POSTED JULY 26, 2017
(Portland, OR) –
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) Director Mike Abbaté has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) – the leading non-profit organization dedicated to parks and recreation nationwide. He will begin his three-year term at the 2017 NRPA Annual Conference, September 26–28 in New Orleans.
Director Abbaté is a landscape architect with 30 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. He has served as the Director of Portland Parks & Recreation since 2011, and has led initiatives to fund new parks in deficient areas of Portland, increase equity and inclusion in the Bureau, and promote ecological sustainability in land management practices. In 2011, Portland received the Gold Medal from NRPA as the best parks system in the United States. In 1997, he co-founded GreenWorks, an award-winning landscape architecture and environmental design consulting firm, recognized for its sustainable design philosophy.
“Mike is an experienced, effective, and dedicated leader and I am thrilled that the NRPA has recognized these qualities in the person at the helm of Portland Parks & Recreation,” says Portland Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz. ”He is a tremendous asset to the Parks bureau and the City, and the NRPA will undoubtedly benefit greatly from his participation on its Board of Directors.”
Abbaté graduated from Cal Poly-Pomona in 1985 with a degree in Landscape Architecture, magna cum laude. He is a registered Landscape Architect in Oregon, certified nationally through the Council of Landscape Architects Registration Board, and a LEED™ Accredited Professional. Director Abbaté is the author of “Gardening Eden”, published by Random House.
Photo: PP&R Director Mike Abbaté.
“We are proud to have Mike Abbaté serve on our Board,” said Stephen Eckelberry, chair, NRPA Board of Directors. “His expertise and dedication to parks and recreation will play an important role in helping our organization move forward.”
“It is an honor to represent Portland Parks & Recreation, a recent recipient of NRPA’s National Gold Medal for Excellence in Parks and Recreation,” says Director Abbaté. “I look forward to serving parks and recreation professionals all over the country, and extend my thanks to the NRPA.”
Abbaté has the designation of Fellow from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). According to its website, Fellowship is among the highest honors the ASLA bestows on members and recognizes the contributions of an individual to their profession and society at large based on their works, leadership and management, knowledge, and service over a sustained period.
NRPA’s Board of Directors is composed of 15-30 individuals. Board members are representative of NRPA’s membership, which includes leaders in the park, recreation and conservation movement, park and recreation professionals, and individuals from corporations, industry suppliers, commercial businesses, and volunteer and civic groups.
To learn more about NRPA, visit nrpa.org.
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About Portland Parks & Recreation
Portland's parks, public places, natural areas, and recreational opportunities give life and beauty to our city. These essential assets connect people to place, self, and others. Portland's residents treasure and care for this legacy, building on the past to provide for future generations.
We recognize, understand, and encourage celebration of the differences that surround us. Diversity and equity are vital to Portland Parks & Recreation's ideals and values.
The mission of Portland Parks & Recreation is to help Portlanders play - providing the safe places, facilities, and programs which promote physical, mental, and social activity. We get people, especially kids, outside, active, and connected to the community. As we do this, there will be an increase in the wellness of our residents and the livability of our city.
About The National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all Americans have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity. Through its network of 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit parksandrecreation.org.