We need your help, our summer program cost $25K to run each summer.
Please help us make Brooklyn the place to be this summer and beyond, learn how you can donate.
Friends of Brooklyn Park is a community volunteer run organization. Many individuals, businesses, and services donate their time, talent, space, money, and energy to make our organization and summer program happen.
Please see our Gratitude/Community page to see all of our Brooklyn Community that make Friends of Brooklyn Park possible.
The Brooklyn Park Summer Youth Program has been a hub of activities and belonging for 50 years. Countless kids and parents have enjoyed its mission, and have gained from it.
The Summer Youth Program purpose:
Brooklyn neighborhood kids have spent hundreds of hours at their park: The infamous waterslide, that has been featured on television and newspaper; softball leagues, wiffle ball leagues and mushball; tennis golf course; painting of plaster figures; hundreds of Izzes earned through puzzle/intellectual challenges....dozens of trophies earned for exceptional achievement; the daily shuffleboard tournament; The Crazy Car; popcorn machine; roasting marshmallows and much more.
All these activities centers around "The Shack." Built in 1957 it is brick outbuilding that has one door and is filled with all the games, tables, furniture and supplies of the program. But it is much more than just a small, public structure. It is the summer "hang out" for neighborhood children. From noon till 8 o'clock they enter and exit with the same ease and comfort of home. Years and years of artwork and saved memories cover the walls. Games and sports equipment fill the shelves. Art supplies. The popcorn machine is used daily. It is everybody's garage....or basement. It is rich with nostalgia, and grown-up park kids frequently come back to embrace their past.
Friends of Brooklyn Parked formed in June 2017 when Portland Parks and Recreation eliminated the funding for our 40+ year-old summer youth program. We knew if we wanted the heart of Brooklyn’s summer to continue and service the next generation of youth we needed to organize and fund our own program.
Our board is composed of volunteers from the Brooklyn neighborhood. Please reach out to us if you have any questions, concerns, ideas, or if you want to get involved. We have several open positions to fill.
Board meetings are held monthly January-June, with additional meetings in August and November/December.
Summer Youth Program Development Officer
Communications
Fundraiser
Program Director
Assistant Program Director
Send a check payable to Friends of Brooklyn Park:
Friends of Brooklyn Park
PO Box 42143
Portland, OR 97242
Our local Brooklyn businesses and organizations are awesome and love our community. Thank you to the following Brooklynite businesses and orgs for your support; Brooklyn Park Pub, Bear Paw Inn, Brooklyn Pharmacy, Know Thy Food, Rose City Coffee, The Aladdin Theater, The Lamp, US Bank (Brooklyn Branch), Greater Brooklyn Business Association, Brooklyn Action Corps.
Logo design and graphic design generously provided by the Rocket Eye Design, www.rocketeye.com.
Web development provided in-kind by local resident, Marc Urbaitel.