Berrydale Park Reopening
What a joy it was to help celebrate the grand reopening of Berrydale Park Friday!
On behalf of our District 3 community, I extend heartfelt thanks to Portland Parks & Recreation, PBOT, our dedicated city officials, and every neighbor whose input shaped this transformation. Special thanks to Ross Swanson from Parks, and Travis Roybal from PBOT, the project managers who made this happen.
This park has been a part of our neighborhood since 1956 – a place for generations to grow, play, and connect.
Thanks to the extraordinary efforts behind this project, Berrydale Park has now blossomed into a safer, more vibrant hub for us all.
Some of the wonderful upgrades include:
- A new, thoughtfully designed playground complete with swings, slides, and engaging zones for kids of every age.
- A dedicated skateboarding area featuring a clover bowl, mini-ramp, and skills-building elements – crafted with input from our local skate community.
- Beautiful lighting, accessible pathways, ADA-friendly picnic tables, and seating that make the park welcoming at all hours and for all abilities.
- An upgraded community garden, a refreshed baseball field with irrigation and accessible bleachers, and new street enhancements – from sidewalks and curb ramps to newly planted trees.
Beyond bricks and benches, the new park is about the future of this neighborhood and our district. It’s about creating space where children can laugh, neighbors can mingle, and everyone can feel included and uplifted.
Thank you to city administrators, including Deputy City Administrator Priya Dhanapal and Interim Director of Portland Parks and Recreation, Sonia Shmanski, for championing this vision of community safety, accessibility, and joy. And a huge thank you to the community, whose voices raised in open houses, care for this place, and enthusiasm made this park what it is today. Now the fences are down, and the park is open – may it inspire new friendships, healthy play, and countless summer afternoons.
Here’s to Berrydale Park – a renewed stage for connection, laughter, and belonging. I encourage everyone to check it out, and enjoy!
  Small Donor Elections Program Report
After every election cycle, the Portland Elections Commission (PEC) issues a public report, analyzing the performance of the Small Donor Elections program’s impact on strengthening our democracy. By helping candidates fund campaigns with smaller contributions from Portlanders and matching funds, the SDE program’s goal is to make Portland’s democracy more participatory, inclusive, reflective, and accountable.
On Monday in the Governance Committee meeting we heard from Portland Elections Commission Chair Amy Sample Ward and Small Donor Elections Deputy Director Danita Harris about their report on the 2024 cycle. We also heard about the Commission’s recommendations to Council for changes to the Small Donor Elections code. I am inspired by how this program is helping improve access to government!
The report can be found here: https://www.portland.gov/sites/default/files/council-documents/2025/The-2024-Portland-Elections-Commission-Report_0.pdf, and the campaign finance website is at https://openelectionsportland.org/
Paint the Piazza - TOMORROW! (with a slight time change)
The Sunnyside Neighborhood Association’s block party event, with music, pizza, painting, and community-building, is TOMORROW (August 16)! Due to the forecast of rain, the event is now slated to start at noon, and will run until 5 p.m. I’m looking forward to helping repaint the sunflower piazza mural (first painted in 2000) at the intersection of SE Yamhill & 33rd! Supplies will be provided. For more information or to sign-up, click here.
Recess Weeks
For the next two weeks, Portland City Council will be on recess. There will not be any Committee or full Council meetings August 18-29. I will be out in the community, and staffing will be reduced as members take a much-needed break. Please give us a couple of extra days to respond to your emails and calls. I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running in September!
Migra and ICE Watch Training
I attended this training on Wednesday and highly recommend it! The next session, hosted by APANO, Together Lab, PIRC and the ACLU, will be at 6 p.m. August 27th. You can RSVP here: In-Person MigraWatch
Give feedback to help improve our community!
Two surveys are currently available for public input on public plazas and other transportation issues. Community input makes our city better!
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is requesting responses about public plazas – including some of my favorites – Dream Big, Ankeny Rainbow Road, Montavilla Plaza, SE 37th Plaza, and SE Clinton Plaza – at this link: 2025 PBOT Plaza Survey
PBOT is also soliciting input on the question, "What three wishes would you make for Portland's transportation system to achieve by 2045?" Share your thoughts here: Tell us your three wishes for the future of Portland's transportation system
Thank you for making your voice heard!
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