🚑 The wait for faster ambulances in Portland

Portland’s Best Parks

According to the national nonprofit Trust For Public Land, 91% of Portlanders live within a 10-minute walk of a park. But which are the best for a picnic with friends or an afternoon out with your dog? Get recommendations from listeners as well as the podcast team. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Ambulances Are Still Too Slow

Since 2022, Multnomah County’s ambulances have responded too slowly to meet benchmarks set by the county. Today the county will finish its four-month-long meditation with the ambulance contractor, American Medical Response, though it’s unclear what will change. AMR has blamed slow response times on a scarcity of paramedics. Last week, county commissioners voted down a proposal to hire EMTs to fill that shortfall. [Willamette Week]

Smoky Air Closes State Parks

In Central, Eastern, and Southern Oregon, poor air quality from wildfires have led to the closures of nearly 50 state parks. It’s not clear how long they’ll stay closed. [OPB]

• Related: Check the list of closed state parks before visiting campground and trails.
• Safety tip: Humans cause a lot of the wildfires. Officials ask you to bring a shovel and a gallon of water or fire extinguisher in your vehicle when visiting state forestland during wildfire season, to help put out any flames before they spread,