South Waterfront Greenway

The Greenway, which stretches from the Marquam Bridge south to the River Forum Building, will strive to balance the needs of the public and the health of the Willamette River.

The City of Portland's South Waterfront Plan envisioned a system of parks working together to enliven the neighborhood, stimulate development activity in the area, and provide for the recreational needs of area residents.

Environmental Requirements: At the direction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the State of Oregon Division of State Lands (DSL) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the design for the riverbank restoration included habitat in the form of a shallow water bench to provide shelter for juvenile fish, and adjacent riparian plantings. Working jointly with the Corps of Engineers, Oregon DSL, NMFS, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and the City’s Bureau of Environmental Services, a hybrid concept was developed in summer 2010 that met public and agency needs. Phasing After nearly 10 years of planning, review and design by local, state, and federal agencies, the Greenway Project was permitted in June 2012. Construction was broken into two phases. Phase 1 included Riverbank Restoration - removal of contaminated soil, installation of retaining walls, riparian habitat, and the osprey pole, plus repair of areas of the site that were damaged during construction. Phase 2 included completion of the Upland Park, with pedestrian and bicycle paths, seating, lighting, lawns, and the public art piece. Public Art Named "Cradle", the public art installed along the Greenway includes 3 trees laid on their sides upon concrete pods near the Curry Street overlook. This art piece was provided by the 2% for Art Program administered by the Regional Art and Culture Council. The artist, Buster Simpson, comments that it is a "...sculptural monument to and for the Willamette River...One-and-a-half ton anthropomorphic concrete anchors hug uprooted trees to secure their position in the floodplain landscape and provide biomass for habitat enhancement. The intent of the work is to acknowledge the dynamic forces of the river, climate and human interaction and express the intervention of the reconstructed shoreline." Grand Opening Celebration After nearly 12 years of work, this park was formally dedicated in an opening ceremony on Saturday, June 27, 2015.