Join us on July 22 to experience the “early days” of the Green Loop, a “Big Idea” from the recently adopted Central City 2035 Plan.

You may have heard of it, but … what exactly is it?

The Green Loop will be a six-mile linear park around the heart of Portland’s Central City, with ample room for people to play, wander, walk or ride a bike.

It will be a place for everyone in the heart of the city. Whether on foot, bike or mobility device, people of all ages, abilities and incomes will be able to get to work, go for a jog, shop, eat, rest or meet friends in the park via the Green Loop.

The Green Loop is quintessentially Portland: natural and urban, creative and entrepreneurial, sustainable and dynamic.

It's a movement to help people immerse themselves in the urban core in a new and exciting way, along trails and pathways that offer unique experiences and encounters with nature, art and each other.

The Green Loop will support businesses and social services, improving access to places where people can get the staples and support they need. And it will reconfirm Portland's commitment to greater access to parks and active transportation.

In turn, the Green Loop can become an iconic symbol of a city that values and supports all people: residents, workers, students and visitors of all ages, shapes and sizes, origins and incomes.

Healthy hearts need healthy arteries

The Central City is the region's hub — with more jobs, housing and cultural attractions than any other city in the tri-county area. And more people and jobs are coming.

As Portland grows and more people need to get around the city, we’ll need new ways (and infrastructure) for people to move in, around and through the heart of the city. The Green Loop offers a clear “artery” that won’t be clogged with cars and buses. 

The Green Loop will support the growth of jobs and housing in the city center, create and connect green spaces, and offer signature public spaces for all to enjoy and experience. It will give people unprecedented access to the heart of Portland, stringing together nearly a dozen distinct districts that surround the Willamette River, each with its own history, attractions, communities, and unique look and feel.

While the Green Loop will be in the Central City, it will serve people all over Portland and the region. Whether you live in Southwest, North Portland, East Portland, or the Inner Eastside, the Green Loop will connect to bikeways that can take you to the heart of the city and back home safely and easily.

There are some segments of the Green Loop that largely exist today — like SW Moody to the Tilikum Crossing Bridge across to OMSI. And key links of the alignment will get built with other major capital improvement projects, such as the Sullivan's Crossing bike and pedestrian bridge over I-84, which will break ground in 2019. Or the U.S. Postal Service redevelopment site.

The Green Loop is still a concept, however. Public process to date has helped establish the general alignment along the Park Blocks on the west side and SE 6th or 7th through the Central Eastside and Lloyd Districts. But there is still more community engagement needed to work through design alternatives as well as design and engineering work to do prior to construction of the entire loop.

How will it be funded?

While specific funding sources for the Green Loop have not been determined, the project will require its own fundraising campaign.

But it will not take away funding already slated for other active transportation projects around Portland. Similar projects in other cities have raised funds through combinations of public financing, state and federal grants, and private philanthropy. Currently, the Green Loop is not expected to be built all at once, so its funding strategy will likely use a phased approach.

Projects like the Green Loop add value to their cities. Think New York’s Highline, the Atlanta Beltline and Indianapolis’ Cultural Trail. These infrastructure revitalization projects began as ideas from the community, which were subsequently — and enthusiastically — embraced by the public. The Green Loop will also need both public and private support to get started.

And like the Highline, Cultural Trail and Beltline, the Green Loop can stimulate billions of dollars in private investments, expand property tax bases, attract new businesses to the urban core and generate thousands of new stewards of vibrant places.

So, look for booths at the Trailblazers Plaza and the northern and southern end of the Sunday Parkways crossing over I-84. We’ll be there sharing information about the Green Loop and how it meets our Central City in Motion goals.

Who knows? Someday you’ll be able to say, “I was there at the beginning.” 

Learn more about the Central City - Green Loop 

Sign up for the Green Loop eNewsletter 

Watch the video of the Council session and the Green Loop resolution vote (Green Loop starts at 2:20)

Writer: Eden Dabbs 

(July 17, 2018) Today, Mayor Ted Wheeler joined Portland Bureau of Transportation Interim Director Chris Warner, Bureau of Planning and Sustainability Director Susan Anderson, Dan Field of Kaiser Permanente and Trail Blazers and Rose Quarter President & CEO Chris McGowan to celebrate the newest Sunday Parkways route. The new route, which will debut on Sunday, July 22, will take Portlanders along the future Green Loop. When completed, the Green Loop will be a six-mile pedestrian and cycling park that will connect the east and west neighborhoods of the Central City.

Sunday Parkways on the Green Loop follows the future alignment, connecting Downtown and the Inner Eastside. It will link popular locations such as the Rose Quarter, the Portland Art Museum, Portland State University and Tilikum Crossing as well as new additions like Sunday Splashways at Audrey McCall Beach.

"Sunday Parkways is a beloved celebration of Portland," Mayor Ted Wheeler said. "This Sunday, Portlanders will be able to enjoy some of the cultural treasures of our community, from the South Park Blocks to the Rose Quarter, as they learn about the Green Loop, which represents the future of the Central City. The Green Loop will support the growth of housing and jobs, linked by a green ring of parks where a new generation of Portlanders will walk, bike or roll, living like it's Sunday Parkways every day."

"Sunday Parkways is one of the jewels in the crown of a Portland Summer," said Interim Transportation Director Chris Warner, "Every summer, thousands of Portlanders come out to enjoy a Sunday of walking, biking and rolling with family and friends. It’s one of our most beloved events. And each year as we are planning it, we are always looking for new ways to celebrate our City and its streets. That is why we are so excited to debut this new route."

One of the highlights of Sunday Parkways on the Green Loop will be the Rose Quarter activity area. Visitors will get to enjoy a preview of the Portland Trail Blazers Rip City 3-on-3 Tournament, enjoy performances by the Blazer Dancers and the Trail Blazers Stunt Team, take photos with Trail Blazers mascot Blaze the Trail Cat and enjoy music throughout the day from the live music stage.

"The Rose Quarter welcomes Sunday Parkways and the Green Loop routing as an interactive stop for all residents enjoying the special community we have in Portland,” said Trail Blazers and Rose Quarter President & CEO Chris McGowan. “We’re excited to be a visible, engaging portion of what we hope becomes an annual citywide and family-friendly summertime event."

"The Green Loop isn’t just for people living in the Central City,” said Susan Anderson, Bureau of Planning and Sustainability Director, during the Green Loop’s City Council hearing. "Residents, students, workers, tourists – people from all walks of life from all over the region will be able to enjoy the Green Loop. We’re excited to share this ‘sneak preview’ of the Green Loop with the community at Sunday Parkways this year."

"As an organization that is deeply committed to the health of our communities, we at Kaiser Permanente are especially excited about the vision for Portland's Green Loop," said Dan Field, Executive Director of Community Health and Public Affairs for Kaiser Permanente Northwest. "More trees, fresh air and a safer route to commute will inspire more physical activity, less pollution, and so many benefits that will have a direct impact on the mental and physical well-being of our citizens. As the presenting sponsor of Sunday Parkways for over a decade, we're a huge proponent of the Green Loop and we can’t wait to get a sneak peek on July 22.”

The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, as well as many of its supporting partners including Go Lloyd, Albina Vision Trust and others will be available at Sunday Parkways to answer participants' questions about projects related to or adjacent to the Green Loop and to receive feedback.

Sunday's route will also feature the launch of the first ever river marketplace, Sunday Splashways, located at Audrey McCall Beach. Willie Levenson, Ringleader for the Human Access Project, and co-coordinator for the river side event is excited for its incorporation in the Sunday Parkways on the Green Loop event. “At 4,000 acres the Willamette River is our second largest open space and natural area. The Willamette River is the heart of our city and our cities blue space,” said Levenson. 

There is a lot to see at Sunday Parkways on the Green Loop.  Sticker Hunt participants who complete their Sticker Hunt maps will not only also receive a collectible neighborhood decal as a prize (Sunday Parkways on the Green Loop decal shown above) but will also be contributing to a good cause. For each map completed by a participant, Kaiser Permanente will make a $5 donation to one of three local mental health organizations. Collect stickers at five of the nine locations across the Sunday Parkways on the Green Loop route.

Save the Dates for Sunday Parkways 2018:

• New route! Green Loop (Downtown & Inner SE) Sunday Parkways - July 22
• Outer Northeast Portland Sunday Parkways - August 19
• Northeast Portland Sunday Parkways - September 23

For maps and more information, visit PortlandSundayParkways.org or call 503-823-7599. Follow us on Facebook at PortlandSundayParkways and on Twitter @Sunday Parkways. 

Writers who contributed to this article include: Alexis Gabriel, Dylan Rivera, Eden Dabbs and Hannah Schafer

This year, with our resident Art Intern Jiwon Jean Keum, Sunday Parkways has achieved another first!

We created our own Facebook Filter, which allows you to add a  North Sunday Parkways themed frame to any picture on Facebook. 

Follow these easy steps to set up any photo with a frame via your phone: 

(1) Click on this link on your phone 

(2) Accept the Facebook notification 

(3) Take your picture and post it!

You can either set this up as a Facebook Profile Photo or post it on your wall.

Tag the image with #SundayParkways on Facebook or post on Twitter! 

Follow these easy steps to set up your Profile Photo via computer/phone:

(1) Follow this link to Change Your Profile Picture on Facebook

(2) Type in the words "Sunday Parkways"

(3) Then once you found the Sunday Parkways Facebook filter, click "Use as Profile Picture" to make the update.

The profile filter can be set to last as long as 1 week and as briefly as 1 hour. 

Keum will create a custom Facebook Filter for each Sunday Parkways neighborhood we appear in this year.

Look out for the Green Loop version next month!!

Come out and Ride! 

NEW this year: Every One Rides! For the North Sunday Parkways event on June 24th, we will hold our first Every One Rides event. This event is coordinated by A.J. "Jerry" Zelada, a retired optometrist and former Chair of the ODOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee as well as Martine Sacks, a pediatric neurologist. Along with the Sunday Parkways and Adaptive BIKETOWN staff, Zelada and Sacks are working with several organizations, including transportation advocacy organizations, Adaptive bike organizations, and health facilities to put the wheels of this event in motion. 

This family-friendly, youth focused event, provides an opportunity for children and adults alike to try out several types of adaptive bicycle technology and devices with a goal of motivating kids of all ability levels to engage in physical activity. Everyone is invited to participate!

Please bring a helmet (as there only a few available to borrow at the event). 

Every One Rides meeting spot will be at Harper's Playground at Arbor Lodge Park (2525 N Dekum St).

 #AdaptiveBIKETOWN #AdaptiveCycles #EveryOneRides

Photo credit: Clean Technica

In this wonderful city that we call home, there is an amazing amount of history. In this mini-series we will explore the history of each of the regions where Portland Sunday Parkways route lead us. First stop: Southeast Portland - Ladd's Addition. 

Ladd's Addition is a streetcar-era neighborhood that has been preserved to look much the same as it has since being platted in 1891. The neighborhood is named after Banker, Investor and mayor of Portland William S. Ladd, who acquired land in the neighborhood in 1878. The unique street layout was developed by Ladd with the help of his surveyor. The land developed steadily over the 19th century and became home to generations of Portland families, new and old. It is now known as Portland's oldest planned community. 

In 1977, the Portland Historic Landmarks Commission and the Portland Planning Commission designated Ladd's Addition as one of the two Historic Conservation Districts. 

Cool things that have happened in Ladd's Addition: 

During an era of anti-Asian American prejudice on West Coast during the 1930's, Ladd's Addition was one of the few places in Portland that informally designated it's neighborhood for Asian American residents. 

Dr. DeNorval Unthank - an American physicial and civil rights activities in Portland as well as one of Oregon's first African American doctors was once a resident of Ladd's Addition. 

In 2011,the Ladd's Addition's neighbors were honored by the Cultural Landscape Foundation of Washington, D.C, an organization the brings attention to green spaces facing signification risks. Ladd's Addition was cited as one of the 12 sites nationwide under the theme "The Landscape I love," due to its 15 year battle of protecting the Ladd's American elm trees from disease.  

Resources: 

https://oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/ladd_s_addition_portland_/#.WvnCzKQvwcw

http://www.portlandtraveltips.com/2013/06/09/portland-neighborhood-guide-ladds-addition/

http://www.oregonlive.com/O/index.ssf/2011/10/residents_of_southeast_portlan.html

https://columbiaredevelopment.com/2015/08/11/the-story-of-historical-ladds-addition/