New Washington Park South Entry Complete: Signature gateway is open for all visitors

Published

October 1, 2024 8:05 am

(Portland, OR) -

Portland Parks & Recreation's (PP&R) new Washington Park South Entry projectis now complete and open to visitors. The reimagined entrance has greatly improved the experiences of both park visitors and the world-renowned cultural institutions which call Washington Park home.

A view from the staircase of the new Washington Park south entry, on a recent cloudy day.

The south entry is one of the few ways vehicles can enter Washington Park and access its many attractions and cultural venues (Oregon Zoo, International Rose Test Garden, World Forestry Center, Hoyt Arboretum, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Portland Japanese Garden, and more). For years, park visitors traveling by car have faced challenging traffic, plus confusing wayfinding and bike routes.

"Washington Park is a destination for Portlanders, for people from across the region, and for people from around the world," says Portland Parks & Recreation Director Adena Long. "Which is why I'm thrilled about the benefits this project will bring to our community. Now we can manage stormwater runoff across four acres of park land, we've improved access to and within the park for people using any and all modes of transportation, and we've created the grand entry that a regional destination like Washington Park deserves."

The updated entry was envisioned in the 2018 Washington Park Master Plan, a guiding document for the park's development.

Funding

The Washington Park South Entry project is supplemented by $5.8 million in Park System Development Charges (SDCs), which ensured the project could be completed this year, on time.

Park SDCsare one-time fees assessed on new development. They arenotGeneral Fund tax dollars. SDCs help ensure that, as the city's population grows, its quality of life keeps pace with its infrastructure needs. The funds may only be used to improve and expand park features and capacity.

Other funding to round out the $10.7 million PP&R project comes from these valued project partners:

• System Development Charges (SDC)
• Washington Park paid parking revenue (Parking Meter fund)
• Bureau of Environmental Services - Percentage for Green Grant
• Portland Parks & Recreation ADA Transition Plan funding
• Oregon Department of Transportation funds
• Washington Park Maintenance funding
• General maintenance fund

For more information on the project, please visit the project page and watch the animated video at:

portland.gov/parks/construction/washington-park-south-entry

About the Washington Park South Entry Project

Working together with Washington Park-based cultural institutions and other project stakeholders, PP&R identified the following three primary goals for the Washington Park South Entry project.

Stormwater management
As part of existing conditional use requirements for the Oregon Zoo and Washington Park, the project was required to provide for a minimum of one acre of stormwater mitigation. To satisfy this requirement, the final design of the south entry centered around the creation of a stormwater garden. The stormwater garden has new landscaping and cascading weirs incorporating steel and stone. Due to the appealing and effective design, pollution filtration, and large amount of stormwater being managed, the Bureau of Environmental Services was prompted to choose this project for one of its largest-ever Percent for Green grants.

Grand entry
Adding a grand entry for this regional treasure is fitting as Washington Park hosts a variety of different beloved, world-class cultural sites and recreational activities. The park is home to the Oregon Zoo, World Forestry Center, Hoyt Arboretum, International Rose Test Garden, Portland Japanese Garden, Portland Water Bureau reservoirs, memorials, playgrounds, an archery range, and miles of trails. To develop the south entry into more of a grand entry, we're adding new signage, monuments, improved landscape, lighting, and site furnishings.

Improvepedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular access
Improving access to the park for the growing number of visitors arriving by bicycle and on foot is critical. Directly south of the Highway 26 off-ramp, the 4-T trail ends and sends people over the highway towards SW Knight Blvd. Additionally, during large events like ZooLights, overflow parking creates increased demand on this area. This leads to conflicts between bikes, cars, and pedestrians. To better accommodate bicycle and pedestrian traffic, we installed a six-foot-wide sidewalk that parallels both sides of Canyon Blvd. leading into the park. The project has also added bicycle lanes that parallel the new sidewalks.

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Mark Ross (he/him) Why do I list my pronouns?
Public Information Officer

Portland Parks & Recreation/Vibrant Communities Support Services

Yo hablo español

[email protected]

503-823-6634 (cell)

www.portland.gov/parks

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