The City of Portland is committed to affordable, equitable, and inclusive programming. Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) believes recreation is for everyone. We know that the price of programs and activities prevents some community members from being able to participate. Providing financial assistance is an action Portland Parks & Recreation takes to ensure that more community members can take advantage of recreation programs and facilities.

There has been a significant increase in financial assistance provided over the past few years, driven largely by the implementation of the Access Discount Program.

Thanks to the Parks Local Option Levy (Parks Levy), Portland Parks & Recreation can offer reduced pricing options for people who live within the City of Portland. City of Portland residents can register for an Access Discount to receive an ongoing discount of up to 90%. The discount is valid for 12 months from the date of enrollment. The Access Discount helps to reduce the price of admission to recreation centers and pools, classes, camps, swim lessons, and other registered activities, preschool and after school programs, and personal training.

These numbers are tracked in PP&R's bureau's reservation system called ActiveNet.

City of Portland residents can learn how to get reduced pricing options on recreation programs and facilities at the Access Discount program webpage.

For more detail on the Parks Levy and how the Access Discount program is helping to meet Parks Levy commitments to voters, see the Parks Levy Annual Reports.

For more information about perceptions related to cost as a barrier see the bureau's Community Needs Survey.  PP&R 2024 Community Needs Survey