Parks Replacement Bond

Parks Replacement Bond funds are for urgent repairs and other capital costs, not park operations. The measure authorized up to $68 million in general obligation bonds to make repairs and improvements and prevent more closures like we’ve seen at Couch playground and the Maple Trail in Forest Park.

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Parks Replacement Bond News

Introducing Verdell Burdine Rutherford Park: Portland Parks & Recreation and Mayor Ted Wheeler are pleased to announce that the former Lynchview Park (SE 167^th Avenue and Market Street in east Portland) has been renamed Verdell Burdine Rutherford Park. This is the first Portland park named after a prominent and beloved Black female leader. The site recently underwent major improvements thanks to the 2014 Parks Replacement Bond and Parks System Development Charges.
The Bond Oversight Committee presented their Year 4 annual report to City Council on January 15, 2020.
Creston Park playground construction started in mid-April 2020, with anticipated completion in Fall 2020.
Matt Dishman Community Center's roof replacement is underway and will be completed by Fall 2020.

Parks Replacement Bond Annual Reports

Bond Projects Under Construction

Bond Projects Starting Construction in 2020

Citywide Play Piece Replacements and Drainage Repairs

Thanks to funding from the Parks Replacement Bond, new play pieces were installed at 19 playgrounds, and drainage repairs were made at 11 playgrounds. In recent years, many play pieces have been removed from parks due to lead paint and other safety concerns. Read more about the Lead Paint Control Program here. Some sites also received ADA access improvements.

Play Piece Replacement Locations

Summer 2018 through Spring 2020; all replacements now completed

Park Name	Play Piece
Albert Kelly Park	Play structure with slide
Argay Park	Play structure with slide
Berkeley Park	Whirl
Bloomington Park	Musical play piece (xylophone)
Colonel Summers Park	Horizontal ladder
Flavel Park	Whirl
Fulton Park	Swings
Hancock Park	Whirl
Irving Park	New slide and decking repairs on existing play structure
Knott Park	Wood repairs on existing play structure
Laurelhurst Park	Teeter totter
Mt. Tabor Park	Horizontal ladder
Piccolo Park	Wood repairs on existing play structures
Sewallcrest Park	Whirl
University Park	Chin-up bar
Washington Park	Swings
Wilkes Park	Talk tubes and a bobble spring toy
Wilshire Park	Play structure for tot area
Woodstock Park	Whirl

Drainage Repair Locations

Summer 2019 through Winter 2019/20

The below 11 playgrounds received drainage repairs and installation of new wood chips in Summer 2019 - Winter 2019/20.

Burlingame Park – COMPLETED
Clinton Park – COMPLETED
Harney Park – COMPLETED
Irving Park – COMPLETED
Patton Square Park – COMPLETED
Peninsula Park – COMPLETED
Pier Park – COMPLETED
Portsmouth Park – COMPLETED
South Park Blocks – COMPLETED
Sunnyside School Park – COMPLETED
Woodlawn Park – COMPLETED

Pathway Repair Locations

Summer 2019 through Winter 2019/20

Pathway improvements were made at the below 11 parks in Summer 2019 - Winter 2019/20 to improve accessibility.

Burlingame Park
- 195 sq ft of paving from play area to SW Falcon Street - COMPLETED
Peninsula Park
- 600 sq ft of parking to improve access to play area from N Albina Avenue and between picnic area/restroom and the swing and teeter section of play area - COMPLETED
Clinton Park
- 240 sq ft of paving from play area to SE Woodward Street - COMPLETED
Pier Park
- 3,000 sq ft of paving to improve access to play area from N James Street, re-orientation of play area access ramp to prevent flooding, and access to the nearby splash pad - COMPLETED
Fulton Park
- Minor asphalt paving and installation of an access ramp to the play area - COMPLETED
Sewallcrest Park
- 140 sq ft of paving to improve access to play area and replacement whirl - COMPLETED
Irving Park
- 350 sq ft of paving to improve access to play area from NE 9th Avenue - COMPLETED
Sellwood Park
- paving to improve access to restroom near Picnic Area C and the Kitchen Building, paving to improve access from the parking lot at SE 7th Avenue and SE Bidwell Street to the play area and restroom - COMPLETED
Knott Park
- 3,700 sq ft of paving to improve access to play area from NE 117th Street parking lot - COMPLETED
Woodstock Park
- 300 sq ft of paving to improve access to restrooms and play area from SE 47th Avenue - COMPLETED
Laurelhurst Park
- 200 sq ft of paving to improve access to play area from SW Oak Street - COMPLETED

Completed Bond Projects

Featured Stories from the 2018-2019 Bond Annual Report

Bond Oversight Committee

When voters supported the Parks Replacement Bond, they also approved forming a committee of community members to oversee how their dollars are spent. The purpose and authority of the Oversight Committee is to convene periodically to provide a third-party review of progress on the bond project improvements and report to the City Council and the public.

The Committee will review and provide feedback on program progress; including financial metrics and other assurances contained in voter information. The Committee reports annually to City Council and our community regarding performance and progress toward goals.

The Oversight Committee is composed of five community members appointed to three-year terms by the Portland City Council; members may be re-appointed. Future appointments will be staggered to allow for overlap. Members are to be people with experience in community engagement, equity, finance, public works, auditing, business, construction, public contracting and/or budgeting.