Photo: Portland Parks

The Metro Council has awarded Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) a $750,000 2040 Planning and Development Grant for the transformative Tom McCall Waterfront Park Bowl Redevelopment Project. This establishes a partnership between Metro and PP&R to develop the project's final scope and execute an intergovernmental agreement (IGA).

This grant funding is from Metro's Construction Excise Tax (CET) funds and will start an ambitious project spanning two and a half years. The City will plan a national design competition to reimagine the iconic Bowl section of the park, located between RiverPlace and the Marina, south of the Hawthorne Bridge on the west side of the Willamette river. The competition, led by a Creative Director, will invite design consultants to craft innovative visions for a revitalized park space that will serve as a hub for outdoor entertainment and cultural activities along the river.

The grant is made possible by the efforts of City staff and valuable partnerships with the Portland Waterfront Pavilion (PWP) and the Human Access Project (HAP). The goal is to create a vibrant, sustainable space that strengthens the connection between the community, visitors, and the Willamette River that defines Portland.

Key outcomes of the competition will include conceptual designs that include:

Inclusive design and extensive ADA accessibility
Integration of public river and swim access, including a Willamette River beach and shoreline redesign
Consideration of ecological sustainability and in-water structures
An outdoor entertainment stage for regional events and cultural gatherings
A vibrant connection between downtown Portland and the river, featuring a central axis view

“Portland is at a critical moment in its growth, and this project represents an exciting opportunity to create a vibrant, sustainable space that will attract visitors and foster community connection,” said PP&R Director Adena Long. “Together with our partners, we’re poised to bring a bold new vision to life for all Portlanders.”

“We are thrilled to kickstart the creation of a new Portland landmark,” says Metro Council President Lynn Peterson. “This is precisely the type of project Metro is here to support: spaces that bring people together, promote community and culture, foster connection to the environment, and make all of us proud of our region.”

“We feel the public is ready for a conversation around revitalizing the Tom McCall Bowl from an underutilized space to a world-class amphitheater and ‘toes in the water’ river park,” says Willie Levenson of the Human Access Project. “The objective is to create an iconic Portland park that is both a transcendent event space and green space that leverages its connection to the river - Portland’s blue space.”

“The project will celebrate Portland’s diverse cultural and Indigenous heritage, enhance the city’s waterfront, and create a public space which strengthens the community’s ties to the river,” raves Peter Johnson of the Portland Waterfront Pavilion.

PP&R will continue to collaborate with Metro to finalize the project scope and move forward with the next steps.

Source: Portland Parks and Recreation

Cort Webber