(Portland, OR)-
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) Director Adena Long celebrates Parks and Recreation professionals across the Rose City today as part of the National Recreation and Parks Association's nationwide commemoration. Director Long sent out an encouraging message to PP&R’s more than 800 full-time staff members to celebrate their contribution to the city that works.
“I’m so excited to be writing this to you all to celebrate this day, devoted to our team and our colleagues across the nation. This is a day to rise up in appreciation for all the dedicated professionals who build strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation,” Director Long wrote to PP&R teammates.
The acknowledgment by Director Long, herself a long-serving parks and recreation professional, is one of the ways that PP&R is supporting NRPA in celebrating Parks and Recreation Month #RiseUpJuly and #NRPAParkandRecDay.
“As Parks and Recreation professionals – I want to take this time to celebrate your work, from our frontline field staff - park rangers, maintenance workers, arborists, technicians, horticulturists, trade workers and recreation staff - to our architects, engineers, coordinators, analysts and managers and everyone in between, this is your day and indeed your month,” added Director Long.
Park and Recreation Professionals Day originally began with the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society (PRPS) as a statewide celebration in 2019.
Director Long said she continues to be proud to serve as the leader of a team of committed and passionate parks and recreation professionals. “We have accomplished a lot despite the pandemic, wildfires, winter storms, heat waves; and we have persevered as a team.”
PP&R serves Portland with many hundreds of full-time and part-time/seasonal staff in across five divisions.
Director Long acknowledged the successes of her team.
“So today, take a pause and reflect on the amazing work we have done together, from growing an equitable forest, to building inclusive playgrounds, to delivering teen conservation programs, to hosting the first ever East Portland Summer Arts Festival, there is so much to celebrate. All of these, and so many more are due to the efforts of our team, working together and individually towards a healthy parks and healthy Portland.”
