March 5, 2010

Portland has long been America's premiere cycling city, but off-road opportunities here are notoriously limited. In 2007, Portland received Platinum status from the American Bicycle Association (ABA), with a caveat: off-road facilities in Portland were lacking and the City's status wouldn't be renewed without improvements.

Since August of 2009, Commissioner Fish and Portland Parks & Recreation have been working with a Forest Park Off-Road Cycling Committee to evaluate possibilities for increasing off-road cycling opportunities in downtown's 5000-acre Forest Park.

The Committee met last night at City Hall, evaluating suggestions, narrowing the menu, and approving a list of possibilities to be presented to the public in April. The options all come with management recommendations to ensure that not only will Forest Park not be damaged by any additional trails, it will be improved by enhanced management and care of the natural area.

Following community review and comments, recommendations will go to Commissioner Fish and Parks Bureau Director Zari Santner in May. To view documents and keep updated with this process, visit the Committee's website.