Join our Board!

Portland Parks Foundation has openings for new board members, with terms beginning in January 2012. The Foundation was founded in 2001 to help preserve the legacy of Portland’s parks. The Foundation’s creation is a direct outcome of the Parks 2020 Vision Plan adopted by Portland City Council on July 12, 2001, the most comprehensive master plan for parks and recreation since the Olmsted Report in 1903.

Created as a private, nonprofit organization, the Foundation recognizes that government agencies alone are not able to guarantee citizens a vibrant network of parks and parks programs. The Foundation operates in cooperation with individuals, businesses and foundations, and works hand-in-hand with Portland Parks & Recreation to create a community of donors to deliver private dollars in three aspects of our urban parks: the land, the amenities and the people. Some examples of projects include resurfacing 96 outdoor basketball courts citywide with recycled athletic shoes; creating Holly Farm Park in a low-income multicultural neighborhood where 1000 kids had no place to play; placing 6 bouldering walls in community centers throughout Portland; equipping parks with access for handicapped people; and raising $2 million for the Simon & Helen Director Park to provide a new gathering place in the heart of Portland’s downtown cultural blocks.

Current Board Chair Elizabeth Whalen and Executive Director Nick Hardigg are available to meet to provide more information about the Foundation and its goals, and you can learn more at www.portlandparksfoundation.org. Please contact Nick at 503-445-0994 to learn more about this community involvement opportunity.