City of Portland, Oregon sent this bulletin at 10/31/2025 11:42 AM PDT

The Parks Levy – A Hard Decision

One Councilor has said that the System Development Charges (SDC) law is the main barrier to repairing PTC. He learned that System Development Charges can only be used for new construction, not repairs, and he has called this rule “nonsensical.”

He also said that if the law allowed it, he would have used SDC funds to repair PTC in 2023.

Since the Parks Levy passed in November 2025, this is the right moment to focus on changing the SDC law so PP&R can use those funds for repairs and maintenance at facilities like Portland Tennis Center.

The same Councilor has expressed concern that the discount program gives away too much and reduces PP&R’s revenue.

However, PP&R does not lose revenue from discounts.

PP&R receives 100% of the fee—either directly from the player or indirectly through the Parks Levy passed in 2022 and again in 2025.

The discount program is funded and designed to ensure access for Portlanders, not to reduce revenue.

He has also said that USTA taking over PTC would be a financial win for the City.

He has argued that USTA would save the City $500,000 a year for operating costs and invest $2.5–$3 million in repairs, pointing to Vancouver’s 2018 deal as a model.

But PTC’s operating costs are about $2.2 million (not $500,000) a year, and PTC already earns more than that in revenue.

The City is not losing $500,000 a year on PTC. PTC is a revenue‑positive public facility.