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Good morning, Northwest.

Welcome back to First Look after the long holiday weekend.

Portland’s well-known and well-loved parks bureau is facing yet another budget cut.

Partnerships with private organizations could help fix crumbling parks infrastructure and boost flagging programs, but they also bring concerns about access. OPB’s Alex Zielinski reports to start today’s newsletter.

Also this morning, how old fishing nets from the Oregon Coast are supporting drone defense in Ukraine.

Here’s your First Look at Tuesday’s news.

— Bradley W. Parks

Top story

Portland looks to private organizations to save its struggling parks system

Portland’s nationally renowned parks system is struggling.

The impact of years of delayed maintenance programs and revenue cuts are hard to hide: Shuttered public bathrooms, cracked and peeling athletic courts, splintered play structures and canceled youth classes pepper the city.

Now, less than a year after Portlanders voted to raise property taxes to pay for parks, Mayor Keith Wilson has again proposed significant cuts to parks programs and jobs.

With tax dollars unable to meet the city’s needs, and other revenues falling short, the city is now turning to outside groups, such as private organizations, national nonprofits and volunteers, to pick up the slack. (Alex Zielinski)

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3 things to know

• People gathered at Oregon’s national cemeteries and veterans memorials yesterday on Memorial Day to honor people who lost their lives during military service. (Amelia Templeton)
• When Lake County District Attorney Paul Charas announced his resignation last month, he cited his chronically underfunded office as the reason. According to interviews and documents exclusively obtained by OPB, he may have been under pressure from county officials to step down. (Joni Auden Land)
• Starting on June 15 through Labor Day, vehicles will be required to have a $10 daily permit to park at Sauvie Island’s Walton, Collins and North Unit beaches on weekends and holidays. (Alejandro Figueroa)

A rural Oregon town is going broke. Can it be saved?

OPB reporters take us inside Lakeview’s financial crisis, how it got into such a dire state and how residents are trying to save it. (Mía Estrada, Bryce Dole, Joni Auden Land and Jenn Chávez)

Listen Here

Northwest headlines

• Portland clinic helps Asian immigrants navigate life and mental health amid immigration enforcement fears (Winston Szeto)
• Central Oregon campfire bans take effect ahead of Memorial Day weekend (Kathryn Styer Martínez)
• Oregon’s solar and battery rebate program opens soon. Funds may go fast (Monica Samayoa)
• Old Oregon fishing nets sent to Ukraine to protect against drones (Kristian Foden-Vencil)
• Oregon Historical Society exhibit celebrates 100 years of Highway 101 (Gemma DiCarlo)
• Finish kindergarten, get $100: New Oregon initiative celebrates with kindergarten diploma and contribution to savings account (Elizabeth Miller)
• Timbers and coach Phil Neville part ways after disappointing start to MLS season (Anne M. Peterson, AP)
• Portland Fire hand New York its 3rd straight loss (AP)

Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation

“Think Out Loud” airs at noon and 8 p.m. weekdays on OPB Radio, opb.org and the OPB News app. Today’s planned topics (subject to change):

• New map helps track pesticide applications around Oregon
• UO coffee scientist shares insights on getting more consistent brews of beloved beverage

One more look

Scouts plant 130,000 flags at Willamette National Cemetery for Memorial Day

On the Friday evening before Memorial Day, Anderson Voigt, 11, made his way down a row of graves of World War II veterans in Portland’s Willamette National Cemetery.

On a normal day, Voigt would be thinking about school. There were just 11 days left in fifth grade. Or he’d be thinking about the two cats, a dog and six chickens he helps take care of at home, and the rabbit that his parents have promised to get him this summer.

But on this Friday, he was thinking about the men and women whose names were inscribed on the grave markers around him.

For the last 58 years, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts have helped mark Memorial Day at Willamette National Cemetery and have decorated the graves there. The holiday is the national day of remembrance for men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. (Amelia Templeton)

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News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/05/26/portland-parks-privatization-first-look/