• 2024 Summer Survey Now Live!
• Upcoming Plaza Partner Events
• Want to throw an event at a PBOT Public Street Plaza?
• Colorful Community Connections: Bringing Portland's Street Plazas to Life
• Scenes from the Plazas
• Where can you find PBOT's Street Plazas?
• What is the Portland Public Street Plaza Program?

With Summer in Swing, Plazas Thrive

Car-free plazas like Rainbow Road provide safe spaces for people to lounge, exercise, eat, meet, or play!

As the warm summer days settle over Portland, our public street plazas burst with energy and excitement. This summer, our plazas host an array of community led events and activities, from live music and outdoor markets to art installations, street paintings, and dance parties, making them destinations to experience the richness of Portland's street life.

Highlights in This Month's Newsletter:

• Summer 2024 Survey: We want to hear from you! Participate in our Summer 2024 Survey and share your thoughts on how we can continue to improve and enhance our public street plazas to better serve you and your community.
• Upcoming Events: Stay informed about the exciting lineup of events over 30 events happening at our plazas this month.
• Plaza Street Paintings: Discover the latest street painting projects that are transforming our plazas into colorful, artistic canvases, adding vibrancy and a unique charm to our public spaces.

2024 Summer Survey Now Live!

Each year, the Street Plaza Team releases a summer survey to understand how people use the plazas and gather feedback to help us plan for the future. This year's survey is now live and available in English and Spanish! Your input is highly valued and will help us enhance and improve our public street plazas to better serve you and your community. Share your thoughts and make a difference in your neighborhood!

>Take the Survey Here!<

Upcoming Plaza Partner Events

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

• Summer Stitch Night in the Plaza, St Johns Plaza: 6-8 PM. Open knit and crochet! Come meet other knitters and crocheters, all levels welcome. Hosted by the St. Johns Boosters.

Thursday, July 4, 2024

• Game Night in the Plaza, St Johns Plaza: 6:30-8:30 PM. Enjoy Game Night in the Plaza every Thursday Night during June, July, and August.  Come join us for fun board games hosted by a different business each week in partnership with the St. Johns Boosters.
• First Thursdays, NW 13th Plaza 5-9 PM. Join us in the Pearl District for First Thursday. Experience the work of local artists and makers along NW 13th Plaza on NW 13th Avenue between Everett and NW Irving streets. This event is sponsored by the Urban Art Network.

Friday, July 5, 2024

• 90's Rock Show with The Xennial, Arleta Triangle Square: 7-10 PM Come hear free live music at Arleta Triangle Square with a performance by The Xennial, playing rock hits from the 90’s and more.

Saturday, July 6, 2024

• MusicPortland, Spokane Plaza: 1-3 PM Sponsored by Gino's Restaurant & Bar & Notary Ceramics

Sunday, July 7, 2024

• MusicPortland, Ankeny Alley: 4-6 PM Sponsored by the Ankeny Alley & Downtown Neighborhood Associations

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

• 2nd Tuesday Threshold Makers Market and BBQ Pop-Up, Montavilla Plaza: 3-10 PM 2nd Tuesdays BBQ and Makers Markets are back for the season!

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

• Summer Stitch Night in the Plaza, St Johns Plaza: 6-8 PM. Open knit and crochet! Come meet other knitters and crocheters, all levels welcome. Hosted by the St. Johns Boosters.
• MusicPortland, Spokane Plaza: 5-7 PM Sponsored by Gino's Restaurant & Bar & Notary Ceramics

Thursday, July 11, 2024

• Montgomery Plaza Community Street Painting Day, Montgomery Plaza: 9 AM - 4 PM Come freshen up the amazing mural at Montgomery Plaza, originally created by PSU students from Comma, a BIPOC student group from the PSU Graphic Design Program. This is the last street painting of the season! Please email tyls2@pdx.edu for more information on how to get involved.
• Game Night in the Plaza, St Johns Plaza: 6:30-8:30 PM. Enjoy Game Night in the Plaza every Thursday Night during June, July, and August.  Come join us for fun board games hosted by a different business each week in partnership with the St. Johns Boosters.

Friday, July 12, 2024

• Mt. Scott Community Center Mobile Recreation, Arleta Triangle Square: 10-12 PM Come join us for family fun activities ranging from creating art, science exploration, creative dance and movement, music exploration and more! These activities are scheduled to take place each Friday morning 7/12-8/23 and participation is FREE!

Saturday, July 13, 2024

• The Arleta Triangle Arts and Crafts Kaleidoscope, Arleta Triangle Square: 10 AM-5 PM. An Arts and crafts event featuring makers from the Portland metro area in collaboration with Mt Scott Arleta Neighborhood Association.
• Threshold's Annual 5k Race + Pedal Palooza bike ride, Montavilla Plaza: 9 AM-3 PM Lace up your running shoes - Threshold Brewing has mapped out a 5k-ish course that starts and ends at at the plaza. Run, walk or jog before celebrating with a locally-made craft beverage at the finish line. Whether you're a seasoned runner or just looking for a fun way to stay active, this event is fun for all.

Sunday, July 14, 2024

• The Arleta Triangle Arts and Crafts Kaleidoscope, Arleta Triangle Square: 10 AM-5 PM. An Arts and crafts event featuring makers from the Portland metro area in collaboration with Mt Scott Arleta Neighborhood Association.
• MusicPortland, Ankeny Alley: 4-6 PM. Sponsored by the Ankeny Alley & Downtown Neighborhood Associations
• MusicPortland, Concordia Commons: 4-6 PM. Sponsored by the Concordia Neighborhood Association

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

• Summer Stitch Night in the Plaza, St Johns Plaza: 6-8 PM. Open knit and crochet! Come meet other knitters and crocheters, all levels welcome. Hosted by the St. Johns Boosters.
• Family Dance Party, Arleta Triangle Square: Noon-4 PM Hosted by Mt. Scott Community Center, come and enjoy family fun dancing and activities for all ages!

Thursday, July 18, 2024

• Game Night in the Plaza, St Johns Plaza: 6:30-8:30 PM. Enjoy Game Night in the Plaza every Thursday Night during June, July, and August.  Come join us for fun board games hosted by a different business each week in partnership with the St. Johns Boosters.
• Montavilla Farmers Market Summer Fruit Celebration, Montavilla Plaza: 4-8 PM Enjoy the fruits of summer at this special Montavilla Farmer's Market summer fruit pop-up at the plaza.

Saturday, July 20, 2024

• Mt Scott Soirée, Arleta Triangle Square: Time TBD check the Mt Scott Arleta Neighborhood Association website for updates.

Sunday, July 21, 2024

• MusicPortland, Ankeny Alley: 4-6 PM. Sponsored by the Ankeny Alley & Downtown Neighborhood Associations

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

• Summer Stitch Night in the Plaza, St Johns Plaza: 6-8 PM. Open knit and crochet! Come meet other knitters and crocheters, all levels welcome. Hosted by the St. Johns Boosters.

Thursday, July 25, 2024

• Game Night in the Plaza, St Johns Plaza: 6:30-8:30 PM. Enjoy Game Night in the Plaza every Thursday Night during June, July, and August.  Come join us for fun board games hosted by a different business each week in partnership with the St. Johns Boosters.
• Speed Networking in the Plaza, Montavilla Plaza: 5-7 PM Get your elevator pitch ready and bring a stack of cards, to connect with other local businesses and professionals Montavilla East Tabor Business Association

Friday, July 26, 2024

• Speak Out, NW 13th Plaza: 3-9 PM. Organized by survivors for survivors, Speak Out is a public event where survivors take the stage to share their stories and hopes for the future. It serves as an opportunity for survivors to reclaim their stories and heal while spreading awareness of domestic and sexual violence in our community. Information about survivor resources are also distributed at the event, and trained advocates are present for anyone inspired to seek support.
• Mt. Scott-Arleta Summer Free for All, Arleta Triangle Square: 6:30-9 PM The Mt. Scott-Arleta Summer Free For All will arrive in your neighborhood this summer in 2024! Featuring free music, family-friendly events, community fun, and an evening screening for youth, families, and all community members to enjoy.

Saturday, July 27, 2024

• Summer Work Party, Arleta Triangle Square: 10 AM-12:30 PM. Make a good place even better! Winter has ended, and your neighborhood plaza requires your assistance to maintain it an accessible space for community events and gatherings. Gather at Arleta Triangle Square every last Saturday starting at 10 a.m. to paint, weed, clean, and meet your neighbors. Gloves, tools, and light refreshments provided.

Sunday, July 28, 2024

• MusicPortland, Ankeny Alley: 4-6 PM Sponsored by the Ankeny Alley & Downtown Neighborhood Associations
• Montavilla Street Fair,  Montavilla Plaza: 10-6 PM Stroll down Stark Street and enjoy district businesses, a farmer’s market and family-friendly entertainment and activities. Over 100 vendors will be present at the event selling food and drink, art, handicrafts, and clothing and marketing local products and services. Music will occur on three stages, including at Montavilla Plaza offering a diverse mix of local Portland music. Hosted by Montavilla East Tabor Business Association
• Bubbaville Sunday Square Dance, Concordia Commons: 5-7 PM Yeehaw Partner! 🤠Come on out the the Commons for an evening of square dancing with Bubbaville, a local 501c3 non-profit that promotes traditional music and dance in the Portland area.

Monday, July 29, 2024

• Art + Fashion Pop-Up, Concordia Commons: 12-6 PM Love art and fashion? Don't miss this pop-up at the Concordia Commons!

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

• Summer Stitch Night in the Plaza, St Johns Plaza: 6-8 PM. Open knit and crochet! Come meet other knitters and crocheters, all levels welcome. Hosted by the St. Johns Boosters.

Want to throw an event at a PBOT Public Street Plaza?

Plazas are for Portlanders and we love to see them thrive! Want to throw a performance, dance party, craft market, seed swap, game night, neighborhood meet and greet, or something else? Reach out and email us at PortlandStreetPlazas@portlandoregon.gov and we can help you navigate throwing an event.

The Small Plaza Activation process is intended to remove barriers for small-scale neighborhood-based activities that build social and community connections in PBOT plazas. Best of all, permits under Small Plaza Activation are 100% FREE.

Colorful Community Connections: Bringing Portland's Street Plazas to Life

Kirk Rea from Symbiop brightens up SE Spokane Plaza with fresh paint.

Portland's street plazas are more than just open spaces; they are vibrant hubs of community activity and cultural expression. One of the most visually impactful ways we enhance these public spaces is through colorful street painting projects. Painting street plazas injects a burst of color and life into our urban environment. These vibrant works by local artists not only beautify the plazas but also create a sense of place and identity for the community. They become landmarks where people gather, socialize, and participate in various activities.

These beautiful street murals would not be possible without Kirk Rea and the team from Symbiop, a local garden and landscaping co-op in Portland. Kirk and his team lead the paintings, guiding community members through the process.

"We're very excited to work on these projects. Our co-op motto is 'for people and planet'. Though most of our work is very landscaping and environmentally focused, it is awesome to give energy to this people-centered project of creating human environments where anyone is welcome."

-Kirk Rea, Symbiop Landscape and Street Painting Lead

On the PBOT team is Public Street Plaza Coordinator, Greg Raisman.  Greg has helped countless neighborhoods add a splash of color to their streets since 2001. 23 years later, Portland is now home to around 175 street paintings!

Greg Raisman poses at the Concordia Commons painting day which occurred in late June.

"Street paintings create magic moments between neighbors. They create special places that make it clear that cities are for people."

-Greg Raisman, PBOT Street Plaza Coordinator

Greg and Kirk also help brighten up streets beyond the plazas! Last Month, they supported the St Johns Neighborhood with the longest street painting in Portland to date! This street painting stretches three blocks down N Charleston Avenue connecting James John Elementary School, the St Johns Farmers Market, and the surrounding community.

Community involvement is at the heart of these projects. We collaborate with local artists, residents, and organizations to design and paint the plazas, ensuring that the artwork reflects the unique character and spirit of each neighborhood. This collaborative process not only fosters a sense of ownership and pride but also strengthens community bonds.

The recent painting at Spokane Plaza, near Gino's Restaurant was envisioned by local artist, Tina Flood who took inspiration from the natural beauty around the Portland metro area.

"I absolutely love being able to have my work displayed here in Sellwood! l'm fairly new to Portland and the PNW in general. Being here has been so inspiring as the nature just takes your breath away! I wanted to input some of that right into the plaza, a place that flows in every sense of the word! The best part was keeping the kiddos in mind and giving them a fun space to interact with. Seeing them play and laugh on the plaza has been so rewarding! I am so thankful for the opportunity to have some of my work here in my new home 🥰"

-Tina Flood, Local Artist

Check out more of the artists work on their instagram page!

Thanks for bringing your creativity to our streets Tina!

This Summer, all of the street plaza murals are getting a refresh. If you're excited to get involved, you can catch the last street painting of the season at Montgomery Plaza on July 11th. Please email tyls2@pdx.edu for more information on how to volunteer.

Scenes from the Plazas

Custom Poems pop up at Pod Plaza

The Beat Goes On brought lively tunes to Montgomery Plaza. The band has performed in seven countries on four continents, including nine U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. Photo Courtesy of PDX Transit Mall

Sadie Gregg performs opera at Montgomery Plaza with Opera On Tap. Photo Courtesy of PDX Transit Mall

Sadie Gregg with Opera On Tap believes pop up like this are a great way to reach audiences who may not have felt comfortable exploring classical music or any music that’s new to them.

Do you have a great Public Street Plaza Photo?

We'd love to feature it!  Share your best PBOT Street Plaza photo with the world by tagging @PBOTinfo on Instagram, Facebook, or X (formerly Twitter).  You can also email them directly to our team at PortlandStreetPlazas@portlandoregon.gov

Where can you find PBOT's Street Plazas?

PBOT has numerous active plazas that are ready for you, your friends, and family to enjoy. They are great places to grab a bite to eat, relax, enjoy live music, meet up with friends, and so much more. Check out our directory to find out about plazas near you!

What is the Portland Public Street Plaza Program?

Originally started during the Covid-19 pandemic to assist businesses and Portlanders, PBOT's Public Street Plaza program-built partnerships with community and local businesses to transform select streets into public spaces for cultural events, street fairs, pop-up markets, and more. The program uses PBOT's Livable Streets Strategy, adopted by Portland City Council in 2017 as its policy foundation to turn streets into inclusive public spaces that foster public life.

What started as a temporary solution is now becoming a permanent fixture in our city. The Street Plaza program reflects PBOT's commitment to climate action, mobility for all, and community building by creating spaces that everyone in Portland can use and enjoy.

Portland Public Street Plazas Funded by the American Rescue Plan

This project is funded by the American Rescue Plan, a federal economic stimulus bill designed to help communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession. The City of Portland is receiving $208 million of local recovery funds. Investments focus on three key priorities: houselessness response and household stabilization, business and commercial district stabilization, and community health and safety.

The City of Portland ensures meaningful access to city programs, services, and activities to comply with Civil Rights Title VI and ADA Title II laws and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services. To request these services, contact the Portland Bureau of Transportation at 311 (503-823-4000), for Relay Service & TTY: 711.