Legacy Giving Program

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R)’s Legacy Giving Program provides a meaningful way for individuals and community members to recognize milestones, celebrate events, or honor loved ones while enhancing Portland’s park system.

Contributions to PP&R’s Legacy Giving Program are fully tax-deductible, and payment can be made via check or credit card. Donors will receive a tax receipt upon site approval and payment.

Currently, PP&R offers two choices of legacy giving opportunities:

• Rose Bed Program
• Bench Program (application window closed for 2026)

Rose Bed Program

Celebrate a milestone, or honor loved ones with a gift to the Rose Garden! Donations to the Rose Bed Program support the ongoing care and maintenance of the International Rose Test Garden in PP&R’s Washington Park.

Contribution Level

• $1,200

Donor Recognition

Your donation will be recognized with a personalized placard, placed in the Rose Garden for three years.   

• Placards are 3 x 4 inches (50 characters max)
• Specific placard locations are determined by PP&R staff. We will provide donors with a map showing placard location.

Please complete the application form linked below, and PP&R staff will follow up with you to complete your donation and finalize wording for your placard.  Roses are blooming May-October, but we accept applications and install placards at any time during the year.

Apply Here

Bench Program

Donations to the Bench Program support the refurbishment, and ongoing maintenance of benches in Portland parks.

Contribution Levels

• $5,000 – Refurbished Bench: includes refurbishment and basic maintenance of an existing park bench for ten years.
• $5,000 – Donation Renewal: includes refurbishment and basic maintenance of a dedicated park bench for an additional ten years.      

Donor Recognition

In recognition of donations to the Bench Program, PP&R will install a plaque at the donor’s selected bench. The plaque is a separate cost, which may be ordered through an outside vendor. Plaques must meet PP&R specifications. Typical plaque costs range from $175 - $300. Plaques remain at dedicated benches for ten years, with the option to renew donations for an additional decade of care.

• Plaques are 5 x 8 inches, Bronze (character count may vary depending on vendor)

Bench Selection

Browse our map of available benches:

• Find an available bench

PP&R staff will work with donors to confirm availability of bench selections. At this time, we are not accepting requests for new park bench installations. We appreciate your interest!

There are no benches available for refurbishment, and waitlist is full at:

• Council Crest Park
• Mt. Tabor Park
• International Rose Test Garden

PP&R natural areas and trails, such as Forest Park and Hoyt Arboretum, are not included in the Legacy Bench Program. Benches in natural areas are not installed in concrete, so there is no place to securely install a plaque. PP&R does not allow plaques affixed to benches due to the increased risk of theft and vandalism.

Application Process

The application window for 2026 is closed. Applications are received annually starting on January 2. PP&R will accept the first 15 applications each year, and ten additional applications for our waitlist. The application window will close after 25 applications are received, or on March 31, whichever comes first. Donations must be received by May 31. Bench refurbishments are completed throughout the year in the order that donations are received.

PRK-3.02 - PP&R Adopt-A-Bench Program Policy and Review Procedure