Reimagine the River

Portland Botanical Gardens one of twelve exciting projects for the lower Willamette River

The Portland Botanical Gardens made another appearance in the Oregonian recently, featured as one of the “12 projects that could transform development along the Willamette River.”

The article recounts the Wednesday, April 18th Reimagine the River conference at the Redd building in southeast Portland. The gardens’ proposal for the McCormick & Baxter site was discussed as one of the many transformative projects along the lower Willamette River.

Reporting on twelve projects in particular, the list starts with three projects at Willamette Falls and ends at the farthest downstream project, Willamette Cove Nature Park (which is adjacent to the proposed site for the Portland Botanical Gardens). The article also featured the gardens’ conceptual master plan (below). 

Twelve projects highlighted at Reimagine the River conference

See below the abbreviated list of twelve projects featured in the Oregonian article.
Note: order is from upstream to downstream starting at Willamette Falls. 

1. tumwata village: A 23-acre redevelopment on the east side of Willamette Falls proposed by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the plan includes proposed housing, a hotel, retail and office space, as well as areas for Tribal activities and natural areas accessible to the public.
2. Willamette Falls Inter-Tribal Public Access Project: Led by the Willamette Falls Trust, the project will provide public and tribal access to the west side of the falls in West Linn.
3. Willamette Falls Locks project: A plan to repair and reopen the historic canal locks for recreational and emergency boat travel around the falls.
4. Kellogg Creek dam removal: A restoration project in Milwaukie to remove the old mill dam, restore fish passage, and add a bike/pedestrian underpass.
5. Milwaukie Bay Park Phase 3: The final development phase of the city’s riverfront park, including an amphitheater, nature play area, and new pathways.
6. Center for Tribal Nations and the OMSI District: A 24-acre redevelopment of the OMSI campus, including a new hub for Native entrepreneurs and a waterfront education park.
7. Frog Ferry: A proposed all-electric commuter ferry service with an initial route between St. Johns and Riverplace Marina.
8. Waterfront Park Bowl Project: A redesign of the southern end of Tom McCall Waterfront Park to improve access for swimming, boating, and outdoor performances.
9. Albina Riverside: An 1803 Fund project to redevelop former grain silos along the river into a hotel and arts center with exhibition and event spaces and access to the river.
10. Mass Timber and Housing Innovation Campus: A Port of Portland initiative to turn a North Portland marine terminal into a research and manufacturing hub for sustainable wood construction.
11. Portland Botanical Gardens: Plans to transform the 59-acre McCormick & Baxter Superfund site in North Portland into educational botanical gardens and a riverfront open space with Greenway paths and public access to the water.
12. Willamette Cove Nature Park: Following the imminent cleanup and remediation of this 27-acre Superfund site, Metro will develop a nature park featuring restored  habitat, public trails, and beach and boating access.

Albina Riverside conceptual vision for the former Louis Dreyfus grain silo property near the Moda Center (and showcasing intriguing floating gardens). Image courtesy of The Light We Make; Design by AD—WO, MALL, and Wayside Studio.