Provide comment or testimony today to save our parks maintenance budget!
The Mayor's proposed budget is open for public comment and there are MAJOR cuts to bathroom cleaning, facilities maintenance, trash cleanup, and landscaping, plus eliminating over 35 jobs in the Parks & Recreation Department.
Tell the Mayor and our city councilors that we want to keep our parks safe, clean, and enjoyable for our families through continued funding for park maintenance.
There are three ways you can help!
1. Submit your comment using the Budget and Comment Testimony form. Just copy, paste, and personalize the text below into this form!
2. RSVP for the District 3 Budget Listening Session on Saturday May 10th and provide testimony using the info below.
3. Email the Mayor and copy all the city councilors. You can copy, paste, and personalize the comment below to your email. You can use the subject line "Please do not cut parks maintenance funding" or something similar. Here are the emails for the Mayor and city councilors.
Email Addresses
councilor.koyamalane@portlandoregon.gov
Councilor.Novick@portlandoregon.gov
councilor.morillo@portlandoregon.gov
councilor.kanal@portlandoregon.gov
councilor.ryan@portlandoregon.gov
councilor.pirtle-guiney@portlandoregon.gov
councilor.avalos@portlandoregon.gov
councilor.dunphy@portlandoregon.gov
councilor.smith@portlandoregon.gov
councilor.clark@portlandoregon.gov
councilor.green@portlandoregon.gov
councilor.zimmerman@portlandoregon.gov
Testimony / Comment Text:
As the City Council takes the next step in budget development, I urge you minimize the Mayor's budget cuts to outdoor parks maintenance.
Portland’s parks are a vital part of our city’s livability and health. To allow parks to further deteriorate puts our city’s people and economy at risk.
Our parks already barely receive adequate maintenance, [example of issues in your favorite city park].
If budget cuts further reduce maintenance to trails, trees, playgrounds and restrooms, our parks will quickly fall into disrepair and become unsafe and unwelcoming to the community. This be incredibly costly in the long term.
I know there are difficult budget decisions ahead for Portland, but basic maintenance of our parks is essential to keep Portland healthy and livable. Thank you for your service and your consideration.