The popular nature play areas opened at Oxbow Regional Park in May 2019 thanks in part to levy funding.
Metro’s parks and natural areas local-option levy protects clean water, restores fish and wildlife habitat, and connects people with nature across 17,000 acres of parks, trails and natural areas.
About half the levy funding maintains and restores habitat on land that has been acquired over the course of two decades and three voter-approved bond measures.
The other half of the money supports park operations, improves public access at Metro destinations, expands volunteer and education programming, and provides grants for community nature projects and partnerships.
The levy raises about $16 million per year through June 2023. It costs homeowners within Metro’s boundaries in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties 9.6 cents per $1,000 of assessed value — approximately $20 for a home with $200,000 in assessed value.
The Metro Council is considering asking voters to renew the levy in 2022, which would make the funding available for five additional years.
In May 2021, the Metro Council asked staff to develop a potential levy renewal at the same rate, to build off the existing framework and categories, and to prioritize racial equity and climate resilience. The Metro Council expects to decide by early 2022 whether to place a levy renewal on the ballot in 2022.