Heather McKillip shared her experiences working with Portland Parks & Recreation in a statement released on Apr. 16. She described the satisfaction she finds in hiring and mentoring people, watching them grow into leadership roles within the organization.
McKillip said that supporting staff development has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her career. “You hire someone, help them get established, support them along the way, and then later you see them leading,” she said.
She recounted moving to Portland from New Mexico in the late 1990s with a goal of working in parks and recreation after earning a horticulture degree. Her first position was seasonal work preparing ball fields for Portland Parks & Recreation before returning as a horticulturist in 2001. Over 18 years in Horticultural Services, McKillip was involved with native plant projects, nursery work, and maintaining properties for other city bureaus.
After advancing to supervisory roles within Horticultural Services, McKillip shifted focus about seven years ago by becoming a supervisor for South Zone park maintenance—just before the COVID-19 pandemic began. She described zone maintenance as demanding and diverse: “You’re much closer to the community… There are restrooms, playgrounds, graffiti, safety concerns… You wear a lot of different hats.” She also noted how central park maintenance teams are to keeping parks clean and safe each day.
Reflecting on her career progression from horticulture to supervision and broader organizational roles, McKillip emphasized learning new skills beyond plant care: “For me, the work became less about plants and more about people.” She credited mentors like Denise Dickens and Kim Randolph for their guidance early on.
McKillip concluded by highlighting her pride in contributing to major projects such as designing Mt. Tabor Yard’s greenhouse setup but said what stands out most is supporting teams who maintain community spaces daily. “When a park is well cared for… they feel whether a place is welcoming… I hope when people come into parks they feel connected to nature and each other,” she said.
