Big news for Portland's Berrydale Park as a cool $1 million bucks gets thrown into the pot for a major spruce-up, bringing the total fund for its revamp to a hefty $4 mil, out of a project budget that's north of $4.7 million. This ain't chump change, folks – it's a cash injection courtesy of none other than Commissioner Dan Ryan and the city's System Development Charge (SDC) funds. We're talking about a new playground, skatepark, and all the fixings to make this Southeast Portland spot a real neighborhood jewel.

In what may seem like a departure from typically contentious city spending, these dollars don't come from the taxpayer's wallet but rather from fees slapped on new development. It's a savvy move that guarantees even as the city balloons in size, the residents don't lose out on quality green space. Commissioner Ryan was all smiles about the upgrade, saying "It will be tremendously gratifying when the park transforms from an outdated play structure and a site with no park paths into a neighborhood gem," as per the City of Portland, Oregon.

The project's hefty budget includes a chunk of change from PP&R's major maintenance cash and a nice slice - $650,000 - earmarked expressly for ADA improvements. On top of pimping out pathways to meet accessibility standards, Portland's Bureau of Transportation is on board to contribute some much-needed frontage improvements.

Adena Long, PP&R Director, echoed Ryan’s excitement about the park's pending transformation. "The Berrydale Park project will bring neighbors together with a new skatepark, new park lighting, and a new playground," she enthused in an official release by the City of Portland, Oregon. Construction flags are set to start waving this fall, and the project aims to wrap in 2025, so the locals won't have too long to wait before they’re flipping kickflips at the new skate park or catching some R&R on the improved grounds.