2025’s PGE Parks Champion and Joey Pope Award for Parks Leadership nominees having some fun at the 2025 Friends & Allies Spring Summit.
Celebrate our nominees at the
Friends & Allies Spring Summit!
The Portland Parks Foundation is bringing Portland's parks communities together at our annual Friends & Allies Spring Summit on Thursday, May 14, 5:00-7:30 PM at the Laurelhurst Club to recognize your impact, share your stories, and connect with each other. At the summit, we’ll also introduce you to all the nominees for the PGE Parks Champion Award and the Joey Pope Award for Parks Leadership and announce the 2026 honorees.
PGE Parks Champion Awards
The Parks Champion Awards honor individuals who make outstanding contributions or provide significant service to a Portland park, community center, natural area, community garden, or park-related or recreation program through direct volunteer service.
2026 PGE Parks Champion Nominees Include:
Bill Bannister - Forest Park, Marquam Nature Park, Ancient Forest Preserve
Catherine Clark - Roseway Parkway
Corin Wallace - Village Park
Danae Hutson - Peninsula Elementary School
Eric Mitchell - Hoyt Arboretum
Jill Gaddis - Friends of April Hill Park
Jo Durand - South Park Blocks
Kara Shane Colley - Couch Park
Karen Campbell - Trail Keepers of Oregon, Powell Butte Nature Park, Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge
Katherine Schroeder - Community Music Center
Lise Gervais - Mt. Tabor, Montavilla Park, Ventura Park, Forest Park, Leach Botanical Garden, Richmond Neighborhood, St. John’s Community Center, Lents
Patricia Frobes - Friends of Peninsula Park Rose Garden, Portland Parks Foundation Board, Parks Board, Parks Alliance
Peter Condra - Lents Neighborhood
Joey Pope Award for Parks Leadership
The Joey Pope Award for Parks Leadership was established in 2022 to recognize an emerging leader, organization, or initiative promoting greater innovation and accessibility in Portland’s system of parks and open spaces. The honoree receives a $10,000 grant to advance their work plus customized technical assistance in partnership with PPF.
2026 Joey Pope Award for Parks Leadership Nominees Include:
Andra Vltavín - Regenerate Northern Willamette Valley
Ashley Murray - Sellwood Community House
Beth Kracum - Portland Children’s Garden
Bo Lyons & Marti Clemmons - Birdhers
Community Orchard Care Program - Portland Fruit Tree Project
Corey Pierson - Rosewood Initiative
Curbside Serenade
Dieter Waiblinger - Sail2Change
Eca-Etabo “Waso” Wasongolo - Our Village Gardens
Eric Carlson AKA “Seymore Gulls” - Birding For The People
Full Count: Play Ball Everywhere - Friends of Baseball
Jen Armbruster - Adaptive Sports Northwest
Latino Outdoors, Portland Chapter
Ryan Al-Schamma - Stay ON the Grass (SOTG)
Talietha Mathis - Better Chances Inc.
Tammy Jo Wilson - TERRAIN: a land art exhibition