Portland's Washington Park Summer Festival has been saved by generous contributions from Gordon Sondland and numerous public and private contributors, announces Commissioner Nick Fish.
June 2, 2009
Joined by civic leader Gordon Sondland, the CEO of Hotel deLuxe and Hotel Lucia and co-principal of the Sondland Durant Foundation, and a host of contributors, Parks Commissioner Nick Fish announced this morning that the challenge match to raise $50,000 and save the Washington Park Summer Festival had been successful.
Over 25 businesses and individuals contributed to the call from Sondland to match his challenge to save the Festival's 2009 season. The $50,000 in funds to match his challenge had to be committed by May 15 in order to proceed.
"We've had an extraordinary response," Commissioner Fish said. "The support from these businesses and individuals demonstrates how important saving this much-loved Portland tradition is for our community, especially in these tough times. This is an example of what the best kind of private/public partnerships can achieve."
Read the full press release in our 'News' section.
Portland Parks, led by Commissioner Nick Fish, debuts ParkScan, a tool for citizens to comment on Portland's many parks.
June 2, 2009
After several months of testing in East Portland parks, the Parks Bureau officially launched ParkScan yesterday at Chapman Park in downtown Portland, writes Jim Mayer in the May 12 Oregonian.
The ParkScan tool allows the public to provide feedback about parks that need maintenance, to ask questions, and to provide suggestions directly to the Bureau. A story on the KGW website quotes Isabel Wade, Executive Director of the San Francisco-based Neighborhood Parks Council, as saying that this input is a "real key to keeping up our parks to the standard people expect." Funded by a $150,000 grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Portland is the first city in America to adopt the program.
See Nick's observation and use ParkScan for yourself at parkscanpdx.org!
The 2009 Urban Pioneer Awards honor TriMet, Albina Community band, and former Portland city commissioner Charles Jordan
June 2, 2009
Nick is a proud member of the Urban Pioneer Awards Committee, which held its annual presentation last night, honoring TriMet, the Albina Community Bank, and former City Commissioner Charles Jordan. The College of Urban and Public Affairs at Portland State University presents yearly awards to community leaders who exhibit the ideals taught to students and valued by the College's faculty and community partners. As current Commissioner in charge of Parks, Nick was especially proud to honor past Parks Commissioner Charles Jordan.
Portland, Oregon's City Hall Garden is part of an effort to encourage Portlander's to grow more food and donate the excess to charity.
June 2, 2009
Thanks for the pictures, Mitch! See more in our photo gallery.
