Portland Parks and Recreation has submitted a proposed budget based on City Council directions to prepare a 3% cut to all city bureaus’ budgets.
The most disconcerting to bicyclists and pedestrians is the proposed elimination of a Senior Park Planner. With only five senior planners, cutting one will have significant impacts on the City’s ability to improve trails and parks. The parks department holds the City’s only trails planner; if eliminated, the City will have no trails planning.
How Might This Cut Impact Bicyclists?
Without a trails planner, Portland Parks and Recreation will not be able to:
1) Plan a trail system that is integrated into the park system, the transportation network, and the city’s growth.
2) Create trails plans and environmental & land-use reviews.
3) Facilitate $3 million in federal trail development grants.
Make Your Voice Heard
Tell the City Council that while we must make some budget cuts, trails and parks planning is too important to Portland’s livability and future to cut.
1. Send your comments directly to City Council, and their key staffer on parks:
Mayor Potter: tpotter@ci.portland.or.us , nancyh@ci.portland.or.us
Erik Sten: esten@ci.portland.or.us , bdurston@ci.portland.or.us
Dan Saltzman: dsaltzman@ci.portland.or.us , mgrumm@ci.portland.or.us
Randy Leonard: randy@ci.portland.or.us , dshaff@ci.portland.or.us
Sam Adams: sadams@ci.portland.or.us , mthimai@ci.portland.or.us
2. Testify at a Hearing
Voice your concerns at these upcoming hearings where you can testify:
February 16 at Council Chambers, 9 – 11 am
February 27 at Council Chambers, 1-3 pm
May 11 at Council Chambers/Time TBA
Proposed Talking Points
1). Trails are an essential part of access to nature for all citizens, and particularly benefits lower-income neighborhoods whose residents cannot travel long distances to regional parks.
2). The Council has stated their intention to a) create a family friendly city; b) protect the city’s infrastructure; c) be financially sustainable; and d) conserve energy. We believe that trails planning serves these goals.
3). Trails are popular and benefit our citizens’ health and well-being. Without trails planning, our ability to build trails in the future will be severely impacted.
Template Letter
Dear Mayor and Commissioners:
I am glad that the Portland City Council recognizes that our parks, trails, natural areas, and recreation system is as important to all of us as other elements of the city’s infrastructure. Parks and trails are a key part of Portland’s quality of life and ecological sustainability.
I support the overall process and emphasis of Portland Parks and Recreation’s budget recommendations. Basic operations and maintenance of our facilities and centers is essential. However, I also feel strongly that the City must not lose our ability to plan for future multiuse trails, parks, and natural areas across the city.
I extremely concerned that some of the proposed cuts will impact our progress, particularly in the area of trail planning. Trails planning is essential to our ability to leverage federal and state construction resources and in preparing projects for grant and funds applications.
I urge Council to restore the proposed cut of the Senior Park Planner and ensure great trails and parks for all Portland residents.
Sincerely,
