A 6-acre addition to fill the gap between Cathedral and Pier parks
The walking, jogging and cycling path that links communities along the Willamette River will expand in North Portland, onto property that Metro and City of Portland Parks & Recreation and the Bureau of Environmental Services collaborated to purchase. A 6-acre addition to the Willamette River Greenway will allow the city to build more than one-third mile of trail north of the St. John’s Bridge, at North Catlin Avenue and North Decatur Street.
Metro and the city purchased the land in August for $1.19 million, split equally among three sources: regional funds from Metro’s voter-approved 2006 natural areas bond measure, the city’s local allocation from the Metro bond measure, and the city’s Grey to Green initiative.
Metro and the city have made significant progress this summer in the Baltimore Woods Connectivity Corridor, the name community advocates gave a missing piece of the greenway between Cathedral and Pier parks. Less than half a mile from the new acquisition, the city recently purchased a cluster of three properties totaling one acre – supported by a combination of funding, including a grant from Metro’s Nature in Neighborhoods program, the City’s share of natural area bond funds and the City’s Grey to Green program.
“By combining our energy and resources, the Metro Council, the City and community supporters are making a real difference for North Portland. Today’s investments lay the groundwork for many wonderful walks and bike rides,” said Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder, who represents District 5. He celebrated progress in the area on Saturday, at a community event hosted by Friends of Baltimore Woods.
“This acquisition is a win-win for the community,” said City Parks Commissioner Nick Fish. “Through our partnership with Metro and BES, we’ve been able to preserve an important natural area and add a vital piece of the Willamette River Greenway trail. The timing is perfect, as Parks will be working with the community in the near future on a Master Plan for the entire trail.”
Metro allotted about $445,000 in regional transportation funds for the City to plan a section of the greenway, from the Steel Bridge to the Columbia River Slough. There is not an exact timeline for construction, but the City anticipates moving forward in the Baltimore Woods area in the next few years.
As the greenway expands through North Portland, it will serve residents and workers in the St. Johns town center, connecting them with central Portland and beyond.
