Welcome to Commissioner Nick Fish's website

By David Nguyen

Portland Parks & Recreation presents amazing, family-friendly nature opportunities at Ross Island Natural Area, beginning this Saturday!

Parks' City Nature division, in partnership with the Friends of Ross Island, is offering six canoe trips to Ross Island Natural Area.  Once on the island, you’ll work to enhance wildlife habitat and learn more about the animals and plants that call the island home.

Children are welcome when accompanied and supervised by an adult. Use your own canoe or kayak or reserve a spot in one of our canoes for only $10 per person.

Register today, or you can RSVP by contacting Marissa (503) 823-7016, or Marissa.Dorais@portlandOregon.gov

Cant make it this Saturday? Click here to find out about future event dates.

By Sophia Kecskes

The work we do would be impossible without the help of our community partners. We’d like to highlight one instrumental organization in the promotion of fair and equitable housing in Portland – the Community Alliance of Tenants (CAT).

Founded in 1996, CAT works to educate and empower tenants to access affordable, stable, and safe rental homes. CAT has changed the lives of many Oregonians by addressing the impact of Oregon’s decreasing supply of affordable housing, as well as advocating for meaningful protections for low-income tenants.

CAT’s membership includes mostly low-income tenants, families with children, people living with disabilities, older adults, and communities of color. Because CAT directly empowers those who are affected by disparities, CAT has seen astounding success in their efforts.

CAT’s Executive Director, Elisa Harrigan, is an active advocate, participating on both the Portland Housing Bureau’s Portland Housing Advisory Commission, as well as the Fair Housing Advocacy Committee.

If you feel you have experienced unfair rental practices, please call the Renters’ Rights Hotline at (503) 288-0130.

By David Nguyen

Walk Score, an online service that helps apartment renters and home buyers find neighborhoods where they can drive less, has ranked Portland the nation’s second-best city for “bikeability.”

The bike score is based on availability of bike lanes, hilliness, road connectivity, nearby amenities, and the percentage of people in that area who bike to work.

According to Walk Score, bike commuting increased 43 percent between 2000 and 2010. Last year, the Bureau of Transportation’s Annual Bike Counts showed that bicycle commuting climbed by more than 6 percent in Portland.

This month is the City of Portland’s Bike Month. The Portland Bureau of Transportation and its partners will be offering various bicycle-friendly events nearly every day at locations throughout Portland metro area.  View the complete schedule.

Bike Score ranks Portland nation's 2nd best city for being bicycle commuter

Joseph Rose in The Oregonian

By David Nguyen

Feeling the heat? Cool off from the warm spring weather in our local parks!

The Water Bureau has turned on the fountains at several downtown parks, including Jamison Square, Director Park, and Waterfront Park.

The fountains are active from 9am - 10pm everyday.  Children are encouraged to wear swim suits, swim diapers, or clothing while playing in the fountain, and water shoes are recommended.

Grab a towel, and come on down to enjoy the warm weather!

Congratulations to Portland Parks & Recreation for being featured in the May issue of Portland Monthly: Best of the City 2012.

Portland Monthly’s "Best of the City" team visited endless restaurants, stores, spas, green spaces, and natural areas to come up with a list of Portland’s best of everything in 2012.

In the "Best Diversions" category, Ventura Park Pumptrack came away with Best Park Addition for its series of dirt bike paths for our community’s adventurous cyclists. Special thanks goes to the Northwest Trail Alliance for partnering with the City to develop the tracks!

Top Reader Picks includes Forest Park as the best nature escape in the city. The Park includes over 5,000 acres of trails, biking areas, and horseback riding opportunities.

Another Top Reader Pick is Jamison Square for best local park for kids. The Square’s unique fountain and public artwork make it a favorite for park-goers of all ages.

Last year, Portland Parks & Recreation was honored to receive the 2011 National Gold Medal for the Best Park System in the Nation. The Gold Medal is the highest award presented to park and recreation organizations nationwide.

Find your next favorite park today!