PARKS: A CITY PRIORITY

In recent years Milwaukie City Council has adopted two overarching goals to focus our City government efforts and reflect our progressing and forward-thinking Community's priorities, aimed at providing the best services to every member of our Milwaukie family regardless of background, and to provide all of our neighbors the best possible quality of life:

Climate Change and Resilience
Equity, Justice and Inclusion

This year Council adopted the third goal, improving our City’s Parks, which includes elements that will not only help sustain and improve our quality of life, but accomplish the previous two simultaneously…

How do parks help in our fight against climate change?

Reducing our City's carbon footprint is best accomplished by increasing our amount of open space...

In addition to more attractive town common areas and the obvious benefits of having a reduced carbon footprint and additional green space, parks have a significant impact on our determination to further our urban forestry initiatives by planting more trees and increasing open space.

Parks can also escalate the City's efforts toward carbon sequestration by absorbing more carbon from the air. In our quest to leave a better environment for future generations, there is little better that we can do than ensure unfettered access to open green spaces and combat the ravages of climate change by providing more parks for our Milwaukie family.

What about equity, justice, and inclusion?

Parks and recreation provide all our Milwaukie Community with equal access to universal health benefits...

Providing wide access to open natural areas and recreation opportunities to all communities is essential to our mental and physical health.

Increased access to natural spaces for physical activity leads to a 25% increase in people who exercise 3 or more days per week.

In addition, parks strengthen our community ties and bring diverse populations together (even more so as we are able to include simultaneous planning and building with affordable housing and new multi-family units).