 News media contacts:
Dylan Rivera
Portland Bureau of Transportation
(503) 577-7534
dylan.rivera@portlandoregon.gov
@pbotinfo
Eden Dabbs
Bureau of Planning and
Sustainability
503-823-9908
Eden.Dabbs@portlandoregon.gov
News Release:
Mayor Ted Wheeler joins Kaiser Permanente, the Rose
Quarter and City Officials to celebrate brand new Sunday Parkways route
(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.
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The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is the steward of the City’s transportation system, and a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides access and mobility. Learn more at www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation
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