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Springtime in bloom: explore Portland’s public gardens
From neighborhood rose gardens to quiet forest trails, Portland’s public green spaces burst into color each spring, such as Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden (pictured above). These gardens are more than just pretty places; they’re community, education, and environmental stewardship hubs. Whether you're looking for a peaceful walk, a photography outing, or a family adventure, there’s a blooming corner of the city just waiting to be discovered.
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Hitting the high notes – and the low notes
Phil and Gayle Neuman have been leading classes on the recorder and other wind instruments at the Community Music Center for 45 years, sharing their passion for Renaissance, baroque, ragtime, jazz, and other styles with scores of lifelong students.
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The Community Music Center (CMC) celebrates a historical milestone next month: 70 years of helping Portlanders of all ages find the joy of making music together. Located in a repurposed firehouse in SE Portland, the center offers affordable music classes and lessons, free and low-cost concerts and workshops, low-cost instrument rentals, and other resources for the public. Currently more than 350 students are taking classes in drumming, piano, strings, vocal, cello, fiddle, and more, led by talented instructors.
Which brings us to Phil and Gayle Neuman. Accomplished musicians in their own right, they've performed around the world and have built more than 450 early instruments in their own workshop. These days they teach a weekly class on Renaissance music together on Thursday nights. We caught up with them as they were rehearsing for a concert to celebrate the CMC.
How did you get started at the Community Music Center?
Phil: In 1980, they were looking for somebody to teach recorder part-time. So we came in for an interview. They were just looking for one teacher, but Gayle came in with me because we lived out in McMinnville and we had some other things to do in Portland. So they asked me some questions, and they said they'd hire me….
Gayle: And they turned to me and said, “You play, too? We'll hire you both!”
What drew you to the recorder?
Phil: I played the recorder as a kid. Mostly self-taught. In high school I joined a group. We played whatever we could find, old hymns, you name it. Then we connected with a guy who was a recorder teacher! What a concept. We never really had a teacher before. He turned us on to Renaissance music. It was just fantastic. Pretty soon we were playing concerts. After high school, I went to Mount Hood Community College and they asked me to teach a class on the recorder.
Gayle: I started on violin as a kid. I went to Mount Hood Community College to pursue music. I wanted to be an orchestra director and figured I ought to know some other instruments besides strings. So I took Phil's recorder class… (They both laugh.) Pretty soon we were playing early music together with vocalists and strings and recorders and never looked back.
Phil whips out a krummhorn, which resembles a giant wooden candy cane, and peels off a few buoyant notes that pulse with playful joy. In response, Gayle conjures forth a rackett, which looks like a pushed-together pirate's spyglass, and pipes forth a mellow, vibrant, reply.
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Get up to $10 off an Uber or Lyft ride from the Cinco de Mayo Festival on the waterfront with a digital coupon, courtesy of The Portland Bureau of Transportation. Rides must start in Portland city limits.
Valid from Friday, May 2 - Monday, May 5 between 5 p.m. -12:30 a.m. While supplies last.
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Can’t remember when to put the trash out? There’s an app for that! Download the City’s free Portland Garbage Day app for weekly, day-before reminders. You’ll also get reminders about holiday delays and weather disruptions. If the app’s not for you, we also offer email, text, and phone call reminders as well as built-in calendar reminders.
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New to Portland or moving to a new location in Portland? Call 3-1-1 to help answer questions about utilities such as garbage and water services. PDX 311 is your government connection. Dial 3-1-1 or email 311@portlandoregon.gov, 7 a.m.-8 p.m., seven days a week, and have questions answered, request service, or report issues.
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New job openings at the City of Portland
- Clean Energy Fund (Financial Analyst I – CPPW)
- Communications and Outreach Support Intern for Mayor's Office (Community Service Aide II)
- Contracting Analyst (Analyst II - CPPW)
- Council Liaison (Mayor’s Aide)
- Research and Policy Support Intern for Mayor's Office (Community Service Aide II)
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Grants and funding
The Civic Life Community Activities Fund program reimburses eligible volunteer-run organizations for community-building and civic engagement activity expenses. Applications are open through May 30, 2025, or until funds are gone, whichever comes first. This is a reimbursement program for expenses incurred between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025
The Office of Violence Prevention is now accepting applications for the 2025 Safer Portland Grant to help reduce gun violence through community-based prevention efforts. A total of $1,000,000 is available for the 2025 Safer Portland grant. Organizations can apply for up to $100,000 in the large grant category or up to $50,000 in the small grant category, depending on the scope of work submitted and number of community members served.
Do you have an idea for a project to help the city confront climate change, benefit frontline communities, and advance social justice? Apply for a community grant from the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund. Learn more and apply online by May 27, 2025.
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Serve on a board or committee
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Do you live, work, or play in East Portland? Portland Housing Bureau and Prosper Portland are setting up Community Leadership Committees to help develop action plans for three Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts - 82nd Ave, Sumner-Parkrose-Argay-Columbia Corridor, and East 205.
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Give us your feedback
Sewer and stormwater management user charges provide the funding necessary for Environmental Services to operate, maintain, and manage the public sewer and stormwater system. Rates and charges are based on the cost of providing services. The proposed changes are intended to improve organization and clarity. They will not change how charges are calculated on customer utility bills.
Comment by Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
The Portland Housing Bureau, is submitting this Section 108 loan application for $35 million to assist with affordable housing development and preservation activities in Portland, Oregon. Provide public comment on the amendments to Portland’s Action Plan FY 2024-25 and the draft loan application.
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Not sure what district you’re in?
Check our district map to find your district and your City Councilors.
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Portland police and law-enforcement partners conducted a major operation to disrupt the supply of fentanyl and other drugs. Officers made 46 arrests and seized roughly 44 pounds of fentanyl, 22 pounds of meth, 9 pounds of cocaine, 2 pounds of heroin, 20 guns, and more than $204,00 in cash. “Fentanyl has no place in our city,” Portland Police Chief Bob Day said. “This operation was a success, but it is only one step in a larger, sustained effort to keep Portland safe.”
The Community and Economic Development service area is working across its teams and in partnership with others on innovative solutions to address Portland's housing shortage, increase affordable units, and streamline and simplify the homebuilding process.
This week, I delivered a quarterly update to the Portland City Council committee on housing and homelessness. We’ve made great strides in less than four months. Since taking office, we’ve opened three shelters and are on track to open far more as we build the capacity necessary to provide a safe bed for every Portlander, every night.
A federal judge barred the Trump administration from trying to punish sanctuary cities by shutting off millions of dollars in federal grants. “We are grateful for the court's affirmation that public safety funds, disaster relief, housing, and transportation should never be subject to unconstitutional federal overreach and interference,” Mayor Keith Wilson said. “Portland remains committed to sanctuary policies that protect the rights of our community.”
For years, the City has underinvested in maintaining its aging assets. Now, it is facing a backlog of costly and urgent needs that it lacks the funding to meet. A new audit recommends that Portland take a more strategic approach to developing the infrastructure for infrastructure.
The City of Portland is committed to addressing the root causes of violence and promoting education, mentorship, mental health support, and positive youth development.
Earlier this month, the Ceasefire team hosted a two-day retreat, facilitated by nationally recognized counselor and educator Dr. Keith Dempsey. The retreat brought together our community-based partners who work directly with the highest-risk individuals, providing intensive case management, outreach, and mentorship. This gathering was designed to create space for providers to pause, connect, and focus on their own healing.
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Mayor Wilson will deliver his State of the City address on Friday, May 2. The event is co-hosted by City Club and will be moderated by JT Flowers.
Mayor Wilson will outline his priorities for the city, provide updates on the ongoing transition, and preview his proposed budget, set to be released on Monday, May 5.
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Request an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for any City of Portland program, service, event, or activity. To ensure the best response, please make your request at least five business days before the program or event, if possible. |
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Your Portland moment
"I had so much fun meeting these young people for Take Your Child to Work Day. I’m proud to work alongside their parents, who constantly amaze me with their dedication to public service for Portlanders. Our future is in good hands with this promising bunch of young leaders." - Mayor Keith Wilson
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Traducción e Interpretación | Biên Dịch và Thông Dịch | अनुवादन तथा व्याख्या
口笔译服务 | Устный и письменный перевод | Turjumaad iyo Fasiraad
Письмовий і усний переклад | Traducere și interpretariat | Chiaku me
Awewen Kapas
Translation and Interpretation: 3-1-1
The City of Portland ensures meaningful access and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services. To request these services, call 311 for Relay Service or TTY: 711.
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