There’s a new energy in Portland — and it’s palpable. After years of uncertainty and change, Portlanders are stepping up to imagine what’s next for our city.
This spring, I had the chance to join a lineup of speakers at Streets of Possibility: Well Beyond Cars, an event packed with forward-thinking ideas and hopeful enthusiasm. My presentation, “Streets are Landscapes!” explored ways we can reimagine our streets to prioritize people and plants over pavement — just one of many conversations that night about how we use the public right-of-way.
The event was part of City of Possibility, a month-long celebration of bold, urban thinking. It was heartening to see many of the wide-ranging projects that Mayer/Reed is involved in pop up in dialogue, including the Green Loop, PBOT Street Plazas, Broadway Corridor, the OMSI Waterfront Education Park and the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge. Hundreds of design professionals, community leaders, and everyday Portlanders attended the City of Possibility architectural model exhibit and sold-out events, all eager to discuss future ideas as well as pivotal projects that are already underway. And the message was clear: there’s a groundswell of interest in shaping a more vibrant, equitable and resilient city.
Portland feels primed for change. The Albina Vision Trust is leading efforts to rebuild the Black community in Lower Albina, OMSI is working to reconnect Native communities to the Willamette riverfront and plans are underway to reimagine Tom McCall Waterfront Park. With a new mayor and city councilors at the helm, there’s reason for optimism. Still, we can’t ignore the hard truths — budget shortfalls are real, and good ideas don’t fund themselves. From quick, low-cost interventions to long-term infrastructure investments, the solutions will need to be as diverse as the communities they serve.
Portlanders are no strangers to getting crafty. What’s needed now is broad community support and a willingness to once more dream big. Let’s tap into our collective creativity and shape a future of which we can all be proud.
