A Report on the 2003 Parks Levy Investment In November 2002, Portland voters approved a five-year Parks Levy to begin in July 2003. Levy dollars restored budget cuts made in FY 2002-03 as well as major services and improvements outlined in the Parks 2020 Vision plan adopted by City Council in July 2001. In order to fulfill our obligation to the voters, we identified four key objectives. This report highlights what we have accomplished to date. Objective 1: Restore $2.2 million in cuts made in 2002/03 budget The 2003 Parks Levy restored cuts that were made to balance the FY 2002-03 General Fund budget. These cuts included the closure of some recreational facilities, the discontinuation and reduction of some community partnerships that provide recreational opportunities for youth, and reductions in maintenance of parks and facilities. Below is a detailed list of services restored through levy dollars. A. Restore programming at six community schools. SUN Community Schools support healthy social and cross-cultural development of all participants, teach and model values of respect and inclusion of all people, and help reduce social disparities and inequities. Currently, over 50% of students enrolled in the program are children of color. 2003/04 projects/services 2004/05 projects/services Proposed projects/services 2005/06 Hired and trained full-time Site Coordinators Total attendance at new sites (Summer Continue to develop programming to serve for 6 new PP&R SUN Community Schools: 2004-Spring 2005): 85,159 the needs of each school’s community and Arleta, Beaumont, Centennial, Clarendon, increase participation in these programs. Faubion, and Grout. Completed community assessments during the summer and began programming in Fall 2003. Total attendance at new sites (Fall 2003-Spring 2004): 72,315 Page 1 Parks Levy Report / prepared October 2005 Commissioner Dan Saltzman • Director Zari Santner B. Restore summer programming at all PP&R community schools. Summer programming at SUN Community School sites allows children to participate in healthy activities within their neighborhoods and to access the Federal Lunch Program at eligible sites. 2003/04 projects/services 2004/05 projects/services 2005/06 proposed projects/services Summer programming offered at 6 sites. Summer programming offered at 12 sites. Portland Public Schools closed Clarendon, Total attendance: 16,452 Total attendance: 31,945 Gregory Heights, and Mt. Tabor for building renovation. Building hours at remaining PPS Lane SUN Community School offered the Federal Lunch Program meals served at sites were extended to 5pm to allow for Federal Lunch Program: 2,205 meals Lane: 7,479 more summer programming. served. Summer programming offered at 9 sites. Total attendance: 45,168 Seven sites offered the Federal Lunch Program (number of meals served has not been made available to us yet.) C. Restore programming at MLC and Buckman Pools. 2003/04 projects/services 2004/05 projects/services 2005/06 proposed projects/services Restored programming to Buckman Pool: Continued programming Buckman Pool. Continue programming MLC Pool. provided lifeguards and swim instructors, Attendance: 22,213 materials, and minor maintenance services. *On October 19, 2005, the City Council Attendance: 21,921 Continued programming MLC Pool. approved up to $400,000 (non-levy dollars) Attendance: 11,466 to repair Buckman Pool. Projected to reopen Restored programming to MLC Pool: in June 2006. provided lifeguards and swim instructors, *Due to significant leakage, which could materials, and maintenance services. have undermined the building structure, Attendance: 7,304 Buckman Pool was closed for evaluation in April 2005. Page 2 Parks Levy Report / prepared October 2005 D. Restore care to 91 soccer fields at Portland Public Schools. Regular mowing provides for safer conditions by creating an even playing surface. 2003/04 projects/services 2004/05 projects/services 2005/06 proposed projects/services Restored regular mowing of 91 soccer fields Continued mowing services at 91 soccer Continue mowing services at 91 soccer located at Portland Public Schools. fields at PPS. fields at PPS. E. Restore regular mowing services to 420 acres of park turf. PP&R is responsible for mowing more than 1,300 acres of grass on a regular basis to keep Portland's parks beautiful and the turf in good health. Budget cuts reduced mowing of 420 acres to once/month. 2003/04 projects/services 2004/05 projects/services 2005/06 proposed projects/services Restored one crew leader position, plus Continued mowing services. Continue mowing services. seasonal crew hours, to allow for regular mowing of 420 acres of grass (not used as sports fields). F. Restore basic park maintenance and irrigation projects at more than 200 parks. Restore funding to horticulture services and basic maintenance to facilities such as community centers, pools, and other structures. PP&R maintains more than 200 parks throughout the city. Managing this resource includes picking up and removing litter (1,000 cans are emptied each day), cleaning restrooms (150 total), upkeep and maintenance to drinking fountains (205) and picnic tables (1,080), pulling weeds and raking numerous shrub beds, setting irrigation to keep the grass green and healthy, and inspecting playgrounds and play equipment to maintain safety standards. PP&R provides horticultural care to 19,700 rose bushes, propagates and plants 70,000 flowering annuals, and grows shrubs, trees, and native plants for use in our parks, gardens, and natural areas. PP&R operates and maintains 13 community centers, 12 SUN Community Schools, 14 swimming pools, one music center, one arts center, one historic mansion, one cultural center, one race track, four stadiums, two tennis centers, and one dance studio. More than 25,000 programs and activities, tours, and family functions are offered at these sites every year. Keeping these facilities open, clean, safe, and accessible to all requires daily maintenance, including painting, carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, and janitorial services. Page 3 Parks Levy Report / prepared October 2005 2003/04 projects/services 2004/05 projects/services 2005/06 proposed projects/services Restored seven park maintenance Continued basic maintenance of parks and Continue basic maintenance of parks and positions: one supervisor, one horticulturist, facilities. facilities. one park technician, four utility workers, and one maintenance worker, in addition to irrigation services and approximately $10,000 in seasonal maintenance crew funding. Restored three facility maintenance positions: one painter, one utility worker, and one carpenter. $16,000 per year ($80,000 over five years) Construction should be completed by mid- will be used to develop and construct a well year 2007. Levy dollars will be matched at Westmoreland Park to resume with CIP to meet total project cost of recreational use of the historic casting pond. $170,000-$200,000. Construction includes drilling a new well and installing a pump to fill casting pond. Once filled, it will function as a reservoir for the park’s irrigation system, saving $22,000 per year in water costs. Funded 0.5 Horticulturist and 0.2 Botanic Continued to provide bedding plants for park Continue to provide bedding plants for park Specialist in order to restore greenhouse flower beds, native plants for habitat flower beds, native plants for habitat production of ornamental, bedding, and restoration, and shrubs for park shrub beds. restoration, and shrubs for park shrub beds. native plants. Developed Oaks Bottom Stewardship Continue to offer stewardship activities to Project with students at Winterhaven Middle youth. School. Page 4 Parks Levy Report / prepared October 2005 G. Restore maintenance to 150 miles of soft-surface trails in 7,600 acres of natural areas. Trail maintenance includes grading and drainage, surface enhancements, removing fallen trees, cleaning culverts, decommissioning unwanted trails, and bridge and boardwalk repair. 2003/04 projects/services 2004/05 projects/services 2005/06 proposed projects/services Hired additional seasonal crews to maintain Realigned and rebuilt 1.5 miles of soft- • Create a full-time trail technician position trails at Hoyt Arboretum and Forest Park. surface trail at Woods Memorial Natural to work with community volunteers to Area and Dickinson Woods Park. provide improved trail maintenance. • Build .5 mile soft-surface trail at Marquam Nature Park, in partnership with Friends of Marquam Nature Park and OHSU, to connect the nature park with OHSU. • Develop the Stevens Creek Nature Park trail. • Acquire land for a Forest Park trailhead at NW St. Helens Road (US Hwy 30) for future development of parking area, restrooms, maintenance facility, and trails into the park. H. Restore basic maintenance to tennis courts. Levy dollars restored basic maintenance to Portland's 113 outdoor tennis courts. This includes keeping the courts clean, repainting and striping the surface. 2003/04 projects/services 2004/05 projects/services 2005/06 proposed projects/services Repainted and striped 10 courts: Gabriel Repainted and striped 10 courts: Repaint and stripe 3 courts at Grant Park. Park (4 courts), Sellwood Park (2 courts), Grant Park (3 courts), Washington Portland Heights Park (2 courts), and Mt. Park (1 court), Brooklyn School Park Full court renovation at either Laurelhurst or Tabor Park (2 courts). (2 courts), Glenhaven Park (2 courts), Columbia Park (2 courts each). Renovation and Willamette Park (2 courts). includes resurfacing