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 The Burnside Bridge, a bascule bridge, opened on May 28, 1926. It replaced the original 1894 swing-span truss bridge.
Spanning the ages - The Burnside Bridge turns 100 this year! Come to the Burnside Bridge Centennial Celebration. The family-friendly event will feature kid-focused activities, interactive exhibits and storytelling that highlights key moments – from the opening of the bridge in 1926 to the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge Project. Join us on Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 12 - 5 p.m. on the Burnside Bridge.
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Park supervisor Heather McKillip shares how a career in horticulture led to a deeper connection with Portland's parks, the people who care for them, and the everyday work that helps communities feel welcome |
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When I moved to Portland from New Mexico in the late '90s, I had a horticulture degree, and Portland Parks & Recreation had a great reputation. My first job with PP&R was seasonal work maintaining ball fields around the city. I did that for one season. After that, I worked in private landscaping for a couple of years, but I came back as a horticulturist in 2001.
Back then, we would go out and collect seeds from native plants, then grow native plants for park projects. We grew flowers. We did nursery work and maintained properties for other bureaus. I was happy in Horticultural Services, but I wanted the second half of my career to be more focused on parks themselves. So about seven years ago, I moved to South Zone as a supervisor. It was a big change. It was also right before COVID.
What surprised me most was how many different things go into keeping a park clean and safe every day. People don't realize how much happens behind the scenes. Park maintenance staff start their day at 6 a.m. Before you even walk into the park, someone has already been picking up trash, cleaning restrooms, checking the playground for safety, dealing with graffiti, and getting the space ready.
Restrooms are a big deal in parks. During COVID especially, when so many public spaces were closed, they became even more important. Parks were busier than I think any of us had ever seen them. People were stuck at home. They needed somewhere to go. They needed open spaces. It was a challenging time for the maintenance team because there was so much uncertainty, but I felt good about how we kept showing up and kept those spaces available for people.
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Established in 2019, the annual Betsy Ames Leadership Award honors the memory of Betsy Ames, a respected City employee whose wisdom, mentorship, and diplomatic approach left an indelible mark. This year, the honor was awarded to Judith Mowry, deputy director of the Office of Equity and Human Rights: a public servant whose multi-decade career exemplifies the very best of community-driven leadership.
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Portland City Council voted to advance major reforms to the City's Arts Education and Access Tax to better support arts education while reducing the burden on low-income Portlanders. Led by Council President Jamie Dunphy, Councilor Tiffany Koyama Lane, and Councilor Elana Pirtle-Guiney, the reform package updates the structure of the Arts Tax for the first time since its approval in 2012.
Recently, community partners and City of Portland staff joined together in conversation about how to better provide home repair, weatherization, and home retention services to Portlanders. Portland Housing Bureau collaborated with the Portland Water Bureau, Bureau of Environmental Services, Portland Permitting and Development, and the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) to host the event.
A woman called 911 to report a burglary in progress. She said a stranger had broken into her home, while she was inside with her children, and threatened to kill them all. Armed with a stick, she chased him off. Portland police officers responded to the scene and tracked the suspect. Dramatic footage from an officer's camera shows what happened next.
City Council recently approved $8 million in grants from the Portland Children’s Levy to support children, youth and families. The decision includes a set of 12 new small grants totaling $2.6 million to community-based organizations to provide after school academic support, early childhood visits, farm-based education and food, and a variety of mentoring activities. Another $5.2 million benefits 94 existing large grants.
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Join your neighbors in East Portland at a one-stop-shop for resources to save money and stay healthy! May 30
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Urban Forestry is piloting a new Tree Care Assistance Program for qualified low-income property owners. This pilot program is serving as the research and development phase as we work to build and refine this program, and we are looking for participants!
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Interested in hosting a party in your neighborhood? You can get a free permit to close off your street, receive a free noise variance, and much more. Register by June 30.
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Registration is currently open for Rose City Self-Defense classes happening in June, including a Youth Safety & Self-Defense Class, Introductory LGBTQ+ Safety & Self-Defense Class, and Introductory Community Safety & Self-Defense Class.
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The City of Portland seeks artists to create temporary projects for PBOT Street Plazas. Selected artists can take a variety of approaches, including temporary sculptures, ephemeral and ecological artworks, ephemeral 2D works (such as chalk drawings or posters), socially engaged projects or social practices or events. Apply by June 1!
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New job openings at the City of Portland
New job openings
- Lead Preschool Teacher
- Public Works Inspector
- Wastewater Operator II – Open Continuous
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Grants and funding
Commercial construction projects that are planning demolition of an existing building may qualify for incentives to promote material reuse versus recycling and landfill waste. The grants incentivizes reuse of materials through building clean out, fixtures skim, deconstruction, or structure moves.
The Building Energy Efficiency (BEE) Grant Program supports small businesses and small commercial building owners (less than 40k square feet) providing funding for energy efficient upgrades that reduce energy usage and cost, create health benefits, and increase business resilience.
Commercial Building Owners who meet all of the following criteria: The size of commercial building is 40,000 square feet or below; commercial building is located within Portland city limits; and owner leases (or agrees to lease) to an eligible tenant with a minimum of two years remaining on lease agreement.
Small Businesses meeting the following criteria: Has a current City of Portland and Oregon State business registration; employs 50 or fewer employees; occupies a leased or owner-occupied commercial space that is under 40,000 square feet; and is located within Portland city limits.
Application deadline: Ongoing
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Serve on a board or committee
Do you live or work in East Portland? Want to help shape the future of the city? Consider joining the Community Involvement Committee! We are recruiting for two representatives of District 1. The Community Involvement Committee advises on community engagement practices for our planning projects that shape a wide range of policies – from housing and economic development to environmental protection and historic preservation. Applications are due May 31.
The Golf Advisory Committee serves as a communication link between the city, the public golfer and the golf course concessionaires. The Committee makes recommendations to Portland Parks & Recreation Bureau Director. Applications due May 31, 2026.
The New Portlanders Policy Commission (NPPC) works to integrate immigrant and refugee communities’ voices into the City of Portland's policies and decision-making. NPPC members are immigrants, refugees, community advocates, and live, work, play, or pray in the City of Portland. Applications due June 14, 2026.
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Portland City Council
Not sure what district you’re in?
Check our district map to find your district and your City Councilors.
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Featured events
June 4-7, Thursday-Sunday
Free events
Volunteer events
For Portland Parks & Recreation planting and park clean up volunteer events, check the new volunteering website!.
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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
Wisdom of the Elders Media Department
Last month, six organizations including Friends of Trees, APANO, Portland Fruit Tree Project, BRANCH Coalition, Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry, and Friends of Harrison Park brought together neighbors, advocates, and elected officials to plant 11 trees at Harrison Park, in the heart of the 82nd Ave area. Watch the video on the Instagram account for Portland Parks & Recreation.
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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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