Mat Randol spent a good chunk of his childhood at George Park in Portland’s St. Johns neighborhood.
From hanging out with friends on the playground to walking across the dandelion-covered grass to catch his school bus — the park was an integral part of his life.
Alongside writer and artist Donovan Scribes, Randol will return to the park to host the first annual The Kidz Outside festival on Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m.
Randol and Scribes hope to bring the community together for an evening of music and activities while also starting an ongoing conversation about what the neighborhood seeks from its community park.
The event also intends to put a bit of pressure on the City of Portland and showcase how to organize a community-led initiative with purpose and care. Like many Portland neighborhoods, St. Johns experienced tidal waves of gentrification, with only certain groups benefiting.
An event a lifetime in the making
Randol and Scribes met in 2017 at an event for Black artists in Portland focused on professional and personal development. After bonding over their desire to make a change in their communities, especially for people of color, the two kept in touch.
Their partnership grew over the years, and in 2019, after the passing of rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was also known for his advocacy work, Randol called Scribes to pitch the idea of a community event bringing people from the neighborhood together.
Scribes, the founder of Gentrification is WEIRD!, a multimedia platform elevating Black voices, said while planning started after that phone call with Randol, the event is partially attributed to a lifetime of experience.
"It's been three years in the making, but also, we think of this as a lifetime in the making," Scribes said.
The two then created the Friends of George Park group with the goal of revitalizing George Park and amplifying community voices. Last year, the two were awarded the 2021 Portland Parks Champion award for their work in surveying St. Johns residents about priorities for the park.
"I reached out to him to say, 'what can we do together?' And he said, 'let's make a festival. Let's do something that will bring together the people,’" Randol said. "And really, what better way to bring people here than music, food and something kids can do?"
Through various vendors, performances and community discussions, the pair hopes to make George Park a safe and enjoyable place for families in the neighborhood once again.
Randol will headline the festival and bring out other performers throughout his set. A lot of Randol’s music focuses on stories from the neighborhood. J Prodigy, a 12-year-old rapper from the area, will also perform.
Other activities will stay close to its tagline — to bring kids outside. Randol and Scribes partnered with the city's Summer Free for All program, which will host family-friendly activities and give away free back-to-school supplies. Nikki Brown the Clown, Portland's first Black clown, will also make an appearance.
Community gathering with care and intention
Beyond the fun and games, the main focus of the festival is to gather input from the community regarding park improvements.
Although Portland spends millions of dollars on the reconstruction of city parks each year, not all are treated the same, said the organizers. Randol has watched firsthand how quickly parts of neighborhoods can change — while other sectors are left behind.
Growing up, Randol's childhood solace was a large wooden play structure on the property with matching swing sets and a giant eagle's nest to climb on. Now, park-goers only have the option of a single play structure with two slides and a climbing wall.
Changes also occurred to another integral part of Randol’s childhood. In 1991, Randol's family moved to the St. Johns neighborhood. The one-story home hugged by trees and overlooking the park was his home for nearly 30 years before the family relocated due to safety issues. Now, three houses with almost identical exteriors and manicured shrub gardens sit on the corner lot — a small window into how gentrification rolled over the North Portlandneighborhood.
"Kids get bored in 10 minutes on this thing," Randol said of the downsized playground.
Scribes said a hot topic among city officials is “15-minute neighborhoods” — compact communities with easy access to amenities and parks.
"As we've been doing this work, what has been super clear is that there is no plan for George Park — at least no immediate plan," Scribes said. "So as time keeps going on, and this area keeps growing, the price is going to go up, and things are just going to keep changing."
He said although at some point, the city may turn its attention towards George Park and initiate a community engagement process — the duo's initiative may show them another way of involving the community in making decisions.
"I think the team building we're doing can be done with a little bit more intention and care,” Scribes said. “And we can show the city: 'this is how you can actually build a park from the ground up in a different way.'"
The organizers said some issues they've heard about are the lack of overhead lighting and no public bathrooms. There also isn't much to do; the duo has also shown interest in adding a basketball court to the area.
During the festival, the organizers will pose the question, 'what does the community want to see in the park?'
"We're honestly looking at this as a big data analyst disguised as a music gathering type event," Randol said. "The best part about this festival is really giving everyone a voice and a chance to express what they feel should be out here.”
Among the various vendors, there will be a table with a QR code to a survey about the park's reconstruction. Some things that have already been made priorities in the community are public bathrooms, more street lights and potentially a basketball court.
“We want people to contribute, and we definitely don't want to be martyrs of this — we're just trying to help steer the ship,” Scribes said.
Others shared they favor removing and replacing the existing playground with something more accessible and enjoyable for children.
"Let's look at this park as a canvas,” Scribes said. “Let's look at it as a way to build this park in a way that fits everyone’s needs.”
Once the organizers have a better idea of what community members want, they will begin the fundraising stage. The pair plan for the festival to be an annual event, bringing something bigger and better each year.
Randol’s motivation to create the event and initiative goes beyond the motivation to restore the park that starred in many of his childhood memories.
As the late afternoon sun slips through one of the dozens of trees on the lot, Randol watches his son, Knox, run around the small play structure. The noises from the child’s sneakers crunching over the mulch mix in with the ambient neighborhood sounds.
Since moving back to St. Johns a couple of years ago, Randol has been reminded of his days hanging around the park and wants to create those same types of fond memories for his son.
"This is just a serious matter for me to make sure that something changes in the area,” Randol said. “And the biggest thing right now is the park because no one plans for it. This park has been here since I was a kid, and now with more families and kids in the neighborhood like my kid, they need an updated park. So we just want to make some things happen and bring the community together.”
The Kidz Outside festival, among the first public attempts to achieve those ends, is slated for Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m.
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