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parks
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Councilor Dan Ryan Breaks From Colleagues, Says “No” to Parks Levy

Ryan, who previously served as the commissioner in charge of Portland’s parks bureau, voted in July to refer the parks levy measure to voters. He now says he can’t support it. 
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

In an email newsletter last week, Portland City Councilor Dan Ryan came out against the ballot measure that would create a new, increased levy to help fund the city’s parks system. In the newsletter, Ryan—who oversaw Portland’s parks bureau for a period of time prior to the city’s government transition—said he supports the city’s parks. […]

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November’s Special Election Will Determine the Future of Portland Parks

Portlanders are being asked to approve a new, increased parks levy to fund the city’s parks system. If the measure doesn’t pass, the city will be forced to make major cuts.
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

Portland’s parks and natural areas are integral to the city’s identity, but the city’s parks system faces major financial challenges, including a massive maintenance backlog and generally unsustainable funding mechanisms.   In a special election this fall, voters will be asked to approve a new, five-year levy to stop the bleeding at Portland Parks & Recreation […]

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Portland Preps for New, “Toes-in-the-Water” Riverfront Park

The waterfront bowl south of the Hawthorne Bridge is set for redevelopment, giving Portland another access point to the Willamette River. 
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

For years, parks and river access enthusiasts have looked at the Tom McCall Bowl and seen unrealized potential. The bowl, a strip of beach located just south of the Hawthorne Bridge at the tail end of the Tom McCall Waterfront Park, is one of the only places a person can dip their toes in the […]

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De-Paving Paradise

After years of pop-up block parties and meetings with the city, a nonprofit will de-pave and revegetate a dangerous intersection on SE Sandy Boulevard.
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

Organizers with the nonprofit Depave have been working for years to transform a sketchy Central Eastside intersection into a car-free plaza with some much-needed green space. After many rounds of community outreach and several pop-up activation events, Depave is close to turning its vision of a permanent plaza at the intersection of Southeast Seventh Avenue […]

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Darcelle XV Plaza, Formerly O’Bryant Square, Ignites Heated Debate About Public Space

The blighted downtown site is scheduled to make a comeback in 2025. Some worry plans are being heavily steered by the nearby Ritz-Carlton and other private interests.
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

Portland advocates for parks and public space were excited when city officials announced the plan to overhaul and reopen O’Bryant Square, the downtown park now named Darcelle XV Plaza, after the late, renowned drag performer. Now, roughly a year since the plaza’s rebirth process began, some early project stakeholders and local urban design leaders fear […]

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Steel Bridge Skatepark Will Finally See the Light of Day

On the backburner since 2008, Portland officials announce $15 million in funding for a new skatepark in Old Town.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

A long-awaited Steel Bridge skatepark in Old Town is finally moving forward. Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) announced Wednesday that $15 million in system development charges, called SDCs, will be directed toward construction costs on the new park. Portland’s new skatepark will be near the Steel Bridge on the west side of the Willamette River. […]

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Luxury Business vs. Public Use: The Battle for Portland’s Historic O’Bryant Square

Can the public plaza find common ground between social services and business interests?
Avatar photo Abe Asher

Of all the places that epitomize aspects of the challenges downtown Portland has faced in recent years, one of the most emblematic is O’Bryant Square—a formerly award-winning public plaza located at the corner of SW Park Ave. and SW Harvey Milk St. that has been closed for the last five years due to structural issues. […]

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