically referred to as a "Special Revenue Funds," these resources are only spent on what a donor or provider of the funds, or in some cases Council Ordinance, wants the funds to be spent on. There are currently over 70 individual special revenue funds.
What are bonds and how do they help the parks?
PP&R is only allowed to use bond funds for capital projects. Those are broken up into two categories: capital maintenance and capital growth. The bureau is not allowed to use bonds to fund operating costs.
Bond funds used for capital maintenance address things like big repairs or replacements of existing park facilities such as playgrounds, trails, or buildings.
Bond funds used for capital growth are for acquiring and building new parks and facilities to provide equitable services to Portlanders.
The parks and recreation system Portlanders have today has been supported historically by a series of operating levies and capital bonds passed by voters.
When will the 2014 Replacement Bond projects be done?
The series of 2014 Replacement Bond projects is complete. The bond funded and PP&R successfully completed repairs and replacements for over 50 projects throughout the parks and recreation system. The final project at Mt. Tabor Maintenance Facility has wrapped up. There are no remaining 2014 Replacement Bond funds for additional projects.
Learn more about the 2014 Parks Replacement Bond.
Where's the 2019 Metro Natural Area bond money going?
PP&R will be receiving $32 million funding from Metro's 2019 Parks and Nature Bond, which will be used to fund local projects that align with Metro bond priorities. In addition to the ‘local share’ of the bond, there are several other allocation pools for which PP&R would be able to complete.
Learn more about the local share of the Metro Parks and Nature Bond and the projects it will fund.
How can people like me get involved in deciding where the money goes?
There are many ways to get involved with both the City of Portland's budget process and PP&R's oversight committees.
A good place to start if you want to get involved in the City’s annual budget process is the City Budget Office's "Join FY 2023-24 Budget Planning" page. On that page, you will find information about public forums and meetings where community members can provide input.
Individual funding sources like the Parks Levy, Metro Parks and Nature Bond, and 2014 Parks Replacement Bond usually have additional processes for community engagement and involvement.
Learn more about the Parks Levy Oversight Committee or the PP&R budget process.
Are there plans for the $600 million in needed repairs?
City Commissioner Dan Ryan and PP&R Director Adena Long are continuing to explore options for addressing additional funding needs. For more information on steps taken since 2019 to pursue additional funding, please visit our Sustainable Future page.
PP&R funding decisions are made through an annual budget process, and are developed using tools to help ensure the budget aligns with the bureau’s strategic mission, vision, values, and equity and anti-racism commitment. Every year, the bureau works with the commissioner’s office to develop a "Requested Budget" that is submitted to the City Budget Office and the Mayor. A Budget Advisory Committee provides input as the budget is being developed.
Learn more about the Healthy Parks, Healthy Portland tools that inform budget conversations.
Learn more about the PP&R budget.
With all this deferred maintenance, how do I know it's safe to use my park or community center?
Safety is our highest priority, as demonstrated by our rigorous evaluations of parks and facilities. Our protocol includes weekly technician checks and annual comprehensive inspections by certified experts, all to ensure the well-being of those who use Portland's parks and community centers. We also address the public's concerns reported through 311, prioritizing any issues that directly impact public safety.