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Label:
Guide
PP&R's Park Rangers serve as goodwill ambassadors and provide a positive public safety presence in Portland parks and park facilities. Park Rangers can be a resource to help solve park problems and ensure the protection of our natural and cultural resources.
About Portland Park Rangers
Our Park Rangers visit Portland parks and natural areas every day, both engaging with visitors and responding to calls for service at any Portland park property. Contact Park Rangers by phone or e-mail.
The Rangers are not law enforcement officers, rather they serve as goodwill ambassadors and provide a positive public safety presence in Portland parks and park facilities enforcing Park rules. Park Rangers help solve park problems, enforce City Code, and help ensure the protection of our natural and cultural resources.
Portland Park Rangers help ensure visitors have a positive experience and that our cultural and natural resources are protected.
For emergencies, including crimes in progress and/or any life safety issue, Rangers will call for assistance from appropriate first responders, such as Portland Police or Portland Fire, and we encourage you to do the same. Portland Park Rangers work with the Portland Police Bureau to problem-solve issues in parks that are beyond the scope of park rule violations. For example, criminal activity, weapons, threats, and other issues that a person would typically call 911 for are still referred to police.
Duties and Training
Portland Park Rangers are not law enforcement officers, but do have authority under City Code to issue park exclusions or citations. In addition to ongoing in-service training, all staff within the Park Ranger program, including dispatchers, complete a four-week Park Ranger Academy.
Trainings at Ranger Academy include sessions on proactive engagement, de-escalation, trauma-informed communication, educational approaches to enforcement, threat assessment, anti-bias training and more. Our training regimen emphasizes dignity and respect for all park visitors to promote equity and reduce disparities. Equity and inclusion are a core value of the City of Portland and of the Ranger program.
Park Ranger duties include:
- Providing a positive presence in parks and community centers
- Responding and resolving park rule concerns within our scope of authority
- Encouraging safe and positive use of parks, including hosting Leave No Trace events
- Providing outreach support and social service referrals
- Providing first aid
- Referring serious medical issues to Portland Fire & Rescue and serious criminal behavior to Portland Police Bureau
When necessary, our team works closely with partners to solve complex problems in our parks. We work with the Street Services Coordination Center, Joint Office of Homeless Services, Portland Street Medicine, JOIN, Multnomah County Animal Control, Multnomah County River Patrol, neighborhood groups, Portland Police Bureau, Office of Civic Life, and
others in creating safer parks.
Uniforms
- Tan uniform shirt or polo with PP&R Ranger emblem and badge; green pants or shorts; radio
- May wear a brown or black jacket with PP&R Park Ranger emblem and badge
- City of Portland or Park Ranger ID with DPSST number upon request
Rangers drive City of Portland trucks with the Portland Parks & Recreation logo. Some trucks are marked by a brown stripe that says “Ranger” around the truck.
Program outcomes
| Topic | Summary |
|---|---|
| Calls for service | PP&R Park Rangers responded to 1,800 park concern calls from March 2021 to March 2022. |
| Issues resolved | Rangers resolved 8,000 park rules issues, including dumping, nuisance complaints, permit disputes, drinking or drug use, vandalism, and behavior concerns. |
| Resolution rate | More than 98% of contacts and calls were resolved by Rangers alone. |
| Escalated cases | Only 2% of incidents required support from other agencies, typically for weapons or criminal activity. |
| Positive community contacts | Rangers made more than 26,000 proactive, positive contacts with park visitors. 18% of proactive engagements took place in East Precinct. |
Getting the right help in parks
If people or property are in immediate danger, call 911. Report a park rule code violation, like dogs off leash, drinking or drug use, misuse of park property, permit problems, or general disturbances to Park Rangers at:
Park Rangers: (503) 823-1637 or e-mail RangerCallCenter@portlandoregon.gov
For dog or animal attacks, call Multnomah County Animal Control at (503) 988-7387
Report a campsite in a park
Park Rangers are notified when you report a campsite inside a park using the Impact Reduction Program reporting tool.
Report maintenance issues in parks
Pay a Park Ranger civil penalty citation
Public safety in parks
Overall, Portland parks are very safe. Serious crimes against persons are relatively rare. Nuisance behavior, park user conflicts, and other livability issues are most common, and Park Rangers can help resolve these issues along with our partners below.
Partner resources
Local government services (for example, graffiti removal): 311
Portland Fire Arson Tip Line: (503) 823-4636
City of Portland Abandoned Auto Hotline: (503) 823-7309
Community and Civic Life/Safe Blocks Program: (503) 823-4519
Portland Public Schools Security: (503) 916-3307
City of Portland Information and Referral: (503) 823-4000
Multnomah County Animal Services (emergencies): (503) 248-3790
Multnomah County Behavioral Health Crisis Call Center: (503) 988-4888
Portland Police Bureau
Police Emergency: 911
Portland Police Non-emergency: (503) 823-3333
Portland Police Behavioral Health Unit: (503) 823-0812
Central Precinct: (503) 823-0097
East Precinct: (503) 823-4800
North Precinct: (503) 823-5700