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Portland Parks & Recreation

Service Area Summaries > Public Works > Portland Parks & Recreation -- 64 pages · pp. 878-941 ↗

Intro (~9,119 tokens, spilled to sibling files): pp. 878-885 · pp. 886-892 · PDF ↗

Contents

Section PDF pages Description
[doc] Aquatics pp. 893-894 ↗ Portland Parks & Recreation operates 11 aquatics facilities (4 indoor pools, 7 outdoor pools) and 19 fountains. The Aquatics program offers swim lessons, lifeguard training, water fitness classes, and recreational swimming. Total budget increases from $9.8M (2025-26) to $12.1M (2026-27), with personnel costs rising to $10.7M. The program prioritizes equity through an Access Discount (up to 90%) for low-income residents; a 2024 survey found 23% of respondents, particularly communities of color and East Portland residents, cited cost as a barrier.
[doc] Arts pp. 895-896 ↗ Portland Parks & Recreation's Arts program provides inclusive arts education and accessible programming across three specialized centers and community partnerships, with a 2026-27 proposed budget of $3.5M. The program prioritizes removing financial barriers through an Access Discount (up to 90%) and has transitioned to a 'Hub & Spoke' model offering free/low-cost activities in parks and partner sites to serve underserved communities.
[doc] Asset Management pp. 897-898 ↗ Asset Management is Portland Parks & Recreation's program stewarding 15% of Portland's land area, including $2.5B in assets and 12,000 acres of parkland. The FY 2026-27 proposed budget is $1,262,161 in revenues and matching expenses. The program manages capital projects, work orders, facility lifecycle planning, and workspace coordination for over 800 FTE across 50+ buildings. Recent staffing reductions have created backlogs in work order processing and workspace data management.
[doc] Business Services pp. 899-901 ↗ Business Services is Portland Parks & Recreation's operational backbone, providing finance, technology, workforce development, and facilities management. The 2026-27 proposed budget totals $199.6M in revenues across multiple funds, with program expenses of $58.1M. Personnel costs decline to $16.7M while materials and services expenses rise. Recent organizational changes include a 17 FTE reduction and elimination of the Events/Activations and data analysis teams due to prior-year budget cuts and ongoing hiring freeze. The program prioritizes workforce diversity through targeted recruitment and training.
[doc] Capital Development pp. 902-904 ↗ Portland Parks & Recreation's Capital Development program manages planning, design, engineering, and construction for capital projects across three components: Capital Growth, Capital Renovation, and Engineering & Construction. The 2026-27 proposed budget totals $101.5M in revenues, down from $75.9M in 2025-26, with $45.2M in capital outlay and $45.5M in external materials and services. Key challenges include declining System Development Charge revenues expected over three years and loss of three experienced project managers due to retirements and hiring freeze.
[doc] Community and Socialization pp. 905-907 ↗ Portland Parks & Recreation's Community and Socialization program provides educational services, community events, facility rentals, and community gardens across Portland. The 2026-27 proposed budget is $17.3M, with personnel costs of $14.5M. Key offerings include 11 preschool classrooms, three after-school programs, youth employment, and Summer Free For All events. Programs emphasize equity through Access Discount pricing and language access in 26 languages, serving diverse communities including Title 1 schools and culturally specific organizations.
[doc] Community Engagement. pp. 908-910 ↗ Portland Parks & Recreation's Community Engagement program advances equitable participation through inclusive engagement, the SUN Community Schools partnership (11 sites), and recreation programs for seniors, people with disabilities, and youth (Lifelong Recreation, Adaptive Recreation, TeenForce). The 2026-27 budget totals $5.87M in revenue and $5.83M in expenses, with personnel ($4.08M) as the largest component. Recent changes include centralized program coordination, narrowed priorities, and a freeze on SDC revenue affecting capital projects.
[doc] Facility/Amenity Maint pp. 911-912 ↗ Portland Parks & Recreation's Facility and Amenity Maintenance program (PRMS) maintains 156 developed parks, 12,000 acres of parkland, community centers, and hundreds of facilities. The 2026-27 budget totals $20.3M in revenues and $18.8M in program expenses. The program provides preventive, routine, and emergency maintenance services including repairs, electrical/plumbing/HVAC work, playground maintenance, graffiti removal, fleet management, and disaster response. Recent challenges include material cost escalations and increased workload from two new parks coming online.
[doc] Leadership and Advocacy pp. 913-914 ↗ Portland Parks & Recreation's Leadership and Advocacy program encompasses the bureau director, External Affairs & Partnerships team, and three support positions. The program coordinates bureau operations, manages division managers, supports the Parks Board, and liaises with City leadership and community partners. The 2026-27 proposed budget is $1.2M, with personnel comprising the majority of costs.
[doc] Natural Area Maint pp. 915-916 ↗ Portland Parks & Recreation's Natural Area Maintenance program stewards approximately 8,000 acres across 90 sites, maintaining trails and natural areas citywide. The 2026-27 proposed budget is $6.79 million, with personnel costs of $5.21 million. The program manages wildfire risk, maintains trail access, engages 37,000 volunteer hours annually, and addresses emerging challenges including confirmed Emerald Ash Borer presence.
[doc] Parks Maintenance pp. 917-918 ↗ The Parks Maintenance program maintains 156 developed parks and over 3,600 acres of park land across Portland, providing daily cleaning, inspections, and operational services. The 2026-27 proposed budget totals $30.6 million, with personnel costs at $21.8 million being the largest expense. The program serves all community members, particularly those without access to private yards, and coordinates with volunteers. Recent expansion includes two new parks in East Portland (Parklane and Mill) and enhancements at Berrydale Park.
[doc] Planning pp. 919-920 ↗ Portland Parks & Recreation Planning program provides bureau-wide leadership for park and trail infrastructure planning, capital improvement prioritization, and long-term stewardship. The program secures grants, develops equity-informed service standards, and advances policy changes. FY 2026-27 budget is $1.05M with personnel costs of $976K. Key initiatives include expanding regional trails and ensuring equitable park access citywide.
[doc] Property pp. 921-922 ↗ The Property program manages Portland Parks & Recreation's ~12,000-acre portfolio through real estate services, including property agreements, permits, partnerships, and parking management across 230 lots. FY 2026-27 shows revenue declining from $2.1M to $1.2M and expenses similarly declining. The program was impacted by prior 4.0 FTE reductions and current hiring freeze, eliminating key coordinators and reducing service capacity in areas like permit processing and public-facing support.
[doc] Recreation Facility Operations pp. 923-925 ↗ Recreation Facility Operations manages nine community centers, three arts facilities, and Gateway Discovery Park for the City of Portland. The FY 2026-27 proposed budget is $11.36M (down from $11.69M revised), primarily supporting personnel costs of $8.75M. The program emphasizes inclusive, equity-centered access through the Access Discount program. Mt. Scott Community Center reopened in January 2026 after seismic retrofit. A 2024 survey found 23% of respondents cited cost as a barrier to participation, particularly people of color and East Portland residents.
[doc] Sports and Games pp. 926-927 ↗ Portland Parks & Recreation's Sports and Games program provides diverse registered and drop-in recreation opportunities including tennis, golf, and Portland International Raceway, in partnership with NIKE, Sport Oregon, and the U.S. Tennis Association. The program prioritizes equitable access through the Access Discount program and culturally responsive programming, addressing identified barriers (22% of 2017 survey respondents cited cost). Fiscal 2026-27 projects $33.66M total revenues and $26.17M program expenses, with notable decreases in General Fund revenues.
[doc] Tree Maintenance pp. 928-930 ↗ Portland Parks & Recreation's Tree Maintenance program manages citywide urban forestry including emergency response, park maintenance, and street tree services. FY 2026-27 budget is $33.9M, with major funding from Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund ($26M). Program aims to increase tree planting to 10,000 annually by 2029 and reduce canopy disparities in underserved communities through new street tree maintenance and private property tree care programs.
[doc] Urban Forestry Science and Outreach pp. 931-932 ↗ Urban Forestry Science and Outreach is a Portland Parks & Recreation program with a 2026-27 proposed budget of $2.35M, primarily funded by the General Fund ($2.01M) plus grants ($179,959) and PDX Clean Energy Community Benefits funding ($158,700). Personnel costs dominate at $2.09M (89% of expenses). The program has grown significantly from $520,883 in 2023-24 actuals.
[doc] Visitor Services pp. 933-934 ↗ Visitor Services within Portland Parks & Recreation has a proposed FY 2026-27 budget of $8.6M, primarily comprised of internal revenues and personnel expenses. The budget shows a significant increase in personnel costs ($7.4M) alongside a notable decrease in internal materials and services ($1.1M). External revenues remain minimal at $611.
[dir] Retired Program Offers. . . . . . . . . . pp. 935-941 ↗ Portland Parks & Recreation shows $0 budgets in 2026-27 for three retired programs: Maintenance realigned into component programs, Marketing & Communications reduced from $694,560, and Tree Regulation transferred to Portland Permitting & Development. Maintenance had historically been the largest at $11.5M in annual personnel costs.

See also