After the last two summers, we have been witnessing huge impacts from Climate Change. These impacts include more frequent and intense wildfires, flooding, ice storms, and record breaking heatwaves which are causing great consequences across the state. How can we, as park planners and designers, look at our parks and open spaces make the greatest impact on our quality of life from clean water, response to climate action, and resilience? Can we deal with these wicked problems in our public spaces while still providing access to recreation? How is the State of Oregon’s and our agencies Climate Action Plans being implemented in parks? Are we missing opportunities as the world we live in feels like it is changing faster than we can plan?

Agenda:

• Introductions 2:30pm - 2:40pm (10 minutes) 

• Part 1: Statewide Climate Action Policy – 2:40pm-3:00pm (15 minutes)

Maya Buchanan, a Senior Climate Policy Analyst from the  Oregon Department of Energy will present evidence the state has gathered regarding resiliency and what they are implementing to help communities plan for the future.

• Part 2: City Climate Action Plan Panel  - 3:00pm - 3:40pm (40 minutes)

  Hear how individual cities and agencies including Portland, Milwaukie, and Salem are shaping their  climate action policies and how those policies impact park planning. Panel presenters include Natalie Rogers – City of Milwaukie;  Robert Romanek – City of Salem; Troy Doss – City of Portland 

• Discussion  3:45pm-4:00pm (15 minutes)

• Part 3: Case Studies in Resilience Park Design 4:00pm-4:40pm (40 minutes)

• Learn from several case studies how resiliency issues were creatively combined with recreational amenities in site specific park designs. Presenters include Robert Romanek –  City of Salem;  Jason King – GreenWorks

• Discussion  4:40pm-5:00pm (20 minutes)