Portland Parks Foundation

THE FOUNDATION, A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, WAS CREATED IN 2001 TO FOSTER PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PARKS AND TO CREATE NEW ONES. PORTLAND PARKS FOUNDATION'S GOALS ARE: TO PROVIDE A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK WITHIN A 15-MINUTE WALK OF EVERY PORTLAND RESIDENT; TO PRESERVE GREENSPACE; AND TO MAINTAIN THE CITY'S INVESTMENT IN ITS WORLD-CLASS PARK SYSTEM.

MOBILIZING PARKS GROUPS AND VOLUNTEERS - PORTLAND PARKS FOUNDATION (PPF) MOBILIZES PARKS GROUPS AND VOLUNTEERS THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AIMED AT BUILDING CAPACITY OF ORGANIZATIONS AND NEW, STRATEGIC WAYS OF OPERATING THROUGH GRANTMAKING, AWARDS, WORKSHOPS AND SPECIAL EVENTS. IN 2022, PPF EXPANDED ITS SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM PROGRAM TO SUPPORT 25 LOCAL FRIEND GROUPS AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS PROMOTING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PARKS, NATURAL AREAS, COMMUNITY GARDENS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS ($49,000 TOTAL AWARDED). PPF ALSO CELEBRATED VOLUNTEERISM THROUGH OUR PARKS CHAMPION AWARDS AND LAUNCHED A NEW EMERGING LEADER AWARD, THE JOEY POPE AWARD FOR PARKS LEADERSHIP.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.BOTH AWARDS OFFER GRANTS TO THE HONOREES ORGANIZATIONS OF CHOICE. GRANTS AND AWARDS ARE SELECTED BY COMMUNITY-LED REVIEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO HAVE AN OPTION TO RECEIVE A STIPEND FOR THE PARTICIPATION OR DIRECT A GRANT TO AN ORGANIZATION OF THEIR CHOICE IN ALIGNMENT WITH PPF'S MISSION. THE JOEY POPE AWARD FOR PARKS LEADERSHIP WILL EVENTUALLY BE FUNDED THROUGH AN ENDOWMENT. IN 2022, PPF RAISED OVER $244,000 TO GO TOWARDS THE ENDOWMENT FUND. ALSO IN 2022, PPF CONTINUED TO OFFER FREE WORKSHOPS THROUGH THE FRIENDS & ALLIES SUMMITS, A TWICE YEARLY PROGRAM DEVELOPED TO SUPPORT PARKS GROUPS AND VOLUNTEERS ON RELEVANT TOPICS INCLUDING HOUSELESSNESS AND PARKS, VOLUNTEER RETENTION, AND FISCAL SPONSORSHIPS AND INSURANCE. THIS YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR PPF WAS ABLE TO HOST THESE EVENTS IN PERSON SINCE THEY LAUNCHED IN 2020. PPF ALSO CONTINUED ITS GREEN DREAMS SPEAKER SERIES WHICH IS AN ONGOING DISCUSSION SERIES WITH PORTLAND LEADERS ON THE FUTURE OF THE CITY'S PARKS, OPEN SPACES, AND URBAN DESIGN. THIS YEAR FOCUSED ON SPATIAL JUSTICE.

PARKS PROGRAMMING AND MAINTENANCE - IN THE SUMMER OF 2022, PPF IMPLEMENTED PASEO, AN EVENT TAKING PLACE OVER THREE DAYS IN THE SOUTH PARK BLOCKS TO REIMAGINE DOWNTOWN IN OUR OLDEST PARKS BY BRINGING TOGETHER AND UPLIFTING BIPOC ARITSTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND ORGANIZATIONS. PPF ALSO SUPPORTED PARK PROGRAMS LIKE COMMUNITY GARDENING AND YOUTH GOLDENBALL SCHOLARSHIPS.

CAPITAL PARK PROJECTS - IN 2022, PPF BEGAN THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE OF THE ROSE CITY PARK PLAYGROUND PROJECT, A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH PP&R AND THE ROSE CITY PLAYGROUND PROJECT NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP. THE PLAYGROUND IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED IN 2023. PPF PROVIDED A $130,000 GRANT TO PP&R FOR CONSTRUCTION. PPF ALSO LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE THE THOMPSON ELK FOUNTAIN WHICH WAS REMOVED AFTER DAMAGED BY FIRE DURING PROTESTS IN 2020. DURING THIS PHASE OF THE PROJECT, PPF FUNDED A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO RESTORE THE ELK.