Portland councilors accepted over $125,000 in private donations for parks projects, including $85,000 to expand a skateboard park in Libbytown, $20,000 to begin a summer youth service program and $20,000 to expand a small boat launch at East End Beach.
Although the skatepark project received the largest donation, city staff and councilors were most enthusiastic about the $20,000 donation from the Portland Parks Conservancy to begin a Youth Corps, which aims to provide training and service opportunities to underserved youth through a summer work program in the city’s parks and open spaces.