New parks will improve bicycling in east Portland

New paths and maybe even a
pump track are coming to Beech Park.
(Graphic: Portland Parks)

The two new parks announced by the City of Portland last week will come with new bicycling opportunities for Portlanders — especially the estimated 1765 households that live near them

The proposed Beech Park (NE 126th and Beech) and Gateway Park & Plaza (NE 104th and Wasco) were pitched to the community by Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz as a way to enhance underserved areas. “In east Portland, two out of every five households do not have easy access to a City park,” read a statement from Fritz. “That is in stark contrast to the rest of Portland where four out of every five households live within a half-mile of a park or natural area.”

While residents of east Portland have fewer parks, they also have fewer safe places to ride bicycles away from road traffic. The great news is that both of these parks will provide places where people young and old can ride in a pleasant environment.

The 16-acre Beech Park in particular will be a bicycling destination for area residents. Take a look at how paths envisioned in the park will connect between NE Shaver and Fremont:

Portland Parks & Recreation took its design cues for this park from the 2008 Beech Park Master Plan. Bicycling — as both a way to access the park and as an activity to do once in the park — figures prominently in that plan. Calls for improved bicycling connections between the park and the Argay Neighborhood are recommended in the plan and mentioned under the headings of “community goals”, “sustainability framework” and as a challenge that, “must be addressed”.

“If the aim is to build a community park that all residents can enjoy,” reads the 2008 master plan, “then residents of all ages and abilities must feel comfortable accessing it, especially with small children in tow”. This will be especially important at Beech Park because it’s adjacent to an elementary school.

There’s also a possibility that Beech Park could end up with a bicycle pump track. The first such pump track opened at Ventura Park in the summer of 2012 as a pilot project between the City and the Northwest Trail Alliance (the non-profit paid for and maintains the facility). Parks spokesman Mark Ross says there are no current plans to work with NWTA again, but that final say on how the park is designed will be up to the community. “The Beech Park master plan calls for a high-intensity use area for a dirt bike area or skate area,” Ross shared with BikePortland last week, “So, yes, that [a pump track] is a possibility.”

The new Gateway Park & Plaza will be much smaller (just four acres) than Beech, but it too will come with nice new paths:

Ross says there’s already been a decision to make a skate park at Gateway, so a bicycle-specific area isn’t in the plans.

The two parks are estimated to cost about $12 million and are being paid for by System Development Charges

Learn more about what’s in store for both parks on the City’s website.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me 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 paying subscriber.

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Brian
Brian
10 years ago

I would love to see Portland Parks take a cue from THPRD and going beyond a basic pump track to also include a BMX/mountain bike skills area. Elementary to high school students with bike skills (and heck, adults too!) need a place to grow and participate in their sport without being seen as a “scofflaw.” To the best of my knowledge, there isn’t a single, legal dirtjump in all of Portland.

Dan V
Dan V
10 years ago
Reply to  Brian

I believe the Gateway Green will be not too far from the Gateway Park.

Brandon Van Buskirk
Brandon Van Buskirk
10 years ago

Do we know if there will be separate area of paths for bicycle traffic that is delineated from pedestrians?

Mossby Pomegranate
Mossby Pomegranate
10 years ago

I guess this is a good first step. Better / safer routes to the inner city would be even more appreciated.

Brian
Brian
10 years ago

Through Parks property?
I am sure that kids in those neighborhoods will be much more appreciative of having a place to ride (hopefully on some dirt) and hang out in their neighborhoods.

Mossby Pomegranate
Mossby Pomegranate
10 years ago
Reply to  Brian

Not what I meant. I just would rather see better routes take priority over the parks right now, but I suppose we should be happy to get any development we can out here.

was carless
was carless
10 years ago

Wait, they are removing a farm for a park? Interesting.

paikikala
paikikala
10 years ago
Reply to  was carless

Though the city might be leasing the space for farmland, the aerial photos show a clear change between the adjacent farm and what the city already owns.

Psyfalcon
Psyfalcon
10 years ago
Reply to  was carless

Looks like it was purchased from the farm before 2007. Looks like the owner got access to more acreage nearby and perhaps did not want to keep the plots near the school.

http://www.midcountymemo.com/july07_farmland.html

Jimbo
10 years ago

Forward thinking like this benefits everyone who lives there. Wish they’d hurry up and get on board out here in the Midwest. Indy has made great strides lately, but outside of I-465…not so much.

Oliver
Oliver
10 years ago

Hah! Look at all the swimming pools out there. Is that normal?