Coca-Cola will match donations to Gateway Green crowdfunding campaign

The campaign announced a $10,000 donation
from Kaiser Permanente just last week.
(Photo: Friends of Gateway Green)

The campaign to raise $100,000 in public donations to design and plan the Gateway Green bike park just got some big news: Coca-Cola has pledged a $25,000 matching grant. Not only that, but Mayor Charlie Hales is set to proclaim tomorrow, October 1st, “Build Gateway Green Day.”

All this comes with just one week left in the crowdfunding campaign that began earlier this month. So far, backers have donated over $68,000 en route to the $100,000 goal. The money will be used to create shovel-ready design plans that will turn the 38-acre parcel in east Portland into a city park with off-road biking as the main focus.

Coca-Cola’s pledge could put the campaign over the top. Beginning tomorrow, the soft drink maker will give a two-to-one matching gift to the Portland Parks Foundation, up to a total of $25,000. This follows a $10,000 donation from Kaiser Permanente last week.

In a statement, Coca Cola North America Group’s Public Affairs & Communications Manager Anna Arodzero said, “The Coca-Cola Company is committed to making our communities healthier by improving access to parks and public recreation spaces. Gateway Green has brought together the community, businesses, non-profits and government agencies to make a positive difference in East Portland. Partnerships like this one make a lasting impact on our society, and Coca-Cola is proud to do our part to make Gateway Green a reality.”

The City of Portland is hosting a media event tomorrow in City Hall at 12:00 pm to make these announcements.

Learn more about the project at GatewayGreenPDX.org.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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Brian
Brian
10 years ago

Jack and Cokes on me tonight!

Darcelle
Darcelle
10 years ago

This shows the power of many small donations associated with the crowd-funding effort. They add up to a lot and the get the attention of large public and private donors who give more.

Charley
Charley
10 years ago

There’s an opportunity for a joke in here about childhood obesity resulting from inactivity and diet. But I think that’d be looking a gift horse in the mouth.

Mike
Mike
10 years ago
Reply to  Charley

Besides, Coca-Cola should not be held responsible for the decisions of bad/ineffective parents.

Beth
10 years ago
Reply to  Charley

Coca-cola is one gift horse I am perfectly willing to look in the mouth. This is free advertising for a company who, over the last decade, has gotten its vending machines into failing public school districts across the country — then used them to justify its attempts to help re-write classroom curriculum. I’m underwhelmed at this latest round of revnue-inducing generosity.

Mike
Mike
10 years ago
Reply to  Beth

$25k is not exactly free. Insignificant for KO, but certainly not free.

Is it actually KO pushing the vending into the schools or is it a 3rd party vendor that distributes Coke products? It is also my understanding that the schools receive a significant portion of the profit (not the sales) from the machines – is that not the case?

Jonah
Jonah
10 years ago

Why not establish the area as a massive community garden/food forest as well?

Todd Hudson
Todd Hudson
10 years ago

This is fantastic! And someday the Sullivan’s Gulch trail will connect Gateway Green to downtown!

Chris I
Chris I
10 years ago
Reply to  Todd Hudson

If Gateway green goes in, it really needs better access from the east and west sides. Just building a small stretch of MUP from Gateway Green west to NE 78th and Jonesmore St. would hugely improve access and provide safe crossings of I-84, I-205 and 82nd Ave. It would only require 1 mile of trail!

Terry D
Terry D
10 years ago
Reply to  Chris I

The $1.7 Million grant to build the connection from the I 205 MUP to Hancock east of 92nd has been applied for. The rest of Sullivan’s gulch requires railroad property. Since they do not want to play ball currently we should focus on cinnecting this to Tillamook via sidewalk/cycletrack expanion on NE 92nd (there is an elementary school there that desperately needs sidewalks) from Halsey to Fremont.

Then, an overpass south connecting to “The 80’s” Greenway (Very expensive). On the east end we would need the same thing over I 84 at NE Klickitat to connect to the ‘East Portland in Motion” greenway system. Also, VERY expensive. Planning and mobilization could start however.

Chris I
Chris I
10 years ago

We should make ODOT crowdfund the CRC.