🌲 Why Portland parks aren’t out of the woods

Cuts to the Police Budget

Citing public support, Portland City Council cut the police budget to provide more funding for maintaining city parks. On the Friday news roundup, why city councilors supported that controversial change to the proposed $8.5 billion budget. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Top 10 for Parks

Portland ranks among the top 10 cities with the best parks — for the third time in a row. Our city does well in the nonprofit Trust for Public Land’s rankings of the 100 largest U.S. cities, coming in at No. 9 by doing well on rankings for park access and park investment. [KOIN]

A Warning for Beloved Parks Facilities

City Councilor Steve Novick’s proposal to close two beloved parks facilities — the Multnomah Arts Center and the Community Music Center in Southwest and Southeast Portland — was met with massive community opposition. But Novick warns that without a massive new investment, “one-fifth of parks assets are likely to close within 15 years” — and those two community centers are in the worst shape. [Willamette Week]

The mural from last week’s scavenger hunt is at KBOO Community Radio — which reader Leigh Anne K. identified and called “a trusted source of news right now.”

Fun fact: “KBOO's call letters were selected based on a popular marijuana strain called ‘Berkeley Boo,’” according to the history of KBOO. Hat tip to reader and photographer Mark McClure for the website on the station’s history.

Two more readers also had the correct answer this week: a shoutout to Brian C. and Heidi Franklin!

This week’s scavenger hunt comes from reader Chris Houghton:

Where is this sculpture?

Please click here to send me the location — and anything you know about it.

If you’re new to the newsletter, there’s a scavenger hunt every Friday. Please send me the location if you know it — and for unofficial bonus points, anything you know about it. In next week’s newsletter, I’ll shout out the first 10 readers who respond correctly (and reveal the answer).

📸 Want to submit a photo? Please email me a snapshot of somewhere in the Portland metro area, and we’ll consider it for an upcoming “Where Is It?” segment!