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Presentation: Building Equitable Access to Parks: A Parkside Chat
Speakers: Adena Long, Director of Portland Parks and Recreation and Jonathan Blasher, Director of Metro Parks and Nature
Date: Wednesday June 8, 2022
Time: 7:00 PM PST
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Join us for this free presentation in our Olmsted 2022 Good Parks Speaker Series. Register below to attend in-person at Columbia Cottage in Columbia Park, or online via Zoom. You can also join our livestream if you follow us on Facebook.
Friends of Columbia Park is excited and honored to welcome Jonathan Blasher, parks and nature director for Metro, the regional government of greater Portland, and Adena Long, Director of Portland Parks and Recreation for a Parkside Chat at the Columbia Cottage in North Portland’s Columbia Park. Directors Blasher and Long will share their stories about how they have come to their respective leadership roles in the parks and nature field, highlight how their agencies are building toward equitable access to parks and nature in an historically white dominant arena and provide perspectives on how we all can do a better job of supporting the full spectrum of our communities to get out, be active, feel safe and enjoy the outdoor beauty around us.
Read about the speakers
Read about the speakers
About the speakers
Director Adena Long, Portland Parks & Recreation
Adena Long was appointed Director of Portland Parks & Recreation in February 2019. She brings to this role over 25 years of experience in the parks and recreation industry and in management. A native of New York, Director Long started her career at the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation as a seasonal Urban Park Ranger in 1997. In this role, she contributed to informing and educating park visitors on some of the most well-known well-visited city parks in the country - and it sparked a full-time career in parks and recreation.
Director Long steadily moved up the ranks, and in 2010 became the first woman of color and youngest-ever, to serve as Parks Borough Commissioner. During her tenure at the department, Director Long also served in the citywide capacity of Assistant Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner.
Director Long has spent much of her professional career involved in designing and creating parks and recreational facilities. She has also worked on preserving and restoring natural areas and urban forests and has a particular passion for providing low-barrier access to opportunities and experiences for all. As Director, she devotes a lot of her time in building and nurturing partnerships by connecting people with parks. Director Long firmly believes that parks are a great equalizer and that all communities need great parks.
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PP&R Communications Contact:
cherelle.jackson@portlandoregon.gov
Jonathan Blasher, Parks and Nature Director, Metro
Jonathan serves as Parks and Nature Director for Metro, a regional government in Portland, Oregon. Metro serves more than 1.5 million people in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties to provide region-wide planning and coordination to manage growth, infrastructure and development issues that cross jurisdictional boundaries. The Metro Parks and Nature department protects water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and creates opportunities to enjoy nature close to home through a connected system of parks, trails and natural areas.
Born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, Jonathan has devoted his life to serving the needs of communities. He earned a BA from UC Santa Cruz and Executive MBA from the University of Oregon. Jonathan is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum of Oregon, Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commissioner, Harper’s Playground advisory council member, All Hands Raised board member, and AmeriCorps alumni. In his leisure time, he likes to play basketball, travel, play music, fly fish, and spend time with his wife and twin sons.
Learn more about our Olmsted 2022 Good Parks Speaker Series.
Adena Long was appointed Director of Portland Parks & Recreation in February 2019. She brings to this role over 25 years of experience in the parks and recreation industry and in management. A native of New York, Director Long started her career at the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation as a seasonal Urban Park Ranger in 1997. In this role, she contributed to informing and educating park visitors on some of the most well-known well-visited city parks in the country - and it sparked a full-time career in parks and recreation.
Director Long steadily moved up the ranks, and in 2010 became the first woman of color and youngest-ever, to serve as Parks Borough Commissioner. During her tenure at the department, Director Long also served in the citywide capacity of Assistant Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner.
Director Long has spent much of her professional career involved in designing and creating parks and recreational facilities. She has also worked on preserving and restoring natural areas and urban forests and has a particular passion for providing low-barrier access to opportunities and experiences for all. As Director, she devotes a lot of her time in building and nurturing partnerships by connecting people with parks. Director Long firmly believes that parks are a great equalizer and that all communities need great parks.
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PP&R Communications Contact:
cherelle.jackson@portlandoregon.gov
Jonathan Blasher, Parks and Nature Director, Metro
Jonathan serves as Parks and Nature Director for Metro, a regional government in Portland, Oregon. Metro serves more than 1.5 million people in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties to provide region-wide planning and coordination to manage growth, infrastructure and development issues that cross jurisdictional boundaries. The Metro Parks and Nature department protects water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and creates opportunities to enjoy nature close to home through a connected system of parks, trails and natural areas.
Born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, Jonathan has devoted his life to serving the needs of communities. He earned a BA from UC Santa Cruz and Executive MBA from the University of Oregon. Jonathan is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum of Oregon, Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commissioner, Harper’s Playground advisory council member, All Hands Raised board member, and AmeriCorps alumni. In his leisure time, he likes to play basketball, travel, play music, fly fish, and spend time with his wife and twin sons.
Learn more about our Olmsted 2022 Good Parks Speaker Series.