Our Parks Need Volunteer Help

Through these last few months of pandemic isolation, Portland’s parks and open spaces have been busier than ever. Social distancing guidelines allow for outdoor exercise and Portland’s parks offer us places to go walking or running, play basketball or tennis, and—now that playgrounds are open again—reach for the sky on the swing set. Being outside is key. Psychiatric studies prove that interaction with nature reduces feelings of isolation, promotes calm, and lifts our mood.  Perhaps that’s why our parks are so popular right now!

Most important—our public parks are open to everyone, offering the opportunity to have positive experiences outdoors, regardless of where they live or their social or economic status.

Portland, Maine has an enviable system of 66 parks. 89% of Portland residents live within a ten-minute walk to their neighborhood park—a remarkable accomplishment. Like many communities, however, there is a significant gap between dollars required and those allocated for parks and recreation. Park “friends” and other community groups have been effective advocates, raising significant funds to supplement City budgets. Many smaller spaces, however, have not had the benefit of such private financial support.

The Portland Parks Conservancy is a private nonprofit founded in 2018 with a mission to support parks projects that are beyond the City’s operating budget and are aligned with our values of collaboration, sustainability, equity, and inclusion. 

As a small nonprofit, we can be nimble and responsive to meeting the most urgent new needs that have arisen due to the COVID-19 virus. The pandemic has had severe economic impact on the people of Portland and on our City’s municipal budget. Cutbacks are expected in all City departments.  How will that affect our parks this summer? Without the usual crew of seasonal employees, trash will accumulate and basic maintenance like mowing will go undone. Dirty, overgrown parks and playgrounds are not safe for our children, healthy for exercise, or welcoming for the many people who find solace in nature. Parks in economically-disadvantaged neighborhoods, without a well-established park “friends” group at hand, will be hardest hit.

You can help. We know volunteers are willing to give their time to the parks but, to be effective, they require management. Volunteers need safety training and instruction on COVID-19 protocols. Their projects must be closely coordinated with City needs. That’s why the Portland Parks Conservancy is hiring a temporary part-time Volunteer Coordinator to manage volunteer crews through the summer and fall. These volunteers will not replace City staff, but they will make a tremendous contribution by picking up trash, raking, clearing brush, and other light maintenance that will allow staff can do their jobs more efficiently.

When we make the benefits of outdoor experiences accessible to everyone, everywhere, we build stronger connections and communities. Now more than ever, the people of Portland are searching for ways to connect to each other and serve a greater good—the Portland Parks Conservancy Volunteer Coordinator can help them do that.

You can make a gift online by clicking here. Thank you!

Ravine, Deering Oaks