Powellhurst-Gilbert Party in Park! - May 29, 2025

On May 29, 2025 Safe Blocks hosted a placemaking kick-off event at Earl Boyles Park. The Powellhurst-Gilbert Party in Park! included free face painting, alpacas, outdoor games, arts workshops, and food. Over 350 people attended, including many students and families from Earl Boyles Elementary and Ron Russell Middle School.

Safe Blocks appreciates the local business partners and community organizations who participated at the event, including:

• Mystique's Face Painting;
• PBOT's Play Streets and Vision Zero;
• Innovate and Empower Through Arts;
• Alpacas of Oregon;
• Nacheaux's;
• Rasia's Ono Ice;
• David Douglas School District;
• Portland Street Response;
• Multnomah County Adolescent Health;
• BMO Bank;
• Lutheran Community Services NW; and
• Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association.

This kick-off event marked the start of Safe Blocks' federally funded placemaking program in Powellhurst-Gilbert. Safe Blocks will be working over the next three years to co-create safer spaces with the Powellhurst-Gilbert community.

Placemaking is about making public spaces that feel safe and using community power to create those spaces. This includes cultural events, public programs, creating greener spaces, public art, or other types of community-led, safer places. Do you have a placemaking project that could impact public safety? We'd love to connect with you!

Please reach out to: Molly Esteve at molly.esteve@portlandoregon.gov