Portland parks: Fun, beautiful, and water efficient

Blog Post
A group of maintenance workers at park standing around an irrigation model on the ground.
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One of the best things about Portland is its bounty of wonderful parks and green spaces. They provide safe outdoor places that are accessible to everyone. Portland’s parks get people—especially kids—outside, active, and connected to the community. They help people get and stay mentally and physically healthy, and give life and beauty to our city. 

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) staff are working hard to make this possible. They carefully manage irrigation water use at landscapes from neighborhood parks to world-class venues like the Hoyt Arboretum and the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park.  

To keep landscapes healthy while using water efficiently, PP&R staff use water-saving irrigation best practices such as performing seasonal sprinkler maintenance, installing water-efficient irrigation controllers, and watering plants only when they need it. Parks staff also use central control systems to track water use and keep an eye out for leaks or irregularities. Portland Parks & Recreation’s efficient irrigation practices save millions of gallons in the warmer months, helping stretch the city’s water supply. 

With the weather warming up, now is the perfect time to enjoy a Portland park near you.