Vote Yes for Portland Parks Levy by Nov 4

Sep 15, 2025 by Portland DSA in DSA Positions, Portland

On September 14, members of the Portland chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America voted to endorse the upcoming Portland Parks and Recreation Levy 2025 Ballot Initiative as part of its Family Agenda campaign. 

The 2020 voter-approved levy to support parks and recreation operations expires at the end of the fiscal year. If the Nov. 4 levy is not approved, the Parks operating budget would be cut nearly in half, resulting in far fewer programs and services. The Parks Levy ensures Portland can maintain parks and community centers by increasing the property tax rate by 60 cents per $1,000 in assessed property value. That means a median homeowner would pay about $26 per month and the median commercial property owner would pay around $37 per month.

Our parks are part of what makes Portland, Portland.

They’re where we meet friends for a walk, where our kids learn to swim, where seniors stay active, where families gather on sunny days, and where nature thrives in the heart of our city.

But right now, the parks we love are at risk. Without the Portland Parks Levy, Portland Parks & Recreation will lose nearly half its budget, forcing closures and eliminating programs for those who need them most.

Measure 26-260 provides essential funding that keeps playgrounds safe, pools open, bathrooms clean, and trails clear.

It also funds free and low-cost programs for every Portlander, and helps protect our natural areas through tree planting, wildfire prevention, and habitat restoration.

Join the growing coalition — labor unions, environmental advocates, business groups, community organizations, and more — who are voting YES on Measure 26-260 to keep our parks open, clean, and thriving.

Visit Portlanders for Parks to learn about the coalition fighting for our parks.

About Portland DSA’s Family Agenda

Families, however you define them, are a crucial part of a movement for a better world. Through the Family Agenda campaign, Portland DSA seeks to build a culture of collective care for working people, children and elders in our community, while rejecting the right-wing nationalist definition of family. We will make our voices heard at the city, county, and state to stop the slashing of programs that families rely on, and to demand that our parks, community centers, and after-school care programs are fully funded. We’ll be working to expand public support for public education and fight for full implementation of universal preschool at the county level – a policy that Portland DSA fought for and won in 2020.

Contact: family.agenda@portlanddsa.org