Years-long community advocacy sees results and secures funding for improvements to the park
Five years ago Mat Randol and Donovan Scribes formed a group, The Kidz Outside (TKO), with the purpose of advocating for much-needed improvements at George Park in the St. Johns neighborhood of Portland. Their persistent efforts have finally paid off.
Vibrant Communities Commissioner Dan Ryan at Portland Parks Foundation (PPF) is allocating $3 million to fund upgrades to the park. That’s not all. The Capital Construction Committee will fund $750,000 for the park from the state of Oregon, as requested by Representative Travis Nelson.
In addition to this, building off the success of a pilot playground campaign with Rose City Park, PPF, in partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation (PPR), is launching a second playground campaign later in 2024 which will include George Park as well as two other playgrounds in parks located in East Portland and SW Portland.
“Being loud about changes needed and the community rallying behind us enough to garner the city's attention was important,” Randol, TKO co-founder and co-lead organizer, said. Last summer TKO hosted their second festival in the park, in collaboration with PPR.
St. John’s resident LaQuisha Minnieweather, founder of Tenacious Rose PDX nonprofit, joined TKO two years ago as co-lead organizer. Her organization donates backpacks with school supplies to students in the park each summer. Randol and Minnieweather are finally seeing some of the changes they dreamed of while growing up near George Park, knowing new generations of kids will benefit.
“We could have fallen through the cracks a number of times. This park was not a priority for our local governments,” Scribes said. “We had to keep showing up to remind them of why it was important to the neighborhood to invest in.”
Plans for George Park The group sent out a survey two years ago about what neighbors would like to see at the park and received 125 responses. It’s not a place where many of them spend much time because they find there are few amenities, despite its size of two acres.
The most consistent feedback is about lighting, seating and basic infrastructure, Scribes said. They have heard requests for a basketball court repeatedly. Trash cans and new playground equipment are also needed.
Jessica Green, the executive director of PPF, has worked with TKO since meeting them five years ago. She saw their patience, perseverance and positivity. They put their names everywhere and every conversation was passionate and inspiring, Green said.
“There will be a new playground but the question is what it will include,” Green said. “It will include information from The Kidz Outside. That is the next phase to figure out. PPF’s role is to build the new playground.”
The ribbon cutting for George Park will take place in 2026 when design and construction are complete.
“Parks provide a space to gather and meet for a critical need,” Green said. “They have highlighted the power of parks. We need these spaces to bring communities together. Their personal stories around the park were emotional and honest with a positive message about what a park can do for people. We continue to center those voices in design and process.”
Specific plans are to be decided through collaboration with PPF and PPR, based on a foundation of feedback. The $3 million will ultimately go in part towards hiring the design team, but also building what will go in the park. The $750,000 from the state is for capital improvements at the park, and will be used to extend the possibility of what can happen there, Scribes said.
Student comments Seventh and eighth-grade students in David Rodriguez’s leadership class at George Middle School have been involved with the park project. TKO asked the students in October 2023 to provide ideas for changes they wanted to see at George Park, and they recently shared their opinions.
Evan remembers playing tag and hanging out with friends at the park when he was younger. Eve said there’s not much to do there but she mostly just walks around.
“I feel like the playground could be bigger with lights around and places to sit when people wait for the bus there,” Za’Najah said. “And trash cans.”
Chloe would like to see a volleyball net and Esther would like to add tables and benches. Carter thinks there should be a basketball court because a lot of kids would go there and have fun.
Sophie said there should be lighting. This request was echoed by all her classmates.
“I started doing community activism in middle school,” Minnieweather said. “If you want it to be done you can get it done. It's important that these kids know that.”
Randol remembers being in leadership class at George MS dreaming of what more could be here. Now he is circling back to his community with input from these students. They have learned about the power of self-advocacy from this experience with TKO.
“I feel like they showed that when you see an issue you shouldn’t leave it alone,” Eve said. “You should actually do something if it means something to you. Speak up and talk to your community and reach out to multiple people and not just try to fix the issue on your own… Go for it and not just have it in your mind but not ever achieve it. I really like that it got reinforced that self-advocacy is important.”
Along with her teacher, Eve was quoted in a letter to the state legislature asking for funding. Senator James Manning, along with Representatives Janelle Bynum, Maxine Dexter and Travis Nelson signed that letter and expressed their support.
A long process Randol and Scribes look back on the journey to fund the park and offer advice to anyone engaging in community advocacy.
“I would say research the elected officials in your area, gather a team of people who feel the same way you do,” Randol said. “Write letters, organize town halls/workshops to bring people’s attention to the issue, throw an event or gathering to further the message. And continue to be consistent with your approach.”
The city and state responded with funding about a month ago. The $3 million is in Park Systems Development charges, not general fund tax dollars. Representative Nelson championed the ask for the additional $750,000 inside the Capitol. He saw it not only as a neighborhood concern but also as an equity issue.
In October 2023, TKO organized a site visit with George MS students, PPF leadership, PPR, St. Johns Boosters and Commissioner Ryan, who is from St. Johns. Following the relationship with PPF since the beginning, this was a turning point. Commissioner Ryan committed to advancing the development of George Park as a priority.
With changes in city commissioners along the way, TKO kept the communication going. Commissioner Carmen Rubio stood up for the park until Commissioner Ryan took her place and continued the cause. Commissioner Susheela Jayapal stepped down after speaking at the Kidz Outside Festival last summer and Commissioner Jesse Beason took her place and kept the commitment that Jayapal made.
Commissioner Beason wrote a letter to the Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee on Capital Construction, in support of the request for $750,000. This ask was also endorsed by the BIPOC Caucus as a priority for the 2024 session, Scribes said.
“This is why it’s important not just to know your mayor or governor,” Scribes said. “Know your city councilors, know your county commissioners, know your state reps. Bring issues to them, and push for what change you want to see.”
The group pushed through, reminding the local government of why the park matters to the community.
“This was purely a matter of Black-led civics being in action, and continuing to stay in action,” Scribes said.
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