The Joey Pope Legacy

Few private citizens have had more impact on Portland’s parks system than Joey Pope, both as a philanthropist and a super-volunteer. Among her many contributions, the most far-reaching are:

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• Holly Farm Park: working with close friend, Joyce Furman, and others, Joey developed Holly Farm in a parks-deficient, ethnically diverse swath of outer southwest Portland — one of the few privately initiated parks in Portland history.

• Hoyt Arboretum Visitor’s Center and the soon-to-be completed all-access Bristlecone Pine Trail for Arboretum visitors.

• Vision 2020: chaired the community task force to create a 20-year blueprint for Portland’s parks system.

• Inaugural chair of the Portland Parks Foundation.

• Leach Botanical Garden: Joey helped it to become the “Hoyt Arboretum” for outer-East Portland launching the soon-to-be-completed $5 million capital campaign for expansion.

“Joey was ahead of what we now call ‘equity,’” according to Zari Santner, for Portland Parks & Recreation Director and Emeritus Board Member of Portland Parks Foundation. “For her, it was a matter of economically disadvantaged people of all races or color having access to parks and all recreation.”

“Joey is somebody who is capable, willing, and interested giving her own money at a generous level, but even more so, giving her time—and for the smallest, most menial task,” says Linda Laviolette, the Portland Parks Foundation’s founding director. “When we were wrapping up fundraising for Holly Farm Park, we collected holly from the farm and Joey made these gorgeous holiday wreaths in her little garden shed. She actually made them! And then I delivered them to the doors, the offices, the homes of the donors to thank them.

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Announcing 2021 U.S. Bank Parks Champion Nominees

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The U.S. Bank Parks Champion Award recognizes individuals who provide outstanding volunteer service to a park, community center, natural area or community garden. The two winners each receive the opportunity to direct a $1,500 grant from PPF to a community organization that aligns with our vision: to help Portland communities create more equitable access to nature, play, health, and places of connection.

We had 48 outstanding nominations this year. Please read about each of them here. Get inspired, learn about new opportunities to volunteer and how to support organizations where they volunteer.

PPF will announce the 2021 U.S. Bank Parks Champion recipients at our Friends and Allies Summit on May 27 at 5:30pm. Find out more and register here.

Some of the nomination highlights include:

  • Service spanning decades to places like Leach Botanical Gardens, Columbia Children’s Arboretum, Mt. Tabor Park, Lan Su Chinese Garden and Terwilliger Parkway, 

  • Place justice advocacy in North Portland working to revitalize George Park and downtown

  • Reimagining what public space looks like with community-led design and education programs at the Boise Eliot Native Grove

  • Advocating for recreation and programming and creating a sense of belonging through biking and soccer and hiking

  • Providing safe and inclusive educational and healing opportunities in nature for BIPOC community members

  • Maintaining parks and public gardens through pulling weeds, cleaning up debris and invasive species in places like Marquam Nature Park, Portland Japanese Garden, the Lilac Garden at Duniway Park and Forest Park

  • Cleaning up trash and graffiti and increasing safety in Laurelhurst Park, the Pearl District and Waterfront District

  • Assisting community members to grow their own food by providing accessibility and supplies and general support.

  • Advocacy for accessible playground equipment and park improvements all over the city

  • Creating and maintaining free, accessible youth recreation programs and educational opportunities in our parks to youth with a specific focus on youth of color and low-income communities in places like Lents Park, Brooklyn Park, Tanner Springs, Whitaker Ponds and the Columbia Slough Watershed.  

  • Managing countless volunteer groups and inspiring others to form new friends groups in places like Argay Park, Mt. Tabor Park, Tryon Creek State Natural Area and Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden.

2021 U.S. Bank Parks Champion Nominees:

  • Allen Field, Sewallcrest Community Garden

  • Andrine de la Rocha & Howard Patterson, Boise Eliot Native Grove

  • Aubrey Russell, Neglected planters and greenspaces in NW Portland and more

  • Benjamin Tarne, Brooklyn Park

  • Bill Bannister, Forest Park

  • Cesar Huerta, Tryon Creek State Natural Area

  • Christie Quinn, Lents Park and more

  • Dan McLaughlin, Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden

  • Darlene Chirman, Leach Botanical Garden

  • Dave Hillman, Mt. Tabor Park

  • Dave Manville, SW Portland parks and trails

  • David Gutzler, Harper's Playground Arbor Lodge Park

  • Donovan Smith, George park, Dawson Park, Cathedral Park, and more

  • Duane Hanson, SE Portland around Mt. Tabor

  • Gary Quinn, Clinton Community Garden

  • Gordon Campbell & Kathleen Madden, Multnomah Arts Center

  • Ian Jaquiss, Throughout Portland on Portland Parks & Recreation Board

  • Jacob Thoreson, Southwest Community Center/East Portland Community Center

  • Jane Roffey Berry, Argay Park

  • Jason Baird, Gateway Green

  • Jim & Geri Rovello, Berkeley Park, Alex Rovello Memorial Tennis Courts

  • Kate Bodin, Portland Botanical Gardens

  • Katie & Ron Goodwin, Leach Botanical Garden

  • Kay Dannen, Elizabeth Caruthers Park

  • Kim Luey, Lan Su Chinese Garden

  • Laura Feldman, Columbia Slough Watershed, Nuclear Free NW, CORE, Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board

  • Laurie Kitxke, Gabriel Park Community Garden

  • Mary Kinnick, Mt. Tabor Park

  • Maryhelen Kincaid, Columbia Children's Arboretum

  • Masaki Shimada, Portland Japanese Garden

  • Mathew Randol, Kidz N The Park Festival/George Park

  • Michele Shapiro, Tanner Springs Park

  • Mike Street, Pearl District/North Park Blocks

  • Nicole Williams, Friendly house

  • Pam Slaughter, Whitaker Ponds, Smith and Bybee Lakes, and Oxbow Park

  • Rick Pope, Forest Park Conservancy

  • Robin Jensen, Marquam Nature Park

  • Robin Vesey, Terwilliger Parkway

  • Scott McKinley, Gabriel Community Garden

  • Tamara Layden, Portland Parks & Recreation Board

  • Teresa J Browning, Laurelhurst Park

  • The Lilac Garden at Duniway Park Committee of The Portland Garden Club, The Lilac Garden at Duniway Park

  • Wes Risher, Terwilliger Parkway

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Meet the people who propel PPF!

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Adam Wilson

Adam Wilson is the Vice President of Merchandising for Women's Footwear at Nike Inc. He has been with the brand for 17 years, leading businesses around the globe, with a focus on building diverse, high-performing teams, and leading change with an emphasis on sustainable growth. As an Oregon native, Adam has a great appreciation for the power of nature and our green spaces to be positive forces for both physical and mental health. As a proud product of our own public education system, Adam has a passion for coaching and partners with Oregon State University to advise and mentor first-generation students and recent graduates. Adam, with his wife Kristi and son Wyatt, love getting outside to hike or paddle, play basketball and golf, and always cheering for your Portland Trail Blazers.

Why this board?

Having been privileged to visit many of the great cities of the world, I believe great parks and green spaces are what allows people to truly thrive in an urban environment, and are also vital to the long-term sustainability of humanity thriving on Earth. Portland residents have always taken pride in their parks, and I believe we can lead the way for the country on parks as a source of personal activity, renewal, mobility and a safe and welcoming place to gather as a community.

If you could be a Portland park, which one would you be and why?

It's really hard to choose one, as one of my favorite parts of our park system is the variety. I have to go with Willamette Park just for the number of memories I have of biking through it with my family, playing tennis, taking our dogs to the off-leash area, or picnics along the river watching the paddlers, sailboats, and wakeboarders all share the river. It's amazing how quiet it can be throughout the week.

What do you hope to accomplish while serving?

I believe there are four major benefits of parks for our people: a place to move our bodies for exercise and expression, a connection to nature and the land, a safer method of mobility for people looking to walk/bike/roll from one place to another, and a space to gather safely whether that is a birthday party or a cultural celebration. I want to increase access to all four of those benefits to the people of Portland with a focus on greater equity and inclusion. This can result in a Portland that is more active, more mindful, more sustainable, and more connected.

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JR Lilly

Ya’a’teeh! (Navajo Greeting) First thing you should know about me is that I am part of the Dine (Navajo) Nation, and more specifically I am part of the Red Running Into Water People Clan and born for the Cliff Dwelling People Clan. As a long-time advocate for Native American families here in Portland, what best describes me is the diversity of communities I am a part of. My day job, volunteer efforts, and play time all include raising our community conscience so that we can all see the beauty of all those around us. My friends would describe me as someone who loves a fun party or enjoys a solid conversation over a cigar. I believe in our collective community power that can create a preferred future for all communities, so most days you will see me advocating for our parks, East Portland issues, or for the local Native American families.

Why this board?

Simply put, Mother Earth needs an advocate. She takes care of us in so many ways it our responsibility to mutually care for her as well. Growing up parks where always a safe place for me and my siblings when we had some violence going on in our home. I remember being able to step away for the craziness of life to enjoy the playground, running in an open field, or just sit on the bench with my grandma. They hold such a sacred space for me to this day in such a way that it only makes sense that I do everything I can to keep them healthy. Not to mention this board shares the same values and love to have fun just like I do.

If you could be a Portland park, which one would you be and why?

Tough one, it would either be Cully Park or Gateway Discovery Park. Cully Park has the Native Gathering Garden where the local Native American Community has helped shape that creation of that space while design input. It a space where I go for some morning prayers to greet the sun in the morning or just for an evening walk reflect on how good life is that day. But I do have so many fun memories with my younger siblings at Gateway Discovery Park. Especially with Summer Free For All events like Movies in the Park, Bubble Soccer, and yummy summer lunch. We could play in that park all day!

What do you hope to accomplish while serving?

#LandBack. Which is the stewardship of our natural areas and park spaces back to the Indigenous Knowledge and Wisdom of the local Tribal Communities. Beyond a Land Acknowledgement and listening to our elders for guidance on planting, harvesting medicine, and ceremony. There is so much we can learn from this viewpoint that will benefit our Plant Relatives, heal all our Communities, and bring us back to what my people call “Walking In Beauty”.

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Mary Ruble

Deeply involved in the Portland community during her nearly four decade long career at U.S. Bank, Mary Ruble served on numerous boards including the Portland Parks Foundation, Portland Parks Board, Regional Arts and Culture Council, Nature Conservancy of Oregon, Self Enhancement, Inc, Rose Festival and Portland Center Stage. Now a full time community advocate, Mary is also an avid outdoors person spending time in many of Oregon’s natural and scenic areas.

Why this board?

The Portland Parks Foundation presents an opportunity to support natural areas and parks through public-private partnerships. I strongly believe in this model. Portland’s parks and open spaces are special and they need extra care and feeding. The Foundation helps fill gaps by enhancing the beauty, access and usability of our parks and natural areas. PPF’s work brings joy to Portlanders and those who visit here. I am proud to have been involved in Portland’s parks and recreation system for over 20 years.

If you could be a Portland park, which one would you be and why?

I would be the Hoyt Arboretum. I love the meandering trails filled with hikers, the blooming magnolias in spring, the majesty of the towering pines and redwoods, the simplicity of the ground cover, the views of our great city. These speak to me in all seasons and remind me how lucky we are to live in a place that has kept parks, trails and open spaces sacred so all can enjoy.

What do you hope to accomplish while serving?

My goal in joining this board was to help expand our reach so we could have a more meaningful and lasting impact on our city. I think we have made great strides. We have a strong and diverse board, excellent staff, ideas and opportunities galore, and the will and donor base to achieve goals that might have once seemed out of reach. We are well on our way as we celebrate our 20th anniversary!

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Rich George

Rich George works as an Associate General Counsel for Portland General Electric and has worked as an attorney there for nearly twenty years. He is responsible for providing legal advice and analyzing risk to the company for many different areas, including environmental compliance and policy, nuclear, hydroelectric and renewable energy. He often appears before state and federal regulatory agencies, including the Oregon Public Utility Commission, Department of Environmental Quality, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, etc). Rich received a degree in Human Biology from Stanford University in 1993 and attended law school at the University of Oregon, graduating in 1997. Prior to joining PGE, Rich worked as an attorney in both law firms. Rich has also worked for the Oregon Department of Justice.

Why this Board?

I love urban Portland and the outdoors. The parks are the connective tissue for me that combines these two and melds our neighborhoods together. Parks provide the destination, the fresh air and the transportation corridors for me when I’m hiking through the east side of Portland. I recognize the importance of parks to so many people in Portland and I worry about them. I worry about maintaining them, ensuring access and equitable use and distribution. So that’s why I joined the PPF Board.

If you could be a Portland park, which one would you be and why?

Springwater Corridor. This is a park and also a connection of many different parks. A huge number of people use this for recreation, transportation, etc. I like to see myself similarly to this park, as I often act as a facilitator, bringing people together or providing them a direction to go and solutions. Much like this park (also, I’m skinny too) : )

What do you hope to accomplish while serving?

My time is coming to an end after two terms, but I love where PPF is going. I’m leaving it as a solid organization, with an incredibly strong board and staff that has a vision for bringing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to the forefront and making parks more accessible to the underserved parts of Portland. We’ve helped pass the Parks Levy, which will ensure a return to programming and vibrant parks for years to come. I’ve only had a small role, but I am so proud of what this organization has accomplished.

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The Fix is On! Barbara Walker Crossing Update + Cool New T-Shirts

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We all are anticipating the reopening of the Barbara Walker Crossing. Here’s an update:

  • The good news: the bridge was not structurally damaged when the violent January 13 storm caused a landslide and a large tree to fall on the bridge. 

  • The be-patient news: the necessary repairs to the damage done by both the tree and landslide can’t happen until April. May 1 is the target for reopening.

  • While you wait: consider getting our new Barbara Walker Crossing T-shirt!

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Why so long? 

Things were on track for a mid-March reopening. Then the ice storm hit sending trees, powerlines, and Internet cables falling all over the city. City maintenance crews prioritized getting broken trees out of the street and safely restoring electricity and connections for Portlanders. 

Repairing the Crossing requires shutting down West Burnside. That has to be planned well in advance and for a weekend. But the delay is also allowing PPF and its team to get some nagging final finish work done.  

When will it open? 

If all goes as planned, the Crossing will open by May 1! 

What about the t-shirts? 

PPF’s good friend and supporter Ian Walker — whose trails-advocate mom the bridge is named for — put together the design and printing. All proceeds benefit PPF so that we can do more projects across the city. Thank you, Ian!

Need more details?

Lastly, for those who like to go a little deeper on info, some details about the bridge’s damage analysis and repair plan. 

Heavy rain and windstorms caused a lot damage across the city, including flooding and a landslide at Forest Park, on Wednesday, January 13. The landslide brought down trees, power lines and hundreds of yards of debris onto W Burnside Ave near the Wildwood Trail. One large tree fell against the Barbara Walker bridge and it took substantial effort from Portland Parks & Recreation’s (PP&R) Urban Forestry, Professional Repair and Maintenance Services (PRMS), Capital and Land Stewardship staff, as well as Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) special equipment to remove the tree without damaging the delicate railing and safety netting of the bridge. Upon removal of the tree, it was apparent that some parts of the bridge were damaged.

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Progress on bridge repair to date:

  • In the days following the storm, PP&R staff worked on cleaning debris from the site and provided temporary hillside stabilization. There were also minor repairs to secure the bridge railing so that W Burnside Ave could be re-opened. KPFF Engineers used a laser survey and x-ray study to assess the damage to the bridge structure and determined that it was not in danger of collapsing but does need repairs to welds on the structure and railings.

  • Original plans were to re-open the bridge for pedestrians in early March. However, the storm and power outages caused a shift in priorities for many City staff. We now have received the repair plan drawings from KPFF, and developed a PP&R team and a plan to move forward on the bridge repairs.

  • The PP&R team met on March 2 to finalize the bridge repair process, including the Burnside street closure, the permit for gate storage and trail blocking fencing, along-term landslide repair work plan, communications, and scheduling.

  • PP&R is working with PBOT to fast-track the street closure process using some of the traffic planning from the actual bridge construction. They will require a two-week notice ahead of the closure.

  • The PP&R team feels confident that the bridge repair and other work can be completed by May 1.

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Meet the people who propel PPF!

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Mary Anne Cassin

Mary Anne Cassin is a retired parks professional who is passionate about maintaining Portland's special places for future generations. Her career spanned three decades and included service for Metro and private landscape architecture firms as well as her 25 years with Portland Parks. She was honored to be inducted as a Fellow with the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2018 for her contributions to the profession.

Why this board?

She has chosen to work with the PPF because as a separate non-profit organization, it increases the visibility and sustainability of parks as a vital cultural and environmental resource.

If you could be a Portland park, which one would you be and why?

If I could be any park, I would be Pioneer Courthouse Square because I love it when broad swaths of people come together to share joy, the change in seasons, and cultural events... Plus I love a good party!

What do you hope to accomplish while serving?

I would love to see the Foundation complete its evolution into a thriving, well-known organization that helps people help their parks.

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Bob Gandolfi

Bob Gandolfi came to Oregon in 1974 to complete a masters degree at the University of Oregon and instantly fell in love with Oregon. He became the Director of Outdoor Recreation for Portland Parks and Recreation and was there for 17 years. In 2001, PP&R contracted him to work on the opening of the Eastbank Esplanade as well as to collaborate on a citywide event called The Illuminata Parade of Light. For the next 15 years he produced events that included private and public openings, nonprofit fundraisers, parties and events for corporate and private clients. In 46 years of living in Portland, he has been involved in civic engagement and has crossed paths with many diverse people who call this great city home. Bob continues to enjoy outdoor pursuits and gardening.

Why this Board?

I was asked by a friend who was serving on the board to join—I had been aware for years about the Foundation and saw this as a good fit and a way to apply my skills and respect for public parks and recreation. 

If you could be a Portland park, which one would you be and why?

I would pick Forest Park—I’ve spent countless hours hiking and biking the trails and it is a wonderful place of refuge for me.  

What do you hope to accomplish while serving?

I hope to expand the reach of the Foundation to a new donor base and to provide equitable access to people in parks and open spaces.

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Julie Vigeland

Julie Vigeland

Why this board?

Being appointed to the Parks Board was a game changer for Julie. Yes, she used and enjoyed our city parks but she became informed about the many issues involving parks. Working with Commissioner Fish, as the board chair, gave her an insight to the myriad aspects of the PP&R system. She was hooked. So, when she had an opportunity to further her work for Portland Parks…she jumped. At the time the board was struggling. Being a part of re-building the board and staff has been fulfilling and rewarding. The bottom line? Julie feels as though she can make a difference for Portland and Portlanders given her time spent with the Foundation.

If you could be a Portland park, which one would you be and why?

If she could be a park it would be Alberta Park. On walks with her daughter during the pandemic, they have walked lots of areas of the city and that means…lots of parks. Alberta Park was one they returned to as it was so welcoming. The tall stands of trees, the people (all with masks!) enjoying the dog designated portion of the park, children running free under parental guidance. It is clearly a place of wonder during “normal” times. During a pandemic, it is a place of safety, fresh air, and casual greetings of neighbors and others, like us, who come to visit. I would hope to be like this park -- welcoming, open to all, and fun-loving.

What do you hope to accomplish while serving?

Serving my term and beyond (as past president and now emeritus member,) it has been a privilege to be a part of the growth and regeneration of the Foundation. We’ve built a small but outstanding staff, we have a board that brings diversity of thought and experience to our work, and we are not “stuck” in one place. We are moving forward in creative yet measured ways. It is my privilege to continue to serve as we bring the Foundation further into the consciousness of the community we serve. Together we can do ever greater things for Portlanders and Portland parks!

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Jonathan Nicholas

Jonathan Nicholas was born and raised in the coal-mining valleys of Wales. He was 14 years old when his grandfather, a coal miner, first took him 1,500 feet underground. The experience gave him a renewed interest in schoolwork. He graduated from the University of Bristol and then spent four years working on a series of international aid projects in the Himalayas. In 1975, he helped found the first Himalayan National Park. He joined The Oregonian newspaper in 1982 and spent 25 years there. In 1988, Nicholas invited readers to join him on a bicycle ride across Oregon. Each September for 30 years, thousands of cyclists from all over the world participated in Cycle Oregon. Jonathan joined Moda in 2008 and serves as a vice president, helping the company fulfill its mission of building healthier communities.

Why this board?

I work at a health company. We believe Green Therapy is every bit as important as Gene Therapy. Access to nature is critical to public health. Parks are the gateway drug to the great outdoors.

If you could be a Portland park, which one would you be and why?

I’d have to say the Eastbank Esplanade. I have walked or cycled it almost every day for 25 years. It’s a park, a transportation corridor, an urban oasis, a tourist attraction, a selfie station and a swimming hole. It’s everything you want a city park to be.

What do you hope to accomplish while serving?

It’s right there in our mission statement. I want to help people help parks.

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Meet the people who propel PPF!

PPF's board members come from many walks of parks and life. This month, we asked four of them why they serve and what park they would be if they could be a park. Read each of their full profiles below.

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Karen Kervin

As Community Affairs Manager/Oregon for U.S. Bank, Karen Kervin helps non-profit organizations across the state of Oregon work toward their goals. Karen’s professional contributions to U.S. Bank and its community stakeholders requires a full-time focus on those building blocks that help communities thrive: stable employment, a home to call one’s own and a community connected through arts, culture, and recreation.

Why this board?

The PPF Board is one place I choose to engage as a volunteer, as the work of ensuring our parks and open spaces remain viable and accessible to all is a key component of maintaining a livable and prosperous community. I have seen first-hand the increase in use of Portland parks during this pandemic year. People are using our parks as a way to gather responsibly, enjoy nature and play, and even for a few minutes, perhaps enjoy a sense of normalcy.

If you could be a Portland park, which one would you be and why?

If I could be a Portland park it would be Gabriel Park (or Gabes as we call it). Gabes has it all – hills and flat areas, forest and fields, skateboard park and play structures, a stream, a community center, a community garden and two dog parks. 

What do you hope to accomplish while serving?

In my service as a PPF Board member, I hope to bring whatever time, talent and resources I can to help maintain a healthy and thriving network of parks for all to enjoy. Making connections with community members, thanking donors, raising funds, considering grant awards and planning for events with like-minded individuals are all activities I have enjoyed in my short time on the board. It’s an exciting and challenging time to be part of any nonprofit organization.

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Silas Sanderson

Silas Sanderson is a Professional Civil Engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers where he works on environmental restoration projects, risk assessments of flood risk reduction structures, and seismic assessments of infrastructure. Originally from Boston, Silas was drawn to the natural beauty of the Pacfic Northwest.

Why this board? 

I love the outdoors and parks are the outdoors at your doorstep. For me they are a place to gather, recharge, and recreate. Portland is fortunate to have so many great parks.

If you could be a Portland park, which one would you be and why? 

Easy. Forest Park. There is nothing more recharging to my soul than a trail run or a post-work ride through Forest Park.

What do you hope to accomplish while serving? 

At PPF, we help people help parks. I'm looking forward to empowering Portland's communities to realize the vision that they have for their parks.

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Melissa Naito

Melissa Naito is a Community Advocate who serves on the boards of KairosPDX and The Portland Parks Foundation. She was a staff member to former City Commisioner Gretchen Kafoury and worked for Portland’s Bureau of Development Services for many years. She has volunteered with many organizations in Portland including Catlin Gabel School and the Multnomah Athletic Club. She is a proud soccer mom to a collegiate soccer player.

Why PFF Board?

It is a great way to help shape the City's future by making all our parks and open spaces accessible to everyone no matter where you live.  It is an opportunity to educate the community about our many terrific parks and to advocate for those whose voices are not always heard.

If you could be a Portland park, which one would you be and why? 

I would be Washington Park. It has a little bit of everything! I love the contemplative spaces like The Holocaust Memorial and the Japanese Garden. You can play tennis or practice archery and you can walk on trails and play with children in open spaces and on terrific play equipment.  

What do you hope to accomplish while serving? 

I hope to give all Portlanders a sense of ownership of their parks and open spaces.  I hope to make all of us feel welcome in any of these spaces.  We have so much to offer here in Portland from natural areas, where you can see birds and other animals to more formal gardens where you can touch and smell the beautiful flowers.  We have a rich history of caring for and building parks.  I want to participate in that for the next generation.

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Jack Jewsbury

Jack Jewsbury is a real estate broker for the Hasson Company. Prior to joining Hasson, Jack was a professional soccer player in Major League Soccer for 14 years; his first eight seasons were in Kansas City with the KC Wizards (now Sporting KC) before being traded to the Portland Timbers in March of 2011. After six seasons with the Timbers, he retired from professional soccer and joined the club on the business side as Director of Business Development for four years. He is still a Community Ambassador for the Timbers organization but is now working with the Hasson team full-time. 

Jack is originally from Springfield, Missouri, where he grew up before attending Saint Louis University. After graduating from SLU, he married his high school sweetheart. They have been married for 14 years and have two daughters, ages 9 and 11, who keep them busy with their love of dance and soccer. The Jewsbury family has lived in Lake Oswego for the last eight years.

Why this board?

I chose to join the PPF board because when moving to PDX in 2011, parks were crucial in making the city feel like home for our family. We knew very few people in town so parks became that outlet for us to be active and meet others in our community!

If you could be a Portland park, which one would you be and why? 

If I could be one Portland park, it would have to be Holly Farm Park. This park just brings back so many wonderful memories as our kids were growing up. From afternoon picnics, to learning how to ride their bikes and playing soccer in the grass there - Holly Farm Park will always be a special place for us!

What do you hope to accomplish while serving? 

I hope that we can showcase how important Portland parks are to the fabric of our city. Now more than ever, parks can be at the forefront of creating places where all feel welcome and continuing to strengthen our communities in PDX!

(Photo credit: CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Re-imagining Portland: Parks, Public Space, Memory, Creativity, and Spatial Justice

Re-imagining Portland: Parks, Public Space, Memory, Creativity, and Spatial Justice

Lectures and Ongoing Programs

In the last year, Portland’s downtown and other urban districts have faced growing challenges. The pandemic has hurt and shuttered businesses leaving the city’s normally bustling street life muted or gone. The humanitarian crisis of houselessness has left many of our most vulnerable Portlanders on the streets. Many public buildings, institutions, arts organizations, and private businesses have been damaged or vandalized.  

At the same time, the city has become an epicenter for protests against Portland’s, Oregon’s, and America’s deeply rooted racism. Monuments have been toppled or officially removed for reconsideration. Marches, street theater, and murals have transformed our parks and public spaces into stages and canvases filled with urgent and creative calls for meaningful change.[1] 

Portland’s once-nationally celebrated 50-year legacy of downtown and neighborhood revitalization has come to a pause, a disruption, and a collective opportunity to ask fundamental questions:

  • How can we heal a history of exclusion?

  • Who and what are our public spaces for?

  • Who and what should we commemorate? 

  • Can we foster more inclusive forms of commerce and creativity?

The Portland Parks Foundation, Regional Arts & Culture Council, the Portland Art Museum, and Converge 45 would like to bring Portland’s most creative minds together to begin to debate and discover possibilities.

Our organizations, along with many other community partners, will start this exploration with talks by two of the nation’s leading voices on spatial justice and public memory. We will follow these with convenings, collaborations, and actions to foster new thinking and outcomes in public space, memory, commerce, and creativity.

Liz Ogbu, Studio O, designer, urbanist, racial and spatial justice activist

In conversation with Manuel Padilla, Oregon Solutions

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Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 5 pm on Zoom

Admission is free, but donations are accepted

A designer, urbanist, and spatial justice activist, Liz is an expert on engaging and transforming unjust urban environments, "looking at what it means to examine the spatial and emotional wounds of the places we inhabit and how we might move towards repair." Her multidisciplinary design and innovation practice, Studio O, works on a wide array of initiatives from designing shelters for immigrant day laborers to developing a Social Impact Protocol for housing initiatives in 44 states.

“I design the space that helps support people to live their best stories,” Liz said in a recent talk, Design in the Apocalypse. “Justice has a geography. The equitable distribution of access, services, and opportunities is a basic human right.”

Liz Ogbu’s lecture is co-sponsored by the University of Oregon’s Urbanism Next Institute.

Read more about Liz Ogbu here:

She served in the inaugural class of Innovators-in-Residence at IDEO.org, IDEO’s nonprofit dedicated to fostering global poverty reduction and as Design Director at Public Architecture, a national nonprofit mobilizing designers to improve communities through design. Her 2013 TED Talk and 2017 TED Talk have been viewed over a million times. She is an alum of Wellesley College and the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University.

Manuel Padilla has worked in peace building, conflict reconciliation, restorative justice, and conducting public dialogue toward culture change. He is a project manager with Oregon Solutions, which brings business, government, and nonprofits to the table to address community needs.

Cleanse: A Dialogue on Art and Public Space with Paul Farber and Michelle Angela Ortiz

Facilitated by Jaleesa Johnston, Portland Art Museum

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Photo provided by Mural Arts Philadelphia.

Photo provided by Mural Arts Philadelphia.

Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 12 pm on Zoom

Admission is free, but donations are accepted

Paul Farber is Director and Co-Founder of Monument Lab, a public art and history studio based in Philadelphia that cultivates and facilitates critical conversations around the past, present, and future of monuments. The Lab works with artists, students, educators, activists, municipal agencies, and cultural institutions on participatory approaches to public engagement and collective memory and to make generational change in the ways art and history live in public. Farber is author of A Wall of Our Own: An American History of the Berlin Wall and co-editor of Monument Lab: Creative Speculations for Philadelphia. He also currently serves as Senior Research Scholar at the Center for Public Art & Space at the University of Pennsylvania Weitzman School of Design. Read more about Paul Farber here.

Michelle Angela Ortiz is a visual artist, muralist, community arts educator, and filmmaker who uses her art to represent individuals and communities whose histories are often lost or co-opted. For 20 years, she had created community engagement methods that take into account the issues of responsibility, accountability, and ethics within the field of social practice and community arts. From murals to temporary large-scale installations, her public artworks share stories using richly crafted and emotive imagery to claim and transform spaces into a visual affirmation that reveals the strength and spirit of the community. Read more about Michelle here.

Jaleesa Johnston is an interdisciplinary artist, educator and arts administrator. She holds a BA from Vassar College and an MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. She has been the recipient of the AICAD Post-Graduate Teaching Fellowship and Centrum’s Emerging Artist Residency. In addition to her role at the Portland Art Museum as Programs Lead in the Learning and Community Partnerships Department, Johnston also teaches in Foundation, Photography and Video + Sound at the Pacific Northwest College of Art.

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Meet Our Newest Board Members

In 2020, PPF added four dynamic new board members. Here’s a look at who they are, what they hope to accomplish, and if they could actually be a park, which one would each choose to be.

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Martina Bialek

Martina Bialek currently works at Latino Network, a Portland nonprofit serving the Latinx community in the region. She is the force behind all marketing and communications strategies to educate the public and raise awareness on the issues that affect the lives of Latinos in the region. Storytelling is Martina’s true passion, and as she says, “there is a great difference between a messenger and a storyteller.” When Martina isn’t drafting press releases and blog posts, she is spending time with her husband Richard, a native Oregonian, and her dogs Marley and Chicha.

Why this board?

Growing up in South America during a time of extreme economic instability, I seldom had opportunities to recreate in public spaces safely. Living in Portland taught me how Oregonians find pride and joy in their public spaces, recreate in them regularly and respect the connection between the city and the nature around it. I fell in love with the way people interact with parks and I wanted to have a more active role in reminding people why parks are awesome!

If you could be a Portland park, which one would you be and why?

My husband and I got engaged at the Rose garden, so if I had to choose a Portland park, it would be Washington Park. I have countless experiences there, be it my engagement or the many hikes with friends and my pets. It’s always an inviting place that offers stillness and quietness just minutes from Portland's hustle and bustle.

What do you hope to accomplish while serving?

I hope to be a bridge between PPF and other communities, bring neighbors together and share the beauty that Portland parks have to offer, not only to the people who have historically enjoyed them regularly, but also to those who are still trying to find their place within public spaces.

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Maja Viklands Harris

Maja Viklands Harris is a writer, policy analyst and facilitator. A native Swede who immigrated to the United States in 2003, Maja is journalist by trade who nowadays spends most of her time in the political and philanthropic arenas. She is a director of the Hormel Harris Foundation, whose initiatives include support for affordable housing, criminal justice reform, food security, mental health and substance abuse treatment and services. She is also an active member of the philanthropic organization ninety-nine girlfriends in Portland and SW Washington. In her previous community of Lincoln, NE, Maja served as a planning commissioner and board chair of both the library and the zoo and has been involved in mayoral, city council, and state legislative races. Ongoing consulting and advisory engagements include initiatives to democratize the public input process and to draft and implement equitable, people-centered urban planning policy.

Why this board?

Few public investments can deliver as much bang for the buck as parks. The public health and environmental benefits of parks, along with parks’ contributions to livability, urban design and general quality of life, are hard to beat. Jane Jacobs, the mother of modern urban planning, said that people must take a modicum of public responsibility for each other even if they have no ties to each other. To me, parks are perfect examples of all of us taking that responsibility to care for each other and our shared environment, and then directly experiencing the positive results of that collective impact as we enjoy all that parks have to offer.

If you could be a Portland Park, which one would you be and why?

Right now I would choose Peninsula Park because it’s my children’s favorite, and I wish I could bottle up the joy that they experience there.

What do you hope to accomplish while serving?

Both maintaining and improving access to the parks system are priorities for me. As a parent of elementary school children I am very interested in the importance of play to children’s development, and parks have a huge role to play in offering those benefits to all children equally.

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Subashini Ganesan

Subashini Ganesan is an artist, arts administrator, and the Creative Laureate of Portland. Ganesan choreographs and performs potent and universally relevant expressions drawn from her foundation in Bharatanatyam. Her original works have been presented by PICA, Conduit, Performance Works NW, Ten Tiny Dances, Portland Center Stage, Third Angle New Music, and Risk/Reward. In 2010, Ganesan founded New Expressive Works (N.E.W.), a vibrant performing arts venue in Portland that celebrates multicultural independent performing artists who teach, are in residency, and create bold new works. She serves on the Board of Directors for the James F. & Marion L. Miller Foundation and the Portland Parks Foundation. 

Why this board?

Parks fulfill a promise that public and nature-filled spaces are important for urban dwellers. Portland is blessed with everything from Forest Park, where we can almost forget that we live in a city, to Peninsula Park, which is a solid urban park that provides gathering spaces for families, swimming lessons for youth, and everything in between. I have joined this Board to increase park resources and access to parts of our city that have historically been under-served. Public spaces have always had and will continue to have a deeply significant role in how our pluralistic community builds relationships across cultures and socio-economic status. PPF has been steadily building pathways and leading the way in this role. 

If you could be a Portland park, which one would you be and why?

Ahh so hard. Mount Tabor, I think. First Off, I can walk to it and the sunset views are magnificent. Secondly, how can I pass up being one of four extinct volcanoes within a City boundary? And, of course, let's not forget that every summer (not including 2020...) it becomes the hub for the Portland Adult Soapbox Derby! 

What do you hope to accomplish while serving?

I am interested in how PPF continues building relationships that lead to trusting collaboration across multicultural communities in our city. We have built a great rapport with many organizations through our Small Grants Program. How can we now take the next step to build authentic, long-lasting relationships that honor our parks communities which are represented by humans from a diversity of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, class, disability status, and age? I am also really committed to continuing the work of conceptualizing and taking action on where park spaces are located, what amenities they provide, how arts & culture can thrive in these spaces, and how "safe" they feel for a diverse (as opposed to a homogenous) community. 

Vicky Schwoeffermann

Vicky Schwoeffermann, born and raised in Boston, MA, earned her BA in Criminal Justice and her Masters in Human Services from Northeastern University. She believes her purpose in life is to be a voice for the community and advocate for those who need critical support to overcome cultural, educational, and economic barriers. She brings over 15 years of experience in supporting leadership training programs, fundraising, management, events, and strategy. She currently supports several organizations including Harvard University, Oregon Food Bank, and HOLLA. In her spare time, she enjoys running and hiking with her husband, Tamu, her 7-year-old son, Kenzo, and her 5-year-old daughter, Simra.

Why this board?

The mission of Portland Parks Foundation—to strengthen communities and provide a sense of belonging for everyone in Portland—makes it crucial for me to be in this space at this time. I think our parks are uniquely divine—the green spaces here connect us all and are a crucial part of our city's identity. 

Unfortunately, COVID has revealed additional inequities that exist with different populations, specifically African Americans and other people of color. What is unique about Portland Parks Foundation is that we are going about making parks better in an equitable way. We are trying to listen to the community and elicit voices about what things are missing in our parks. How can we make them better, how can we adapt and be agile given the times? How can we grow support for more parks in different areas?

What do you hope to accomplish while serving?

Growing up I used to spend most of my summer days in the parks of Boston swinging a tennis racket and running around the court. I used to play tennis in the park for probably about eight hours a day with friends and family. I was even afforded the opportunity to play tennis with Venus and Serena Williams through a sponsorship program called Tenacity Summer Tennis Reading Program. The community rallied around and brought their arms around the kids of the community. That is what I want to do for others because it was a place of so much joy for me. I want to provide this joy for the community.

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Small Grants Recipients Read, Paddle and Repair

The Portland Parks Foundation is happy to announce our Fall 2020 grantees

PPF’s small grants program aims to support local organizations that steward public parks, park programs, community gardens and natural areas.  This fall our community-based review committee selected three organizations centering equity in their programming with proven adaptability during times of COVID-19 restrictions to continue bringing parks-related programming to marginalized communities in Portland.    

City Repair and Ecological Landscaping

The City Repair Project, $2,500

The City Repair Project facilitates “artistic, social justice and ecological placemaking through projects that honor the interconnection of human communities and the natural world.” City Repair manages village building programs for individuals experiencing houselessness, sponsors popular placemaking events such as Pickathon, and organizes Earth Day celebrations. Through their programming, they “aim to nuture public participation in parks, community gardens and natural areas.”

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This small grant will build organizational capacity and directly support City Repair’s ecological landscaping and permaculture community trainings and online workshops, and their 21st annual Village Building Convergence. A portion of the funds will be used to offer paid opportunities for community members to guest teach workshops in their effort to prioritize Black, Indigenous People of Color and LGBTQ+ community members. 

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Summer Free For All Bookmobile Camp

The Bookmobile Babe, $2,500

The Bookmobile Babe’s mobile libraries address the critical importance of childhood literacy and the reading gap that often occurs every summer. This grant will directly fund free books and free literacy programs for children ages 0-18, in addition to supporting the program’s dedicated volunteers. For the last three years, Bookmobile Babe has partnered with Summer Free for All’s Free Lunch + Play programming in Lents and Creston Parks. Free Lunch + Play sites provide free lunches and play opportunities at sites throughout the city where the need for nutritious meals is most critical. The Bookmobile Babe’s partnership provides additional opportunities for these families to engage in summer reading.

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The Bookmobile Babe operates on a small but impactful scale, and has done so successfully for three years, including this past summer with COVID-19 precautions in place. This grant will enhance their successful program so that even more children may have access to literacy support in the summer when they need it most. 

Columbia Slough Bilingual Paddle Leaders

Columbia Slough Watershed Council, $2,473

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The Columbia Slough Watershed Council (CSWC) maintains and advocates for a healthy watershed for all Portlanders. They recognize the many physical and emotional benefits that outdoor recreation offers. Furthermore, “engaging with local natural areas and parks motivates Portland community members to protect these areas.” Historically, immigrant communities have lacked access and awareness to the outdoor recreation opportunities Portland offers. To address this inequity, CSWC has partnered with Slavic and Latinx communities to develop a bilingual paddle program which provides an opportunity to learn kayak and canoe skills while also teaching about the history and ecology of the watershed. An integral component of this program is recruiting and training bilingual paddle leaders from the Latinx and Slavic communities. Funds from PPF’s small grant will be used to grow the program through training sessions where existing paddle leaders will come together to train new ones as well as provide information sessions on additional environmental topics of interest to these two communities. 

For more information and to read about past grantees, check out our Small Grants Program page.

Contact Jessica Green at jgreen@portlandpf.org with any questions.

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Portland Parks Foundation Holiday Cheer Photo Contest

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Hey Portland Park Friends! No holiday travel? No problem: Do it in a park!

The next time you stretch your legs at a park, snap a holiday photo for a chance to win a $100 donation to a non-profit parks organization of your choice!

How to enter: Post your photo video on FacebookTwitter or Instagram , tag the Portland Parks Foundation, and use the hashtag #pdxparkholiday.

Deadline: Monday, December 21, 2020

How to win: Get the most likes on either FacebookTwitter or Instagram!

We all know 2020 has been full of challenges, but as we close out this year, we should remember all we have to be thankful for. We are looking for some fun, inspirational, and caring reminders of how much we love our parks.  Wear your favorite holiday sweater, bring seasonal decorations and spread some cheer at your favorite Portland park (socially distanced, of course)!

Remember to wear your mask and leave no trace!

Photo Rules:

  • Photo must be in a Portland Park 

  • Appropriate Content/Material in line with PPF Values 

  • You will be responsible for cleanup of all materials used in park 

  • Videos are allowed, and encouraged!

  • Photoshop and Photo Editing Tools are allowed 

Photo Theme Suggestions: 

  • Family/Friends Ugliest Christmas Sweater Group Photo 

  • Friends Group Social Distance Fun 

  • Holiday Lights/Tree Decoration in a Park 

  • Holiday Throwback (a photo from the past) 

  • Acts of Kindness with Strangers in the Park 

  • Cutest Couple in the Park 

  • BLM to Santa 

  • Puppies! 

Email Lucy Pawliczek at lpawliczek@portlandpf.org with questions.

We help people help parks.

The Portland Parks Foundation fosters leadership, creates partnerships, and raises funds to advance equity, excellence, accessibility, and good stewardship in our parks. We are the philanthropic partner of Portland Parks & Recreation and work with many other friends and ally organizations to make Portland's parks and open spaces healthy, safe, and inviting to everyone.

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