(February 13, 2014) – The Portland Bureau of Transportation has once again secured Kaiser Permanente Northwest as presenting sponsor of its popular Sunday Parkways events. This year marks the seventh year that Kaiser Permanente has sponsored the City ofPortland Sunday Parkwaysevent series, with a total investment over the years of more than $650,000 in monetary support and in-kind services.

The events will be held in park-lined routes across the city, starting in East Portland May 11 and concluding Sept. 28 inSouthwest Portland.

“Sunday Parkways has become one ofPortland’s great traditions,” Mayor Charlie Hales said. “On behalf of all Portlanders, I’d like to thank Kaiser Permanente for its continued support and participation in Sunday Parkways. In Kaiser Permanente, the city has a strong community partner that understands the importance of active, healthy living.”

“Kaiser Permanente is proud to once again present these family-friendly events to encourage the entire community to get moving – bicycling, walking, and just getting active,” said Daniel Field, director of Community Benefit and External Affairs at Kaiser Permanente Northwest. “Sunday Parkways is a perfect complement to our mission of improving the total health—mind, body, and spirit—of our members and the communities we serve.”

“Sunday Parkways is a great introduction to biking and walking for everyone,” said City Commissioner Steve Novick, who oversees the transportation bureau. “The more we bike and walk, the healthier we are and the less we all spend on healthcare.”

Sunday Parkways is a series of free community events opening the city's largest public space – its streets – for people to walk, bike, roll and discover active transportation. Estimates put total attendance at the events at more than 100,000 annually. Residents and visitors say they come to enjoy the traffic-free streets connecting parks and schools filled with activities, music and vendors. It’s safe, family-friendly and a chance to meet neighbors.

“After I moved here last summer fromChicago, Sunday Parkways quickly became one of my favoritePortlandevents,” Transportation Director Leah Treat said. “Portlanders understand that the way we travel shapes our cities and our selves. Every day can be Sunday Parkways for thousands of Portlanders when we provide safe routes for people to bike and walk.”

Sunday Parkways takes place one Sunday each month from May through September in a different area of the city. Each Sunday Parkways takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The transportation bureau announced the dates and locations for Sunday Parkways 2014:

• May 11 –East Portland
• June 22 –North Portland
• July 27 –Northeast Portland
• August 24 –Southeast Portland
• September 28 –Southwest Portland

A map and route information can be found at PortlandSundayParkways.org

Community groups and vendors wanting to participate in Sunday Parkways – and volunteers who want to help make it happen – are encouraged to contact the transportation bureau at 503-823-7599 or online at PortlandSundayParkways.org.

Sunday Parkways is organized by the Portland Bureau of Transportation with presenting sponsor Kaiser Permanente. Additional partners/sponsors include Portland Parks & Recreation, Universal Cycles, Clif Kid, Bike Gallery, Whole Foods, Renaissance Homes, NW Natural, Metro, ODOT, Portland Partyworks, and AARP of Oregon. City ofPortlandfunds one third of the costs with sponsors, vendors, and individual supporters funding the remaining two thirds.

More information about Sunday Parkways is available at www.PortlandSundayParkways.org and by calling 503-823-7599.

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