South Waterfront Greenway Officially Opens For Public Use
By Christina Belasco (OPB)
Portland, Oregon June 27, 2015 10:38 p.m.
The grand opening of the South Waterfront Greenway's central section was held on Saturday, June 27 2015.
Christina Belasco / OPB
The grand opening of the South Waterfront Greenway's central section was held on Saturday, June 27 2015. Buster Simpson and Peg Butler stand beside the artwork they collaborated on which was installed at the grand opening.
Christina Belasco / OPB
The grand opening of the South Waterfront Greenway's central section was held on Saturday, June 27, 2015.
Christina Belasco / OPB
The grand opening of the South Waterfront Greenway's central section was held on Saturday, June 27 2015. Members of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde blessed the land and performed a drum ceremony.
Christina Belasco / OPB
The grand opening of the South Waterfront Greenway's central section was held on Saturday, June 27 2015.
Christina Belasco / OPB
The grand opening of the South Waterfront Greenway's central section was held on Saturday, June 27 2015.
Christina Belasco / OPB
The grand opening of the South Waterfront Greenway's central section was held on Saturday, June 27 2015. Portland mayor Charlie Hales gave a short speech about the vision for the community along the Willamette River in Southwest Portland.
Christina Belasco / OPB
The grand opening of the South Waterfront Greenway's central section was held on Saturday, June 27 2015.
Christina Belasco / OPB
The grand opening of the South Waterfront Greenway's central section was held on Saturday, June 27 2015.
Christina Belasco / OPB
The grand opening of the South Waterfront Greenway's central section was held on Saturday, June 27 2015.
The central section of the South Waterfront Greenway officially opened for public use on Saturday.
The greenway is a quarter mile long section of winding pathways on the Willamette River that has separate parallel trails for bikers and pedestrians, lookout spots with benches, and works of art.
Initially approved in 2004 by Portland City Council, the greenway is part of a long-term project to restore the Willamette River and create a greater community in southwest Portland along the river. More than 32,000 tons of contaminated soil and debris were removed and disposed of by the Oregon Voluntary Cleanup Program for the construction of this park.
“We used our land thoughtlessly in the past and we are now recovering. We have been about planning here for some time and we continue to be about a complete community,” said Mayor Charlie Hales during a short speech at the event.
Members of the Confederate Tribes of Grand Ronde were present to begin the ceremony with a drumming celebration and blessing of the land.
The end goal of the project, Mayor Hales said, was to eventually connect the entire river pathway from North Portland to South Portland.
