Green Loop Operations & Programming for Equitable Development

The Portland Green Loop Study examined national best practices and local context to propose strategies for governance, activation,
and equitable design that can be applied in the development of the Portland Green Loop.

Adopted in the Central City 2035 Plan, the Portland Green Loop will be a six-mile linear park connecting people through the heart of the city on the east and west sides of the Willamette River. The concept that became the Green Loop emerged from multiple community conversations that considered the future of the city, early in the process for the Central City 2035 Plan.

Based on the alignment of the Tilikum Crossing bridge, the Portland Streetcar loop, and the downtown Park Blocks, the Green Loop will provide an option for residents, workers, and visitors to move safely and comfortably around the city, connecting PSU, the Broadway Corridor/USPS site, the Lloyd/Albina/Rose Quarter, and OMSI. The route chosen for the Green Loop is an attractive and experiential one like the riverfront loop, taking visitors past cultural and historical destinations. Building on the city’s extensive history of walking, running, rolling, and riding, the Green Loop will create an entirely new way for people to experience Portland.

The Green Loop Operations & Programming for Equitable Development project is part of the 2040 Metro Planning and Development Grant for the study and advancement of the Portland Green Loop with a focus on three goals: Equitable Design & Design Excellence, Operations & Governance Models, and Activation & Programming. The Portland Green Loop Study draws on lessons learned from within Portland and around the country to propose actionable strategies for governance, activation, and equitable design that can be applied in Portland as the Green Loop develops.