The U.S. Bank Parks Champion Award recognizes individuals who provide outstanding volunteer service to a park, community center, natural area or community garden. The two winners each receive the opportunity to direct a $1,500 grant from PPF to a community organization that aligns with our vision: to help Portland communities create more equitable access to nature, play, health, and places of connection.
We had 48 outstanding nominations this year. Please read about each of them here. Get inspired, learn about new opportunities to volunteer and how to support organizations where they volunteer.
PPF will announce the 2021 U.S. Bank Parks Champion recipients at our Friends and Allies Summit on May 27 at 5:30pm. Find out more and register here.
Some of the nomination highlights include:
Service spanning decades to places like Leach Botanical Gardens, Columbia Children’s Arboretum, Mt. Tabor Park, Lan Su Chinese Garden and Terwilliger Parkway,
Place justice advocacy in North Portland working to revitalize George Park and downtown
Reimagining what public space looks like with community-led design and education programs at the Boise Eliot Native Grove
Advocating for recreation and programming and creating a sense of belonging through biking and soccer and hiking
Providing safe and inclusive educational and healing opportunities in nature for BIPOC community members
Maintaining parks and public gardens through pulling weeds, cleaning up debris and invasive species in places like Marquam Nature Park, Portland Japanese Garden, the Lilac Garden at Duniway Park and Forest Park
Cleaning up trash and graffiti and increasing safety in Laurelhurst Park, the Pearl District and Waterfront District
Assisting community members to grow their own food by providing accessibility and supplies and general support.
Advocacy for accessible playground equipment and park improvements all over the city
Creating and maintaining free, accessible youth recreation programs and educational opportunities in our parks to youth with a specific focus on youth of color and low-income communities in places like Lents Park, Brooklyn Park, Tanner Springs, Whitaker Ponds and the Columbia Slough Watershed.
Managing countless volunteer groups and inspiring others to form new friends groups in places like Argay Park, Mt. Tabor Park, Tryon Creek State Natural Area and Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden.
2021 U.S. Bank Parks Champion Nominees:
Allen Field, Sewallcrest Community Garden
Andrine de la Rocha & Howard Patterson, Boise Eliot Native Grove
Aubrey Russell, Neglected planters and greenspaces in NW Portland and more
Benjamin Tarne, Brooklyn Park
Bill Bannister, Forest Park
Cesar Huerta, Tryon Creek State Natural Area
Christie Quinn, Lents Park and more
Dan McLaughlin, Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
Darlene Chirman, Leach Botanical Garden
Dave Hillman, Mt. Tabor Park
Dave Manville, SW Portland parks and trails
David Gutzler, Harper's Playground Arbor Lodge Park
Donovan Smith, George park, Dawson Park, Cathedral Park, and more
Duane Hanson, SE Portland around Mt. Tabor
Gary Quinn, Clinton Community Garden
Gordon Campbell & Kathleen Madden, Multnomah Arts Center
Ian Jaquiss, Throughout Portland on Portland Parks & Recreation Board
Jacob Thoreson, Southwest Community Center/East Portland Community Center
Jane Roffey Berry, Argay Park
Jason Baird, Gateway Green
Jim & Geri Rovello, Berkeley Park, Alex Rovello Memorial Tennis Courts
Kate Bodin, Portland Botanical Gardens
Katie & Ron Goodwin, Leach Botanical Garden
Kay Dannen, Elizabeth Caruthers Park
Kim Luey, Lan Su Chinese Garden
Laura Feldman, Columbia Slough Watershed, Nuclear Free NW, CORE, Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board
Laurie Kitxke, Gabriel Park Community Garden
Mary Kinnick, Mt. Tabor Park
Maryhelen Kincaid, Columbia Children's Arboretum
Masaki Shimada, Portland Japanese Garden
Mathew Randol, Kidz N The Park Festival/George Park
Michele Shapiro, Tanner Springs Park
Mike Street, Pearl District/North Park Blocks
Nicole Williams, Friendly house
Pam Slaughter, Whitaker Ponds, Smith and Bybee Lakes, and Oxbow Park
Rick Pope, Forest Park Conservancy
Robin Jensen, Marquam Nature Park
Robin Vesey, Terwilliger Parkway
Scott McKinley, Gabriel Community Garden
Tamara Layden, Portland Parks & Recreation Board
Teresa J Browning, Laurelhurst Park
The Lilac Garden at Duniway Park Committee of The Portland Garden Club, The Lilac Garden at Duniway Park
Wes Risher, Terwilliger Parkway